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-OF- 



LIVINGSTON CO. 



:M:ioi3:i<3-.A.isr. 



ith lOhistraiions anil ||t0(|rH^liicnl ^hdclie^ 



OF 



ITS i=K.o:M:insrE!isrT zmzeist j^i<riD i^ioisrEEiK.s. 



PHILADELPHIA: 

EVERTS & ABBOTT. 



1880.- 



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PRESS OF J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., PHILADELPHIA. 






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3S 
PREFACE. 



The History of Livingston County here presented to its patrons for their approval, is the result of 
long and patient labor and research, which have been bestowed upon it with the view of producing an 
authentic and connected narrative of events of general importance or interest, which have occurred in 
the territory now comprised in the county of Livingston, or in which its residents have been actors ; 
confining the account as closely as practicable to the limits of the county, and to its former and present 
inhabitants ; referring to outside matters only so far as is necessary, to show the connection of events. 

To the general matter pertaining to the county, is added a history of each of its townships, em- 
bracing notices of early settlers, sketches of churches, schools, societies, and other local organizations, 
and also special and statistical matters relating to the county and townships, intended chiefly for refer- 
ence. Other portions of the work are necessarily arranged according to the subjects of which they 
treat. 

In the preparation of the history many of the best and most reliable works bearing on the subject 
have been consulted, and no labor has been spared in the gathering of historical material from the most 
thoroughly informed citizens of the county ; and in these labors and researches it has been not more 
the object to collect all obtainable facts, than to exclude everything of doubtful authenticity. If errors 
are discovered (as it is almost certain that there will be) in the orthography of some of the family names 
of the early and later residents of the county, it is largely due to the fact that these names have been 
found spelled differently (and sometimes in as many as four or five different ways) in the county, town- 
ship, church, and society records. In several cases it has been found that different members of the same 
family vary in the orthography of their surnames ; one especially notable instance of this kind being 
that of two brothers, both of whom are highly educated and intelligent men, and both prominent and 
influential citizens of Livingston County. Under such circumstances it should not be thought strange 
if the several writers of the county and township histories, often finding themselves wholly at a loss to 
know which method of spelling to adopt, have sometimes made the mistake of choosing the wrong 
one. 

Beyond this explanation no apology will be made, for none is thought to be necessary. It is, 
of course, impossible to produce a history which shall be absolutely perfect, but every effort has 
been used to make this as nearly so as possible. Its patrons will judge it upon its merits, and it 
is hoped and confidently believed that it will meet their approval. 

To those who have kindly given their aid in the collection of material for the work, the his- 
torian desires to express his thanks. Among these he would mention the pastors and leading 
members of the churches, the editors of the county newspapers, the gentlemen of the legal and 

3 



4 PREFACE. 

medical professions in the county, and the honored Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit. A large 
number of pioneers and other citizens of the county have also been called on for aid, and they have 
all promptly and willingly responded with such information as they have been able to give. As 
there are in this list more than two hundred persons to whom acknowledgments are due, it is 
hardly practicable to mention them separately by name, but grateful and cordial thanks are returned 
to all for the assistance which they have so freely and courteously extended. 

F. E. 
PHiLADELrHiA, PA., Dec. I, 1879. 



CONTENTS. 



HISTOR^IGT^Xj. 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, 
MICHIGAN. 

CHAPTBK PAGE 

I. — Livingston County and its Indian Occupants . . 9 
II.- Cessions of Indian Lands — Settlement of tlie County. 16 
III. — Changes of Civil Jurisdiction — Erection and Organi- 
zation of Livingston County — Courts and County 

Buildings 25 

IV. — The Press — The Professions — Livingston Civil List 

— County Societies ...... 35 

V. — Internal Improvements . . . . . .51 

VI. — Military Record of Livingston County . . .60 

VII. — Fifth Infantry 67 

VIII. — Ninth and Fifteenth Infantry 79 

IX. — Twenty-second Infantry ..... 87 

X. — Twenty-sixth Infantry ...... 96 

XL— Third and Sixth Cavalry 108 

XII. — Other Livingston County Soldiers .... 112 
XIII. — Agriculture — Farmers' Associations — Population . 120 



HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNSHIPS 
OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Village of Howell 
Township of Howell . 
Village of Brighton 
Township of Brighton 
Handy . 
" Iosco 

" Putnam . 

" Hamburg 

" Genoa . 

" Unadilla 

" Green Oak 

" Conway 

" Marion . 

" Il.irtland 

" Oceola . 

" Tyrone . 

" Deerfield 

" Cohoctah 



'35 
1 84 
201 
218 
233 
255 
269 
278 
291 

304 
322 

334 
346 
362 

376 
38S 
413 
437 



B I O Q E. -A. 1= H: I O ^ Xj. 



PAGE 


PAGE 


Francis Monroe facing 162 


William J. Jewell . ' . . . . . . . 269 


Hon. Josiah Turner 








. 182 


Hobart A. Twichell 










between 284, 285 


Hon. William McPher 


.on, Jr. 






between 182, 183 


Stoddard W. Twichell 










" 284, 285 


S. E. Howe 








f.acing 183 


Major George Mercer 










. 290 


Sardis F. Ilubbell 








. . . 183 


Hon. Willi.im Ball 










. 290 


Peter Brewer 










. 200 


Dennis Corey 










. 291 


Solomon Ilildebrant 










. 200 


Elias Davis . 










. 291 


Hon. John Carter 










. 229 


Joseph Rider 










. 302 


Aaron H. Kelley 










. 229 


Chester Ha/,ard . 










. 302 


Rev. Ira Warner . 










• 230 


Charles Benedict . 










• 303 


Melzer Bird 










■ 230 


Ely Barnard 










• 303 


Thomas Woulds . 










■ 230 


William Bloodworth 










• 303 


George W. Conely 










• 231 


S. G. Ives . 










between 312, 313 


.Samuel M. Conely 










■ 231 


Philander Gregory 










. 320 


t). K. Van Amburg 










• 232 


Morris Topping . 










. 321 


W. C. Sears 










• 232 


David D. Bird . 










. 321 


James Converse . 










. 250 


Linus Clark 










facing 328 


H.arvey Metcalf . 










• 251 


Hon. Kinsley S. Bingh 


am 








• 332 


Ralph Fowler 










. 252 


Hannibal Lee 










• 332 


George Lovely 










• 252 


Cornelius Corson . 










• 332 


Edwin Nichols 










• 253 


Almon Maltby 










between 332, 333 


Marvin Gaston 










• 253 


John Hooper 










" 332, 333 


S. P. Kuhn . 








facing 258 


George Grea<ly . 










■ 333 


William S. Caskey 








" 262 


Benjamin P. Sherman 










■ 343 


Amanda Douglass 








■■ 264 


Luther Child 










• 343 


Luana Stow 








. 266 


William P. Stow . 










• 344 


Hon. Isaac Slow . 










. 266 


Levi H. Bigelow . 










• 344 


.Seth G. Wilson . 










. 267 


Cecil D. Parsons 










• 345 


William II. Kuhn 










. 268 


George Coleman . 










• 357 


James Wooden . 










. 268 


W. K. Sexton . 










• . • 358 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

Thomas Love 359 

George B. Wilkinson 359 

Pierpont L. Smith 360 

George Younglove ........ 3^° 

Aaron Van Patten 361 

Eldred Basing 3^1 

Charles Smith 374 

Elisha G. Smith 374 

Le Grand Clark 375 

Jacob S. Griswold 375 

Peter Y. Browning facing 385 

Ephraim J. Hardy . 385 

J. A. Van Camp ......... 386 

William Hazard 387 



PAGE 

Richard Walker 387 

Robert Walker 387 

Edward Browning ........ 3S7 

Robert Browning ........ 388 

George Cornell ....... facing 390 

David Colwell " 390 

Hon. John Kenyon ...... " 392 

Isaac Cornell " 396 

Rev. Isaac Morton . . . . . . . .412 

John T. Carmer 413 

John How ........ facing 418 

Col. Castle Sutherland " 424 

Joseph Chamberlin ...... " 426 

Ezra Frisbee ......... 461 



IXjLTJSTIS.-A.TIOnsrS. 



Outline Map of Livingston County 

HOWELL. 

Livingston County Court- House . 

Howell Union School 

Residence of Wm. McPherson, Jr. 

" Solomon Hildebrant 

" M. L. Gay . 

" Seymour E. Howe 

Portrait of Francis Monroe . 

" Hon. Tosiah Turner . 

" William McPherson, Jr (steel) 

Residence of William White 
Portrait of Peter Brewer 



facing 



facing 135 

IjS 
142 
142 
146 
146 
162 

. 182 

between 182, 183 

facing 1S4 

. 200 



BRIGHTON. 



Public School Building 

Residence of P. J. Sears . . .' 


facing 201 


" 21S 




the late Aaron H. Kelley 


" 220 




0. K. Van Amburg 


" 220 




George W. Conely . 


" 224 




Samuel M. Conely . 


" 224 




Thomas Woulds 


" 226 




John Carter (double page) 


between 228, 229 


Portraits of Rev. Ira Warner aifd Wife 


facing 230 


tt 


Melzer Bird and' Wife 


" 230 




ha'^ndy. 





Residence of Marvin Gaston (with portraits) 
" Edwin Nichols " " 

" George Lovely " " 

Portrait of Harvey Metcalf . 
" Ralph Fowler 

Residence of James Converse 



IOSCO. 

Residence of Isaac Stow (with portraits) 

" William J. Jewell . 

" S. P. Kuhn (with portrait) 

" James Wooden 

Portraits of Wm. S. Caskey and Wife . 
Residence of Amanda Douglas (with portrait) 
Portrait of Luana Stow .... 
Seth G. Wilson .... 
Portraits of Wm. H. Kuhn and Wife . 



facing 233 

" 236 

" 240 

. 251 

. 252 

facing 256 



faci 



ng 25s 
256 
258 
260 
262 
264 
266 
267 
26S 



HAMBURG. 

Residence of Dennis Corey .... facing 278 

" H. A. Twichell (double page) between 282, 283 

Portraits of H. A. Twichell and Wife . " 284, 285 

S. W. Twichell and Wife . " 284, 285 

Residence of Mrs. Mary E. Davis (with portraits) facing 286 

Portrait of Maj. George Mercer ...... 290 

Residence of O. W. Sexton .... facing 291 



GENOA. 

Residence of Chester Hazard 

" Joseph Rider (with portraits) 

Portrait of Charles Benedict 

" Ely Barnard 

Portraits of Wm. Bloodworth and Wife 

UNADILLA. 

Residence of David D. Bird (with portraits) , 
Residence of H. and P. Gregory . 
Portraits of S. G. Ives and Wife . 
View of the Village of Plainfield 

GREEN OAK. 

Residence of Linus Clark (double page) 
Portraits of Linus Cl.ark and Wife . - 
" Almon Maltby and Wife . 

" John Hooper and Wife 

" George Gready and Wife . 

Residence of Wm. D. Corson 

CONWAY. 

Residence of Wm. P. .Stow . 

Portraits of B. P. Sherman and Wives . 

Portrait of Luther Child 

" Levi H. Bigelow 

Portraits of Cecil D. Parsons and Wife 



facing 291 

" 302 

" 303 

" 303 

" 3°3 



facing 304 

" 308 

between 312, 313 

facing 314 



between 328, 329 

facing 328 

between 332, 333 

" 332, 333 

• 333 

facing 334 



facing 334 

" 343 

• 343 

• 344 

• 345 



MARION. 

Residence of Hiram P. Baker .... facing 346 
" Thomas Love (with portraits) . . " 348 

" E. Basing " " . . " 350 

" A. Van Patten .... "352 

" Geo. B. Wilkinson (with portraits) . " 354 

" George Coleman (double page) with portraits 

between 356, 357 



CONTENTS. 



IXjXjTJSTI^-A.TIO:tTS. 



Residence of W. K. Sexton 

Portraits of W. K. Sexton and Wife . 

" George Younglove and Wife 

Portrait of P. L. Smith .... 

HARTLAND. 

Residence of Le Grand Clark (with portraits) 
Portraits of Elisha G. Smith and Wife 
Portrait of William Smith .... 
" Charles Smith .... 



OCEOLA. 

Residence of Robert Browning . 

" Edward Browning 

" Robert Walker 

J. D. Botsford 
P. V. M. Botsford . 

" J. W. Botsford (with portraits) 



facing 358 

• • 358 
facing 360 

" 3f>o 



facing 362 

" 374 

" 374 

" 374 



facing 376 
•' 378 
" 37S 
between 380, 381 
" 3S0, 381 
" 3S0, 381 
E. J. and E. W. Hardy (double page) " 3S4, 3S5 
Portraits of Peter Y. Browning and Wife . . facing 3S5 



Portrait of J. A. Van Camp 
" William Hazard 



FAGB 
. 386 
. 387 



TYRONE. 

Portrait of George Cornell . 
" David Colwell . 

Portraits of Hon. John Kenyon and Wife 
" Isaac Cornell and Wife 

" Rev. Isaac Morton and Wife 

Portrait of John T. Carmer . 

DEERFIELD. 

Portrait of John How .... 

Col. C. Sutherland . 
Portraits of Joseph Chamberlin and Wife 

COHOCTAH. 

Portraits of Ezra Frisbee and Wife 
Portrait of Alonzo Frisbee . 

" E. A. Frisbee . 

" Mrs. Margaret Van der Cook 



facing 390 

" 390 

" 392 

" 396 

. 412 

• 413 



facing 418 

" 424 
" 426 



facing 461 
" 461 
" 461 
" 461 



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G , E N £ S £ £ 




HISTORY 



OF 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



BY FRANKLIN ELLIS. 



CHAPTER I. 

LIVINGSTON COUNTY AND ITS INDIAN OCCU- 
PANTS. 

Locition and Nntiiral Features of the County — The Native Oc- 
cupants — Chippcwas and Pottawattamies — Indian Hunting- 
Grounds and Agriculture — The Saul<s and tlicir Expulsion l)y 
Ihc Chippew.TS — Superstition of the Indians — The Later Indian 
Hands in Livingston — Durial-PKices — The Chief 01;emos — In- 
dian Emigration. 

LOCATION AND N.VTUR.M. FE.VTURES OF THE 
COUNTY. 

Livingston is one of the inland counties of 
Michigan, situated in the southeastern part of the 
lower peninsula of the State ; its county-seat — 
which is very nearly on the central point of its 
territory — lying between Detroit and Lansing, on 
the direct railway line, by which it is fifty-one 
miles distant from the first-named city, and thirty- 
four miles from the State capital. The counties 
which join this, and form its several boundaries, 
are Shiawassee and Genesee on the north, Oak- 
land on the cast, Washtenaw on the south, and 
Ingham on the west. 

Within these boundaries are included si.\tccn 
townships of the United States survey, lying to- 
gether in the form of a square, being four adjoin- 
ing ranges of four towns each; which, on the sup- 
position of an accurate and uniform survey (which, 
liowever, is not strictly the case in Livingston), 
would give the county a superficial area of five 
hundred and seventy-six square miles, or three 
hundred and seventy-eight thou.sand si.v hundred 
and forty acres. 

The surface of Livingston County is in general 
to be described as undulating, though some por- 
tions of it may be more correctly called hilly, 
as the term is understood in Michigan; and, 
indeed, some of the southern and northeastern 
parts of the county would be so regarded, even 

2 



by people accustomed to the more rugged surface 
of the State of New York. 

The highest (though not the most abrupt) eleva- 
tion of land in Livingston is found commencing 
on the eastern border, in the township of Hartland, 
and extending thence southwestwardiy across the 
county through the township of Marion. This, 
although not so much raised above the surround- 
ing country as to be very noticeable, is the water- 
shed of the county, from which the waters flow in 
three different directions, and by widely separated 
courses, into Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Erie. 

The main stream, and several branches of the 
Cedar River, take their rise in the western part of 
the county, in the townships of Marion and Iosco, 
and, pursuing a northerly and then a westerly 
course, pass out over the west boundary into Ing- 
ham County, and afterwards join the Grand River, 
through which their waters finally find their way 
into Lake Michigan. 

The Shiawassee River (or more properly the 
south branch of the Shiawassee) rises in the lakes 
of Marion, flows noith through Marion and Howell 
townships into Cohoctah, where it bends towards 
the east, enters Deerfield, and passes out near the 
northwest corner of that township into the county 
of Genesee, where it unites with the east branch 
of the Shiawassee, forming the main stream which 
joins the Saginaw on its way to Saginaw Bay and 
Lake Huron. Several tributaries of the Shiawas- 
see also take their rise in Livingston County, and 
among these are North Ore Creek and Yellow 
River; the latter of which flows north through 
Deerfield into Genesee County, where it joins the 
larger stream. North Ore Creek rises in the lakes 
of Hartland, flows north, crosses the southwest 
part of Tyrone, passes through Laird Lake, and 
joins the Shiawassee. Another tributary of the 
Shiawassee is a small stream which flows out of 
Thompson Lake, at Howell village, passes east- 
wardly into Oceola, thence returns to Howell 

9 



lO 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



township, flows north and joins the principal 
stream in Cohoctah. 

The Huron River, flowing in a southwesterly 
direction from Oakland County, enters Livingston 
across the east line of its southeastern township, 
across which, and the township of Hamburg, it 
continues its course to Base Lake, on the south 
boundary of the county, and parses thence into 
Washtenaw ; after which it turns towards the south- 
east, and flows on in that general course to Lake 
Erie. The Portage River, a stream of consider- 
able size, flows through the southwestern corner of 
Livingston Count)', and mingles its waters with 
the larger stream of the Huron. Ore Creek (or 
South Ore Creek as it is sometimes called in dis- 
tinction from North Ore Creek, which flows into 
the Shiawassee) rises on the south side of the 
water-shed in Hartland, and flows south through 
the township and village of Brighton, after which 
its waters join those of the Huron, and find their 
way by its channel to Lake Erie. 

Besides these waters, Livingston also abounds 
in pure, clear lakes, some of which form the 
sources of the streams which have been men- 
tioned, and of their smaller tributaries. Of these 
lakes, the greater number, as well as the principal 
in size, are found in the southern and northeastern 
parts of the county, and will be more particularly 
noticed with the towns in which they are situated. 

THE N.\TIVE OCCUIWNTS OF THE COUNTY. 

Along the margins of the lakes and streams, and 
in the forests and glades of the land which is now 
the county of Livingston, the dark-skinned natives 
of the soil roamed, hunted, fished, prosecuted their 
rude agriculture, and engaged in their wild worship 
of the Manitou, through many generations, and 
perhaps for many centuries, before the gaze of a 
white man ever rested on the bright waters of the 
Huron or Shiawassee. 

The territory now covered by Livingston County 
was partly the domain of the Pottazvattamics, and 
partly that of the Saginaiv Cliippcivas. The coun- 
try of the latter embraced all the lands contiguous 
to streams flowing into Lake Huron, even to their 
southernmost sources; while the Pottaivattaiiiics 
inhabited tlie valleys of those flowing in the other 
direction. To the southeast of the Cliippeivas, and 
also adjoining the territory of the Pottaivaitauiics, 
lay the hunting-grounds of the southern Otlazvas 
(a northern tribe of that nation inhabiting the east 
shore of Lake Michigan, in the north part of the 
Southern Peninsula). The frontiers of the Potta- 
wattamies and Saginatvs, therefore, joined each 
other in Livingston County, but it does not appear 
that their proximity produced feuds or hostility 



between the two tribes, at least in the later years of 
their occupancy. They had here few, if any, per- 
manent villages, but made this part of their terri- 
tory a sort of summer camping-ground, to which 
they came in the warm season to fish in the 
streams and clear lakes, and to plant their maize 
in the soft and fertile soil of the openings; and 
then, when the squaws had gathered their meagre 
crop, and the frosts and storms of November 
heralded the approach of winter, they returned to 
their comparatively comfortable villages within the 
shelter of the denser forests, — those of the Cliippe- 
ivas being located on the lower Shiawassee, the 
Flint, the Tittabawassee, and the- Saginaw Rivers. 
From these the young men of the tribe went out 
to the winter hunting- and trapping-grounds, and, 
at the approach of spring, all — men, women, and 
children — went to the sugar-woods, pitched their 
camps, and spent a few weeks in sugar-making; 
after which they prepared for removal to the sum- 
mer camping-grounds to hunt and fish, and plant 
maize, beans, pumpkins, and other Indian crops, 
as before. In nearly every part of Livingston 
County there were found old " Indian fields," in 
which they had planted their seeds and gathered 
their st:ant crops probably for many successive 
years. On some of these — notably in one instance 
in the township of Cohoctah — there were apple- 
trees which had evidently been planted and reared 
by the natives. 

When the first white explorers first came to this 
wilderness region, they found it peopled by roving 
bands of both the Chippcwas and Pottaivattamics ; 
but they were mere remnants of those once pow- 
erful and warlike tribes, — scattered, dispirited, and 
cowed by. the disastrous results of their alliance 
with the English in the war of 1S12-15, and al- 
ready foreseeing their approaching extinction. 
Among these scattered and miserable bands there 
were very few of the Pottaivattainics ; so few, in- 
deed, that the settlers in Livingston could scarcely 
be said to have seen or known any of that people. 
Nearly all were of the Saginaw CIiippi.-i.ihi nation, 
which had doubtless been in the earlier years, as it 
was then, the principal occupant of this region and 
of the great wilderness to the northward. 

According to their own traditions, however, — 
imparted by them to the white adventurers at Sag- 
inaw as early as 1820, — the proprietorship of the 
Chippczvas was of comparatively recent date. They 
said (and the tradition is to some extent supported 
by authentic history) that, within the memory of 
some of their old men, all these streams and woods 
and hunting-grounds, this Indian paradise of fish 
and deer and beaver, was the home and possession 
of the Saiiks and Onottoways (a kindred people), 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY AND ITS INDIAN OCCUPANTS. 



II 



who lived near together in neighborly amity, and, 
both beinir strong and valiant tribes, and confed- 
erated for mutual defense, they felt perfectly secure 
in their fancied ability to hold their country against 
all invading enemies. The Sind's were the more 
numerous, and occupied the valleys of the Titta- 
bawassce, the Flint, and the Shiawassee, their do- 
main extending as far south as the head-waters of 
tiie latter stream. The Onottcnvays lived in the 
valley of the Onottoway-Sebewing, or Cass River, 
and had their principal village a few miles above 
the mouth of that stream, nearly where is now the 
village of Bridgeport Centre. The chief village of 
the Sanks was on the west side of the Saginaw 
River, opposite where Portsmouth now stands; 
but the)' had other small villages or encaniiJments 
at different points on the rivers, and as far up as 
the lakes of Oakland and Livingston Counties. 

Both these tribes appear to have possessed war- 
like traits, and were not only disposed to hold and 
defend their own country, but sometimes engaged 
in aggressive expeditions against the tribes whose 
country adjoined theirs on the north and south, 
which tribes, as a consequence, both feared and 
hated them. Particularly was this the case with 
the Ojibways {Chippcwas), who then inhabited a 
region far away to the north, bordering on the 
lakes, — Michigan, Huron, and Superior. This na- 
tion had for years coveted the teeming hunting- 
grounds of the Saiiks, and it had long been a 
cherished project with them to conquer and ex- 
terminate the prosperous tribes who held the val- 
leys of the Saginaw and its tributaries. But they 
dreaded the power and prowess of their enemies, 
and this consideration held them in check until 
their ambitious desires could be controlled no 
longer, and, at last, they determined to attempt 
the execution of the plan of invasion and conquest 
which they had so long secretly entertained. To 
this end they held council with the Ollaz^'as of the 
north (whose country was contiguous to their 
own), and sent messengers to the southern Otta- 
tuas (whose domain lay along the northeastern 
border of that of the Potiaivattaviics), asking them 
to join in an expedition for the humiliation of the 
Sanks and Onottoways and the occupation of their 
hunting-grounds. The proposition was favorably 
recei\ed, the league was formed, and the confed- 
erated bands set out on the war-path with great 
secrecy, hoping to take their enemies by surprise, 
— a hope that was fully realized. 

As to the manner in which the attack was made, 
the traditional accounts differed to some extent; 
but that which seems the most complete and 
reasonable was nearly as follows : The invaders 
entered the country of the doomed tribes in two 



columns, — one, composed of the southern Ottazuas, 
coming through the woods from the direction of 
Detroit, and the other, made up of the Cliippciaas 
and northern Ottaioas, setting out in canoes from 
Mackinaw, proceeding down along the western 
shores of Lake Huron and the bay of Saginaw, 
paddling by night, and lying concealed in the 
woods by day. When the canoe fleet reached a 
point a few miles above the mouth of Saginaw 
River, half the force was landed; and the remain- 
der, boldly striking across the bay in the night- 
time, disembarked at a place about the same dis- 
tance below the mouth of the Saginaw. Then, in 
darkness and stealth, the two detachments glided 
up through the woods on both sides of the river, 
and fell upon the unsuspecting Sanks like panthers 
upon their prey. The principal village — situated 
on the west side of the river — was first attacked ; 
many of its people were put to the tomahawk, and 
the remainder were driven across the river to 
another of their villages, which stood on the east- 
ern bank. Here they encountered the body of 
warriors who had moved up on that side of the 
river, and a desperate fight ensued, in which the 
Sanks were again routed, with great loss. The 
survivors then fled to a small island in the Sagi- 
naw, where they believed themselves safe, at least 
for the time, for their enemies liad no canoes in 
the river. But here again they had deluded them- 
selves, for in the following night ice was formed 
of sufficient strength to enable the victorious Chi/>- 
pcwas to cross to the island. This opportunity 
they were not slow to avail themselves of, and 
then followed another massacre, in which, as one 
account says, the males were killed, to the last 
man, and only twelve women were spared out of 
all who had fled there for safety. So thickly was 
the place strewn with bones and skulls of the mas- 
sacred Sanks, that it afterwards became known as 
Skull IsLuul.* 

Meanwhile, the co-operating force of Ottaivas, 
coming in from the south, struck the Flint River 
near its southernmost bend, and a desperate battle 
was fought between them and the Sanks, resulting 
in the defeat of the latter, and the massacre of all 
who were found in the valley of that stream. 

After completing their bloody work on the Sag- 
inaw, the invading army wa5 divided into detach- 
ments, which severally proceeded to carry destruc- 
tion to the villages on the Tiltabawassee, Cass, and 
Shiawassee Rivers. Murderous work was done by 
the bands that scoured these valleys, and every- 



* Mr. Epliraim S. Williams, fonnerly a fur trader at Saginaw 
City, and a brolher of Mr. li. (). William*, of Owosso, verifies 
this statement. He has often visited the island in earlier years, 
and h.is seen nunil ers uf bkulls exhumed from its soil. 



12 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



wliere the result was the same, — the utter rout and 
overthrow of the Sanis, only a miserable remnant 
of whom made their escape, and, finally, by some 
means, succeeded in eluding their relentless foes 
and gained the shelter of the dense wilderness 
west of Lake Michigan.* 

After the Sauks had been thus utterly crushed 
and their villages destroyed, the victorious allies 
did not immediately settle in the conquered terri- 
tory, but held it as a common ground for the range 
of their hunting-parties. After a time they found 
that some of the young men who went out with 
those parties did not return and could never be 
heard of, and then it became their firm belief that 
the dim recesses of these forests were haunted by 
the spirits of the murdered Satiks, who had come 
back to their former hunting-grounds to take ven- 
geance on their merciless destroyers. And the 
result of the belief (so said the tradition) was that 
they abandoned this inviting region, and for years 
their hunters and fishermen avoided its haunted 
woods and streams, although the thickets swarmed 
with game and the waters were alive with fish. 

No one can say how long their superstitious 
terrors prevailed, but it is certain that they were 
partially overcome at last, so that the Chippciva 
and Ottaiva tribes built their lodges in the land 
which their bloody hands had wrenched from its 
rightful possessors. Those who came to the valley 
of the Saginaw and its tributaries, however, were 
principally CJiipfimjas, and from that time the In- 
dian inhabitants of this region were known as the 
Saginaiu tribe of the Cliippciva nation. They 
possessed all the characteristics of the parent 
stock, and, until overawed and cowed by the power 
of the whites, they showed a disposition as fierce 
and turbulent as that of their kindred, the Ojibivays 
of Lake Superior, who massacred the garrison of 
Fort Michilimackinac, in 1763. 

Much of their superstition still remained, though 
they had summoned sufficient courage to occupy 
the " haunted hunting-grounds." Long after the 
Saginaw and Shiawassee valleys were studded with 
white settlements, the simple Indians still believed 
that mysterious Sauks were lingering in their for- 
ests and along the margins of their streams for 
purposes of vengeance ; that AInncsous, or bad 
spirits, in the form of Sauk warriors, were hover- 
ing around their villages and camps, and on the 



* One of the Indian accounts of this sanguinary campaign was 
to the effect that no Sauk or Onott(nvny warrior escaped ; that of 
all the people not one was spared, except the twelve women before 
mentioned, and that these were sent westward and placed among 
the tribes beyond the Mississippi. This, however, was unques- 
tionalily an exaggeration made by the boastful Cliipft'was, and it 
is certain that a part of the Sauks escaped beyond the lake. 



flanks of their hunting-parties, preventing them 
from being successful in the chase, and bringing 
ill-fortune and discomfiture in a hundred ways. 
So great was their dread, that when (as was fre- 
quently the case) they became possessed of the 
idea that the Muiicsous were in their immediate 
vicinity they would fly, as if for their lives, aban- 
doning everything, wigwams, fish, game, and pel- 
try ; and no amount of ridicule from the whites 
could convince them of their folly, or induce them 
to stay and face the imaginary danger. Some of 
the Indian bands whose country joined that of the 
Saginatvs pla}'ed upon their weak superstition and 
derived profit from it, by lurking around their vil- 
lages or camps, frightening them into flight, and 
then appropriating the property which they had 
abandoned. A few shreds of wool from their 
blankets left sticking on thorns or dead brush- 
wood, hideous figures drawn upon the trunks of 
trees with coal, or marked on the ground in the 
vicinity of their lodges, was sure to produce this 
result, by indicating the presence of the dreaded 
Muiicsous. 

Mr. Williams, whose authority has already been 
cited in the foregoing pages, writes of this matter 
as follows : " I have had them come from places 
miles distant, bringing their rifles to me, asking me 
to examine and re-sight them, declaring that the 
sights had been removed (and in most cases they 
had, but it was by themselves in their fright). I 
have often, and in fact always did when applied to, 
re-sighted and tried them until they would shoot 
correctly, and then they would go away cheerfully. 
I would tell them they must keep their rifles where 
the Muncsous could not find them. ... At other 
times, having a little bad luck in trapping or hunt- 
ing, they became excited, and would say that game 
had been over and in their traps, and that they 
could not catch an3'thing ; have known them to 
go so far as to insist that a beaver or an otter had 
been in their traps and gotten out ; that their traps 
were bewitched or spellbound, and their rifles 
charmed by the Muiicsous, so that they could not 
catch or kill anything. Then they must give a 
great feast, and have the medicine-man, or con- 
juror, and through his wise and dark performances 
the charm is removed and all is well, and traps and 
rifles do their duty again. These things have been 
handed down for generations." And so, through 
all the domain of the Saginaws, their lives were 
made miserable by these superstitious fears ; and 
thus they expiated the crime committed by their 
ancestors against the unfortunate Sauks. 

The country of the Saguiazo Cliippcwas was an 
almost inaccessible fastness, and from this their 
warriors continually forayed against the unpro- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY AND ITS INDIAN OCCUPANTS. 



13 



tected settlements on the Detroit, St. Clair, and 
Huron Rivers; and many wore tlie scalps and 
captives wliich they brought back from these hos- 
tile expeditions. They joined the Indian league 
which was formed in 17S6 in the interest of the 
British, for the purpose of destroying the Ameri- 
can settlements and driving them beyond the Ohio 
River, and they took part with the other tribes in 
the hostilities which continued until checked by 
the victorious campaign of General Anthony 
Wayne. Again, when the Shmvancsc chieftain, 
Tecumseh, and his brother, the " Prophet" Elk- 
swatawa, instigated by the British, sent forth their 
emissaries to ask the co-operation of the northern 
and western tribes in a project to exterminate the 
white settlements within the Northwest Territory, 
XhQ Sagi)ia7L' C/iippcwas were found ready and will- 
ing to join the league ; and they continued among 
the most active of all the Indian allies of the Eng- 
lish during the war of 1812-15. 

The Pottatvatiauiics were also prominent mem- 
bers of the Indian confederation instigated by 
Tecumseh, which aimed at the destruction of 
American power. A large detachment of warriors 
of this tribe fought against Harrison at Tippeca- 
noe, and a still greater number acted with the 
British in the operations which resulted in the dis- 
graceful surrender of Detroit by General Hull, in 
August, 181 2. Again, on the 22d of January, 
181 3, they fought at the river Raisin (where the 
city of Monroe now stands), and were prominent 
and bloody actors in the massacre which followed 
the battle. Four hundred Pottawattainics took 
part in the assault on Croghan's command at 
Lower Sandusky in August, 1813; and the tribe 
was represented among the foes of America in 
every hostile movement down to and including 
the battle of the Thames, in October, 1813. Here 
Tecumseh fell, and the hopes of his Indian adhe- 
rents were crushed forever. The PottaiuaUaiiiics, 
like other tribes, sued for peace, and receiving the 
mercy which they did not deserve, gave hostages 
for their future good conduct, retired to their vil- 
lages, sullen at first, but thoroughly subjugated, 
and never took up the hatchet again. 

Between the time of the subjugation of the 
Michigan tribes, following the death of Tecumseh, 
and the time when white settlements began to be 
seen in the forests and openings of Livingston 
County, there had elapsed a period of about twenty 
years, during which the red men had moved rapidly 
on the road towards that state of decay which is 
invariably the result of the Indian's contact with 
the white race, and his access to the white man's 
whisky. Trading-posts had been established as 
early as 1820 on the lower Shiawassee River, 



and on the Flint, as well as at Saginaw; and at 
these posts the Indians had always managed to 
obtain from the unscrupulous traders the poison 
fire-water, which to their race, in even greater de- 
gree than to the white, has proved the fruitful 
source of degradation and misery. And so, in the 
demoralized and scattered bands which the early 
settlers found here, roving and homeless, they saw 
few, if any, of the characteristics which had marked 
the native tribes in the former days of their war- 
like pride and strength. 

They were quite numerous here, particularly in 
the summer season, and nearly all were of the 
tribe known to the settlers as the Shiawassees, 
which term had reference to that subdivision of 
the Sagiitazv Cluppcwas which occupied the valley 
of the Shiawassee River to its head-waters. The 
only Indians in Livingston known to be of Pofta- 
zvattaiuic lineage was a small band which lived in 
or frequented the southwest part of the county ; 
of which band the leader was an old Indian named 
" Toag," of whom Mr. Shields speaks as "a so- 
cial old fellow, who was on good terms with the 
settlers, though he would steal their potatoes." 
And he mentions also that, many years after this 
band had disappeared from the county, Mr. West- 
fall, while traveling in Ohio, was saluted by an 
Indian who seemed exceedingly glad to see him, 
and who proved to be none other than the " chief" 
Toag himself 

Several other bands were located in different 
paits of the county, though these locations were 
by no means permanent. In the eastern part, 
among the lakes of Hartland, lived " old Shakaw," 
a Chippiwa, who at one time was the leader of a 
small band. This band was afterwards scattered, 
and old Shakaw lived alone without a following. 
Later, he moved north to Isabella County, or that 
vicinity, and died there in recent years. 

On Indian Lake, in Deerfield, lived old Porta- 
beek, a chief or head man of some grade among the 
Shiaivassccs. He also had had a small following, 
but, like Shakaw, was afterwards chief of only his 
own wigwam. Another Indian (who is not known 
to have been a leader, but who was quite well 
known in Livingston County as a frequent claim- 
ant for bounty on wolf-scalps) was Neome, a C/tip- 
pnva, and perhaps a lineal descendant of the earlier 
Neome, who was one of the principal chiefs of the 
Scxginaws. 

Four or five miles northwest of the centre of the 
county, on the farm of Ira Brayton, in the town- 
ship of Howell, tiiere were found by the early 
settlers — ami openetl in 1843 — some sepulchral 
mounds; of which Mr. lilisha II. .Smith, one of 
the discoverers, writes as follows : " On the north- 



14 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



west quarter of section twenty-two [Howell] there 
are several places of burial, judging from the ap- 
pearance of the mounds where they were interred. 
They commenced burying their dead at the top of 
the ground, covering the corpse with earth. They 
then placed other bodies above this one, until the 
mound was several feet high. Several of these 
mounds have been opened for phrenological ob- 
servation. Tiieir traits of character were found 
similar to those who lived here at the time of the 
settlement by the whites. They were buried with 
their heads in a southeasterly direction. The In- 
dians who lived here at the time the mounds were 
opened had no knowledge of them. On the e.x- 
posure of the bones to the atmosphere they soon 
decomposed." Some, who examined the place, 
believed that the presence of the mounds indicated 
the existence of an Indian village there at some 
remote period. Others thought differently; and 
the vagabond Indians who were living in this vicin- 
ity at the time knew nothing whatever about the 
matter. 

Another place where Indian graves were found 
was near the shore of Cedar Lake, in the township 
of Marion. In the vicinity of these some aborig- 
inal implements have been found. An elevated 
ground near the shore of this lake was a favorite 
camping-place of the Indians, at and after the time 
of the first settlements. On the shores of several 
other lakes of the county were also camping- 
grounds much frequented by the Indians. 

It is mentioned by the Hon. Ralph Fowler 
that there were three winter camps of Indians in 
the woods near his house, in Handy, in the winter 
of 1836-37. The occupants of these camps were 
numerous, and they had about thirty ponies brows- 
ing in the woods in their vicinity. The old Chief 
Okenios, with from fifty to one hundred of iiis 
band, was encamped there at the same time, being 
on his way back from Detroit to his home on the 
Looking-Glass River, in Ingham County. This 
old chief, although living outside the county of 
Livingston, is properly mentioned here, for his vil- 
lage was not many miles from the western border, 
and he frequently passed through here with his band, 
and was well known to many of the settlers. He 
was one of the chiefs of the Shiawassee branch of the 
Saginazv Ckippcwas, was born about the year 1788, 
and was consequently some forty-eight or fifty 
years of age at the time mentioned by Mr. Fowler. 
He had been a noted warrior in his youth. He 
was present, under Tecumseh, at the attack on 
Fort Sandusky in the war of 1812, and fought 
against the Americans on that occasion with great 
desperation. When the Indians learned that the 
commandant of the fort had been peremptorily 



summoned to surrender, they were inspired with 
unusual boldness, and they at once made a furious 
charge upon the work, but were driven back with 
slaughter. They returned to the assault, but were 
again repulsed, and this time Okemos fell, pierced 
through the body by a musket-ball. The retreat 
of the Indians was followed up by a sally and 
counter-charge by the defenders of the fort, and as 
they passed the spot where Okemos lay wounded a 
soldier gave him (as was supposed) a finishing blow. 
Thechief lay still, without a groan, showing no signs 
of life until the party had returned to the fort, and 
then managed to crawl to a swampy piece of woods 
near by, where he secreted himself until night came 
on, when, having the good fortune to see a pony 
grazing near by, he succeeded in securing and 
mounting him, though weak and almost fainting 
from loss of blood. The pony bore him to the 
Indian camp on the Maumee, where he remained 
until he had recovered from the effects of his 
wounds. He afterwards took part in many of the 
Indian depredations, but was finally induced by 
Colonel Godfrey, the Indian agent, to forsake the 
British and attach himself to the Americans, to 
whom he continued faithful during the remainder 
of his life. After the war he made a permanent 
settlement with his band on the Looking-Glass 
River, in Ingham County, near the village and rail- 
road station which still bear his name. He died 
at his village on the Looking-Glass in 1863. Like 
most of the Indians of whatever degree, he was 
greatly addicted to drunkenness, and in his latter 
years was little more than a beggar, but he was 
very proud of his early deeds, and often related 
them. He stood well in the estimation of General 
Cass, with whom he sat in treaty council several 
times. 

The Indians who were found inhabiting this 
region were entirely peaceable except when under 
the influence of whisky, and even then they were 
easily cowed and reduced to docility by the dis- 
play of firmness and resolution on the part of the 
whites. During all their stay here there is no 
account of their doing any murder or other seri- 
ous violence. They were great boasters, the older 
ones telling wonderful tales of their own and their 
ancestors' prowess in earlier years, before the pale- 
faces came to their hunting-grounds. They were 
universally unclean — even filthy — in their appear- 
ance, and their chief desire was for whisky. In 
these two vices the women surpassed the men, as 
they did also in lying and dishonesty. The Indian 
men were not generally dishonest. They almost 
invariably returned articles loaned to them by set- 
tlers, even firearms, the possession of which they 
prized so highly. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY AND ITS INDIAN OCCUPANTS. 



15 



In various places, and in several different direc- 
tions, the county was traversed by Indian trails, 
which, by being traveled for years by them and 
their ponies, had become beaten paths, worn into 
tlie soft soil in some places to the depth of more 
than a foot. The principal of these was the great 
Grand River trail, crossing diagonally from the 
southeast to the northwest part of the county 
through its centre. This trail forked near the 
present village of Howell, the north fork being 
known as the Shiawassee trail, leading to Shiawas- 
seetown ; but this again forked near the northern 
boundary of Livingston County, and the western- 
most branch led to De Witt, Ionia, and Grand 
Rapids. A trail from Shiawasseetown also struck 
this county at Hillman's Tavern, in the northwest 
part of the township of Tyrone, and continued 
thence to Walled Lake, in Oakland County. From 
Hillman's, southward, the Washtenaw trail passed 
through the eastern townships to and across the 
Huron River. The Strawberry Point trail passed 
from the main Grand River trail south through 
the present township of Hamburg, and into Wash- 
tenaw County. In the west part of the county a 
trail followed Cedar River for a long distance, and 
forking, passed to Cedar Lake in Marion, and also 
through Unadilla. Besides these, a number of 
smaller trails passed through different parts of the 
county. 

Over the great through-trails, for many years 
after the first settlers came to Livingston County, 
hundreds of Indians from the Shiawassee and 
Grand River regions passed and repassed annually ; 
the throng being always particularly large at the 
time when they went down to receive their annui- 
ties. These yearly payments were made in the 
early times by both the United States and the 
British governments, the latter usually paying at 
Maiden. The amount paid there was fifty cents a 
head to Indians of all ages, from the red patriarch 
of eighty years to the papoose at its mother's 
back. On these occasions, therefore, every mem- 
ber of the several tribes took the trail, to be pres- 
ent at the muster for pay. The British did not 
long continue their Indian payments, and after a 
time the United States adopted the plan of paying 
at inland points (principally at Saginaw), to avoid 
the demoralization which ensued from vast collec- 
tions of Indians at Detroit. 

I'Vom the time when the attention of white im- 
migrants first began to be drawn towards the lands 
lying west and northwest of Detroit, the United 
States government had entertained plans for the 
gradual emigration of the Indians fiom Michigan, 
and their settlement together upon new lands west 
of the Mississippi, or at least beyond Lake Michi- 



gan. This project was pressed upon them by 
General Cass at the treaty of Saginaw, in Septem- 
ber, 1 8 19, but they positively and indignantly 
refused to consider it. This repulse, however, did 
not cause the government to abandon its cherished 
idea, and finally, after many long years of persua- 
sion, the minds of the red men seemed to have 
become fully prepared to entertain the proposition 
for ultinuate removal to the new countries of the 
far West. 

At the commencement of 1837, Mr. Henry R. 
Schoolcraft, as Indian commissioner, met the chiefs 
and delegates of the Saginaiu tribe of Chippcwas 
at Detroit, where, on the 14th of January, a treaty 
was concluded by the terms of which the tribe 
agreed to remove from the State of Michigan as 
soon as a proper location could be obtained, and 
for this purpose it was stipulated that a deputation 
should be sent to view the country occupied by 
their kindred tribes west of the most westerly point 
of Lake Superior ; " and if an arrangement for their 
future and permanent residence can be made there, 
which shall be satisfactory to them and to the 
government, they shall be permitted to form a re- 
union with such tribes and remove thereto. If 
such arrangement cannot be effected, the govern- 
ment of the United States will use its influence to 
obtain such location west of the Mississippi River 
as the legislation of Congress may indicate." 

The above was amended by a new treaty con- 
cluded on the 20th of December, 1837, at Flint 
River, between Henry R. Schoolcraft, commis- 
sioner, and the Saginaw chiefs and delegates, by 
the terms of which the United States agreed to 
reserve a location for the tribe " on the head-waters 
of the Osage River, in the country visited by a 
delegation of the said tribe during the present 
year; to be of proper extent agreeably to their 
numbers, embracing a due proportion of wood and 
water, and lying contiguous to tribes of kindred 
language ;" the meaning and intent of this being 
to nullify and abrogate that article of the treaty of 
January 14, 1S37, which entitled them to a location 
in the country lying west of Lake Superior. It 
was provided b\- the treaty that the sum of fifty 
cents for each acre of Indian land sold bj- the 
United States should be reserved "as an indemni- 
fication for the location to be furnished for their 
future permanent residence and to constitute a fund 
for emigrating thereto." 

The plan of Indian emigration from Michigan, 
formed and fostered by the government and as- 
sented to by the chiefs in the treaties of Detroit 
and Flint River, was partially carried into effect, 
though against the protestations and entreaties of 
the Indians, who had bitterly repented of the prom- 



i6 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



ises made by their chiefs at the treaties named. 
In the montli of September, 1839, a sad procession 
of some hundreds of Indians, in charge of United 
States troops, passed westward through Livingston, 
bound for the new lands which had been assigned 
them beyond the Mississippi. There are yet many 
citizens of the county who recollect the passage of 
that dejected company. Mr. Joseph B. Skilbeck 
and others, in Howell, remember their own feelings 
of indignation at seeing the helpless e.xiles driven 
by soldiers, like cattle through the main street of 
the village, and herded temporarily for rest upon 
the old public square. But the indignation and 
sympathy of the white spectators availed nothing, 
and the unwilling emigrants passed on their weary 
way to the place of their banishment. 

Of the Shiazvnssccs, and other tribes or bands of 
the Saginaiv Cliippcwa nation, but few were re- 
moved from the State. The government did not 
insist on the performance of their agreement, and 
no general Western emigration took place ; but 
eventually the bands became in a great measure 
broken up, and the individual members gradually 
scattered away farther towards the north and west, 
some of them afterwards becoming the owners of 
small tracts by purchase (a course which was en- 
couraged by the government), many removed to 
reservations in Isabella County, where they or 
their children are still living; and some crossed the 
river and lake into Canada. 



CHAPTER II. 

CESSIONS OF INDIAN LANDS — SETTLEMENT 
OF THE COUNTY. 

Treaty of Greenville — Tre.ity of Detroit and Cession of Lands, 
including the present County of Livingston — Treaty of Spring- 
wells — Treaty of Saginaw — Settlement of the County — Low 
Estimate of the Value of Michigan Lands by Travelers and 
Surveyors — Slow Progress of Settlement in consequence — Cor- 
rection of the Mistaken Opinion — Settlement of the Territory 
now Livingston County — Unusu.al Advantages Enjoyed by Set- 
tlers here — Friendliness of their Indian Neighbors — Regard of 
the Eirly Settlers for Education and Religious Worship. 

CESSIONS OF LANDS BY INDIANS. 

The United States government, from the time 
of its formation, has recognized the possessory 
rights of the Indian tribes in the soil ; and the 
principle has been established that these rights 
can only be acquired by the government, or with 
its consent, and can only be alienated from the 
native Indians by their own voluntary act, done in 
public and open council, where the tribes are rep- 



resented by their chiefs and head men, and the 
governtnent by its accredited agent or commis- 
sioner. This principle has always been acted on, 
and this method observed, by the government in 
its treaties with Indians for the acquisition of their 
possessory rights in the public domain. 

TRE.VTY OF GREENVILLE IN 1795. 

The first Indian treaty by which the aboriginal 
title to lands now within the State of Michigan was 
extinguished was made on the third of August, 
1795, at Greenville, Ohio, by General Anthony 
Wayne, on behalf of the United States, with repre- 
sentatives of the Wyandots, SJiazvancsc, Ottazvas, 
Cliippcivas, Pottawattaviics ,7\.\\A several other tribes. 
By the terms of that treaty the Indians ceded to 
the United States government " the post of De- 
troit, and all the lands to the north, the west, and 
the south of it, of which the Indian title has been 
extinguished by gifts or grants to the French or 
English governments, and so much more land to 
be annexed to the district of Detroit as shall be 
comprehended between the river Rosine (Raisin) 
on the south, Lake St. Clair on the north, and a 
line, the general course whereof shall be si.x miles 
distant from the west end of Lake Erie and Detroit 
River. Several other large tracts were also ceded 
by the treaty; among these being "the post of 
Michilimackinac, all the island, and lands on the 
mainland adjacent," and the island of Bois Blanc, 
— mentioned as being an e.xtra and voluntary gift 
of the Chippciva nation. Also among the lands 
ceded by this treaty was " one piece of land six 
miles square at the mouth of Chikago River emp- 
tying into the southwest end of Lake Michigan." 
It was expressly stipulated in the treaty that, in 
consideration of the peace then and there estab- 
lished, and of the relinquishments made by the 
Indians, as well as to manifest the liberality of the 
United States as the means of making the peace 
strong and perpetual, "the United States relin- 
quish their claims to all other Indian lands north- 
ward of the river Ohio, eastward of the Mississippi, 
and westward and southward of the great lakes and 
the waters uniting them,* according to the bound- 
ary line agreed on between the United States and 
the King of Great Britain in the peace made be- 
tween thetii in the year 1783." And it was de- 
clared that "the. Indian tribes who have a right to 
those lands are quietly to enjoy them, hunting, 
planting, and dwelling thereon so long as they 

*In its relinquishment of these lands, however, the government 
excepted tlie post of Vincennes, on the Wabash, the jjost of Fort 
Mariac, towards the mouth of the Ohio, and lands at other places, 
actually in the occupation of French or other white settlers, to 
which the Indian title had before been extinguishel. 



CESSIONS OF INDIAN LANDS. 



17 



please, without any molestation from the United 
States ; but when those tribes, or any of them, shall 
be disposed to sell their lands, or any part of them, 
they are to be sold only to the United States ; and 
until such sale the United States will protect the 
said Indian tribes in the quiet enjoyment of their 
lands against all citizens of the United States, and 
against ail other white persons who intrude upon 
the same; . . . and if any citizen of the United 
States, or any other white person or persons, shall 
presume to settle upon the lands now relinquished 
by the United States, such citizen or other person 
shall be out of the protection of the United States, 
and the Indian tribe on whose land such settlement 
shall be made may drive off the settler, or punish 
him in such manner as they shall think fit ; and be- 
cause such settlements, made without the consent 
of the United States, will be injurious to them as 
well as to the Indians, the United States shall be 
at liberty to break them up, and remove and punish 
the settlers as they shall think proper, and so to 
effect the protection of the Indian lands herein- 
before stipulated." The Indians were also allowed, 
under the treaty, to have the privilege of hunting 
and fishing over all the ceded territoiy during 
their good behavior. 

TREATIES OF DETROIT (1S07), OF SPRINGWELLS 
(1815), AND SAGINAW (1S19). 

The treaty by which the entire southeastern part 
of Michigan (including all of the present county 
of Livingston) was ceded to the United States 
government was made and concluded at Detroit 
on the 17th of November, 1807, "by William 
Hull, Governor of the Territory of Michigan, Su- 
perintendent of Indian Affairs, and sole commis- 
sioner of the United States to conclude and sign a 
treaty or treaties with the several nations of In- 
dians northwest of the river Ohio, on the one 
part, and the sachems, chiefs, and warriors of the 
Otlaivay, Cldppczvay , Wyandotte , and Pottaivattaiinc 
nations of Indians on the other part." The terri- 
tory here ceded by the Indians, in consideration of 
goods and money paid and to be paid to them by 
the United States, was described in the treaty as 
"beginning at the mouth of the Miami River of 
the Lakes [meaning the Maumee], and running 
thence up the middle thereof to the mouth of the 
great Auglaize River; thence running due north 
until it intersects a parallel of latitude to be drawn 
from the outlet of Lake Huron, which forms the 
river Sinclair; thence running northeast on the 
course that may be found will lead in a direct line 
to White Rock, in Lake Huron; thence due east 
until it intersects the boundary line between the 
United States and Upper Canada, in said lake ; 
3 



then southwardly, following the said boundary line 
down said lake, through the river Sinclair, Lake 
St. Clair, and the river Detroit into Lake Erie, to a 
point due east of the aforesaid Miami [Maumee] 
River ; thence west to the place of beginning." 
For this cession, the government stipulated to pay 
(in money, goods, agricultural implements, or do- 
mestic animals, at the discretion of the superin- 
tendent of Indian affairs) the sum of three thou- 
sand three hundred and thirty-three dollars and 
thirty-three cents each to the OttaivaxnwA ChippraHi 
tribes, and one-half that amount each to the Potta- 
wattamics and IVyaiidots. with a perpetual annuity 
of two thousand dollars to each of the first-men- 
tioned tribes, and one-half that sum to each of the 
others ; all to be paid at Detroit. And it was fur- 
ther declared in the treaty, that "the United States, 
to manifest their liberality and disposition to en- 
courage the said Indians in agriculture, further 
stipulate to furnish the said Indians with two 
blacksmiths ; one to reside with the CIdppcivas at 
Saginaw, and the other with the Oltaivas at the 
Miami, during the term of ten years; said black- 
smiths are to do such work for the said nations as 
shall be most useful to them." 

The second line mentioned in the description 
of the tract here ceded — that is, the line running 
due north from the mouth of the Auglaize River, 
and a prolongation of it to the Straits of Macki- 
naw — was afterwards adopted by the United States 
surveyors as the principal meridian line of the 
lower peninsula of Michigan. The territory ceded 
by the Indians at the treaty of Detroit embraced 
all of Michigan lying east of that line as far north 
as the centre of the present county of Shiawassee, 
and extending from thence in a northeastwardly 
direction to the shore of Lake Huron, at a point 
a little above the northern bound.iry of the county 
of Sanilac. Within this ceded territory the In- 
dians reserved several tracts for their own uses 
(none of them, however, being within the limits 
of Livingston County), and they were also to have 
the privilege of hunting and fishing, under the 
same conditions as stipulated in the treaty of 
Greenville. 

The Chippewa, Ottawa, and Pottawattamie na- 
tions, by the offensive alliance which they made 
with the British in the war of 1812-15, and their 
general conduct through that struggle, were con- 
sidered to have justly forfeited the lands reserved 
to them. Nevertheless, the government magnan- 
imously determined not to enforce the forfeiture, 
but to adopt a conciliatory and friendly policy 
towards them; and in September, 1S15, General 
William H. Harrison, General McArthur, and 
John Graham, Esq., on the part of the govern- 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



ment, held a council witii them at Springvvells, 
near Detroit, where, on the eighth of that month, 
a treaty was concluded, by which it was agreed 
that " the United States give peace to the Cliip- 
pciva, Ottawa, and Pottawattamie tribes. They 
also agree to restore to the said Chippewa, Ottawa, 
and Pottazoattai//ii' tribes all the possessions, rights, 
and privileges which they enjoyed or were entitled 
to in the year iSii, prior to the commencement 
of the late war with Great Britain ; and the said 
tribes upon their part agree to place themselves 
under the protection of the United States, and of 
no other power whatsoever." And, at the same 
time, the treaty made at Greenville in 1795, and 
subsequent treaties between these tribes and the 
United States, were confirmed and ratified. 

At the treaty of Saginaw, made and concluded 
on the twenty-fourth of September, 1819, by Gen- 
eral Lewis Cass, Indian Commissioner, supported 
by a large retinue of officials, and guarded by a 
battalion of the Third United States Infantry, on 
one part, and by one hundred and fourteen C/iip- 
pc-wa and Ottawa chiefs, accompanied by some 
thousands of the people of their nations, on the 
other, an immense tract of country, north of the 
previous cessions, and extending west from the 
principal meridian to near the village of Kalama- 
zoo, and thence northward to Thunder Bay River, 
was ceded to the United States ; but this had no 
reference to the territory now included in Living- 
stoo County, for in this, the Indian title had been 
wholly extinguished by the cession made at De- 
troit in 1807. 

LOW ESTIMATE OF THE VALUE OF MICHIGAN 
LANDS. 

Until after the close of the last war between the 
United States and Great Britain, so little of actual 
knowledge had been gained concerning the Terri- 
tory of Michigan that — with the exception of a 
limited region lying along the Detroit River, and 
contiguous to a few of the more important points 
on Lakes Huron, Michigan, and St. Clair — the 
whole of the lower peninsula might properly have 
been termed an une.vplored and unknown country. 
In the first year of that war an act was passed by 
Congress requiring that two millions of acres of 
land in each of the (then) Territories of Michigan, 
Illinois, and Louisiana — in all six million acres — 
should be surveyed and set apart as military tracts, 
out of which each soldier serving in the armies of 
the United States in the war with England should 
be entitled to receive one hundred and si.xty acres 
of land fit for cultivation. Under the provisions 
of this act surveys were made ; but, while engaged 
in the work, the surveyors seem to have formed an 



idea of the country here similar to that expressed 
by Honton, one of the early French travelers, who, 
having had a glimpse of some of the swampy re- 
gions bordering the lakes and rivers, recorded as his 
opinion of the peninsula lying between the lakes, 
that it was in truth "the fag-end of the world." 
Much the same was the estimation in which these 
lands were held by the surveyor-general, as will 
be seen by the following extract from his report 
made November 13, 181 5, and having reference to 
the Michigan surveys, viz. : " The country on the 
Indian boundary line from the mouth of the Great 
Auglaize River [that is, the line established by the 
treaty of Detroit, in 1807, and identical, or nearly 
so, with the principal meridian of the government 
surveys], and running thence for about fifty miles, 
is, with some few e.xceptions, low, wet land, with a 
very thick growth of underbrush, intermixed with 
very bad marshes, but generally very heavily tim- 
bered with beech, cottonwood, oak, etc. ; thence, 
continuinsf north, and extendincf from the Indian 
boundary eastward, the number and extent of the 
swamps increases, with the addition of numbers of 
lakes from twenty chains to two and three miles 
across. Many of these lakes have extensive 
marshes adjoining their margins, sometimes thickly 
covered with a species of pine called tamarack, 
and other places covered with a coarse, high grass, 
and uniformly covered from six inches to three 
feet (and more at times) with water. The margins 
of these lakes are not the only places where swamps 
are found, for they are interspersed throughout the 
whole country and filled with water, as above 
stated, and varying in extent. 

"The intermediate space between these swamps 
and lakes — which is probably near one-half of the 
country — is, with very few e.xceptions, a poor, 
barren, sandy land, on which scarcely any vege- 
tation grows, except very small, scrubby oaks. In 
many places that part which may be called dry 
land is composed of little, short sand-hills forming 
a kind of deep basins, the bottoms of many of 
which are composed of marsh similar to the above 
de.scribed. The streams are generally narrow, and 
very deep compared with their width, the shores 
and bottoms of which are, with very few excep- 
tions, swampy beyond description ; and it is with 
the utmost difficulty that a place can be found over 
which iiorses can be conveyed in safety. 

"A circumstance peculiar to that country is ex- 
hibited in many of the marshes, by their being 
thinly covered with a sward of grass, by walking 
on which evinces the existence of water, or a very 
thin mud, immediately under their covering, which 
sinks from six to eighteen inches under the pressure 
of the foot at every step, and at the same time rises 



SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY. 



19 



before and bchiiul the person passing over it. Tlie 
mart,nns of many of the lakes and streams are in 
similar situation, and in many places are literally 
afloat. On approaching the eastern part of the 
military land, towards the private claims on the 
straits and lake, the country does not contain so 
many swamps and lakes, but the extreme sterility 
and barrenness of the soil continue the same. 
Taking the country altogether, so far as it has 
been explored, and to all appearances, together 
with information received concerning the balance, 
it is so bad that titere 'would not be more than one 
iuir out of (T lutndrcd, if there would be one out of a 
tliousand, that ivould in any case admit of cultiva- 
tion." 

Probably the above was an honest expression 
of opinion on the part of the surveyor-general, 
who, of course, based his report on the informa- 
tion furnished him by his subordinates who per- 
formed the work in the field ; but how they could 
have been so deceived (if indeed they zvere so 
far deceived as to believe the disparaging state- 
ments which they made) is certainly a mystery. 
However it may have been brought about, the 
result was that Congress passed a law (April 29, 
1816) repealing so much of the act of 1812 as 
authorized the locating of soldiers' lands in Mich- 
igan, and, in lieu thereof, providing for the survey 
of one million five hundred thousand acres in 
Missouri; so that the brave men who had periled 
their lives for their country should not be wronged 
and insulted by the donation of lands of which, 
according to the surveyors' reports, not one acre 
in a hundred was fit for cultivation. 

The natural effect of all this was to bring the 
Territory of Michigan into contempt as a country 
unfit for agriculture; and this belief was fostered 
by the Indian traders, who were thoroughly ac- 
quainted with the interior country and its capabil- 
ities, but were only too willing to assist in perpet- 
uating the delusion, in order to postpone the evil 
day (as they regarded it) when their lucrative busi- 
ness should be ruined by the advance of white 
immigration and settlement. And so there grew 
up a belief, which became well-nigh universal, that 
all this region, now so beautiful and productive, 
was a land of irreclaimable swamps and barren 
sand-knolls, the home of every species of malarial 
disease, which must forever remain unfit for culture 
or white occupation; and that its obvious destiny 
must be to continue in the possession of wild 
beasts and the aborigines. 

There were those, however, who believed that 
this judgment was a false, or at least a hasty one ; 
and chief among those who were skeptical as to 
the absolute worthlessness of Michifjan lands v/as 



Governor Lewis Cass, who not only doubted, but 
resolved to test its truth, and to disprove or prove 
it by the evidence of his own senses ; and to that 
end he set out from Detroit, accompanied by Hon. 
Austin E. Wing and two or three other friends, on 
a tour of observation and discovery. Through the 
first stage of their Northwestern journey, after 
leaving the town, the aspect was by no means re- 
assuring, and as their horses sunk knee-deep in the 
sloughs or wallowed through the marshy places 
along that trail whose horrors and miseries after- 
wards became so well known to the pioneers, it 
really seemed as if the dismal tales of the survey- 
ors and Indian traders would be more than verified. 
But at last, after having floundered over a distance 
which seemed a hundred miles, but which in reality 
was not more than one eighth part of it, they 
emerged upon higher ground and into a more open 
and desirable country, which is now the southeast- 
ern part of the superb county of Oakland. From 
that point their journey continued easy and unob- 
structed towards the northwest, over a dry and 
rolling country, through beautiful open groves of 
oak, and along the margins of pure and limpid 
waters. One of the.se latter they named Wing 
Lake, in honor of a member of the party; another 
(the largest sheet of water in Oakland) they called 
Cass Lake; while a little farther on they named a 
lovely lake for Elizabeth, the governor's wife. 
During their journey (which was of about a week's 
duration) they penetrated more than half-way 
across Oakland County; and when they returned 
they carried back with them the knowledge and 
proof that Michigan was not the worthless desert 
which it had been represented; but, instead, a 
beautiful and fertile land, awaiting only the touch 
of the settler's axe and plow, and ready to yield an 
abundant increase to reward his toil. 

SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY. 

The earliest settlements in Livingston County 
were made in its southern and southeastern parts, 
they being comparatively easy of access to immi- 
grants, who at that time came to the interior por- 
tions of the State from Detroit by way of Ann 
Arbor, the route by way of Royal Oak, Birming- 
ham, and Walled Lake, in Oakland County, not 
being in use until a somewhat later date. 

The first white person who came to make his 
home within the present limits of the county was 
Colonel Solomon Peterson, who settled on Portage 
Creek, in the township now Putnam, in the year 
1828, his location being then included in the 
county of Washtenaw. Some years elapsed be- 
fore the colonel had any white neighbors in this 
township. 



20 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Next to Putnam, Green Oak was the eailiest 
settled township, its first settlers being Stephen 
Lee and Benjamin Curtis, who came to make their 
homes there in the fall of the year 1830. 

Hartland's first settler was Colonel Samuel 
Mapes, from Niagara County, New York. The 
date of his coming to Hartland is not precisely 
known, but it was in either 1831 or 1832. One 
of his earliest neighbors in the town was Eli Lee, 
who came a year or two later. They had neigh- 
bors not far away, liowever, across the county line, 
in Oakland, as both settled in the east part of the 
township. 

Hamburg received its first settler in the person 
of Jesse Hall, who located there with his family in 
October, 1 83 1. In November of the same year 
Heman Lake settled in the same town, near its 
southeastern corner. 

Elijah Marsh and Job Cranston, the first settlers 
in Brighton, became residents in that township in 
the fall of 1832. Gardner Bird settled there in the 
following February. 

The last settled of the southern tier of townships 
was Unadilla, in which Eli Ruggles became the 
first resident, in June, 1833. He did not remain 
permanently, but after a time returned to Connec- 
ticut, from whence lie had come to Michigan. 
The ne.xt settlers in Unadilla after Mr. Ruggles 
were James Craig, Archibald Marshall, and David 
Holmes (all from Connecticut), who came to this 
township in the fall of 1833. 

In the same year, the first settlement was made in 
the northern tier of townships by Gilbert W. Pren- 
tiss, who built his shanty on or near the Shiawassee 
River, in township four, range four, now Cohoctah. 
He did not come, however, for the purpose of clear- 
ing and cultivating a farm as his future home, but 
only with the object of trading with the Indians; 
and it was not until the following )'ear that a per- 
manent settlement was made in the township by 
Mr. Sanford and family. Two other towns of the 
northern tier received their first settlers in the 
same year (1834), viz., John How, Sr., in Deerfield, 
in June, and George Cornell in the southern part 
of Tyrone in November. Five other settlers came 
to the same part of the same town in the follow- 
ing spring, viz., Isaac Cornell, Henry A. Cornell, 
Joseph M. Becker, William H. Berry, and William 
Dawson; and George Dibble settled .on the north 
line of Tyrone at about the same time. All these 
immigrants came into the county by the route 
through Oakland. 

In the central part of Livingston, settlements 
were made in 1834, by Sardis Davis, on the north 
line of Marion ; by James Sage, George T. Sage, 
David Austin, and Jonathan Austin, in Howell 



township, in June; by John D. Pinckney, in the 
same township, late in the fall. 

In Oceola, H. H. Graves settled in August, 
1834, and Harry Neff came to the same town in 
the fall of that year. They were without neighbors 
in the township until the following June, when 
Thomas V. Parshall became a settler there, and 
two or three others came later in the season. 

In Genoa, Thomas Pinckney, Pardon Barnard, 
and Ely Barnard (these last two being bachelors) 
settled in the summer of 1835. In the same season 
Deacon Israel Branch settled in Marion, on the 
Howell town line. 

Settlements were made in Handy, in June, 1836, 
by Calvin Handy and Charles P. Bush, the former 
being the first arrival by a week or two. 

Iosco was settled in the summer of the same 
year, by George C. Wood, Richard M. Guggins, 
and Asel Stow, father of the Hon. Isaac Stow, of 
that township. 

In Conway, Julius F. Parsons, Levi Parsons, the 
Strong and Fay fainilies, Timothy Wait, and 
Robert Coborn made settlements in 1837. Mr. 
Coborn, coming in by way of Shiawassee County, 
settled on or near the north line of the township. 

The above is intended merely as a notice of the 
very earliest settlements, and the dates at which 
they were made in the different portions of the 
county. Detailed accounts of settlements and 
settlers form the most important part of the history 
of townships ; and such accounts will be found in 
subsequent pages, and in their proper connection. 

The experience of pioneers in all new countries 
is of necessity largely made up of privation and 
often of actual suffering ; these varying in degree 
according to the character, location, and capabili- 
ties of the region in which they settle, and to va- 
rious contingent circumstances. And this universal 
rule held good with the early settlers of Livingston 
County. Nearly all of them were farmers, or the 
sons of farmers, and most of them had left good 
and comfortable surroundings in the old and highly 
cultivated State of New York, ambitious and eager 
to resume their calling on the virgin lands of Mich- 
igan, where they hoped in time to make as good 
homes as those in which their earlier years had 
been passed, and to become owners of farms as 
well cultivated, and far more extensive than they 
could have hoped to possess in the East. Their 
wives — in most instances the daughters of well to- 
do or wealthy parents — cheerfully left their early 
associations and the civilization of the old State, 
and came, — sometimes as newly-made brides, — 
braving the then formidable perils of Lake Erie, 
and the worse horrors of the land- passage west of 
Detroit, to perform their part as pioneer women in 



SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY. 



21 



the wilderness of Livingston County; but many a 
one of tlicsc has felt her heart fail and her eyes 
grow dim with tears as she sat within the single, 
ill-lighted room of her floorless and mud-chinked 
log cabin, and mentally contrasted it with the com- 
modious farm-house, or, may be, the home of ease 
and elegance which she had left. And at night, 
when the silence of the hours was only broken 
by the wolf-howl, which had not yet become fa- 
miliar to her ears, she thought of cheery visits by 
friends and neighbors, of sleighing, of social gath- 
erings, and of the many comforts and delights 
which she had known in that far-away land of her 
youth, which she might, perhaps, never see again. 

The isolation of the settlers was almost com- 
plete during the first few years. So widely apart 
were they, that neighborship really did not exist 
in Livingston until after 1836. By the great in- 
flu.x of settlers in that year the population of the 
county was more than quintupled, and after that 
time social intercourse to some extent became 
possible, and was highly appreciated, especially by 
the female part of the community, on whom the 
deprivation had borne most heavily. The men 
endured it better, not only because differently con- 
stituted by nature, but because they were com- 
pelled occasionally to intermit the severe labor on 
their lands to make trips to Ann Arbor, or Salem, 
or Detroit to procure a few necessaries of life, 
which they purchased at exorbitant prices, and 
often brought back to their cabins on their own 
strong shoulders. These trips were no less labo- 
rious than the work of clearing and grubbing, but 
they served to break an almost insupportable mo- 
notony, and to renew hope and courage by contact 
with their fellow-men. The journeys to mill were 
also, to most of the settlers, very long and tedious, 
and, to many of them, involved an absence of two 
or three days. But this inconvenience, too, was 
greatly ameliorated, after 1836, by the erection of 
additional mills at more accessible points. 

But although the settlers in Livingston County 
were called on to endure — and did endure hero- 
ically — many hardships and privations which are 
inseparable from the life of the pioneer in any new 
country, they were yet exempt from many others 
which fall upon those who make the first settle- 
ments in less favored regions. One of the principal 
reasons which the early inhabitants of Livingston 
had for gratitude in this particular was their inmiu- 
nity from all danger of Indian barbarity. In the 
old settlements of Pennsylvania, New lingland, 
Eastern New York, and Michigan in the earlier 
times, the pioneer never slept free from danger of 
attack and massacre ; he never left his home with- 
out the consciousness that his cabin misrht be 



burned and his family butchered or carried into 
captivity before his return, and he never worked 
in his clearing but with his rifle in reach. But 
here the first comers braved no such danger. The 
settler might build his cabin in any spot, however 
isolated, miles away from neighbors or any possible 
assistance, and yet sleep in peace at night and work 
unarmed in his fields by day, without fear of harm 
from the hands of the red man, for the spirit of 
the Chippewa and the Pottaivattamic was cowed, 
their ancient ferocity gone, and they kept the 
promise to live in peace with the pale-face. 

There were, as has before been mentioned, a 
large number of Indians in Livingston County 
when the first settlers came in, and for a number 
of years afterwards. They roamed through the 
county in all directions, — principally on the trails 
and along the borders of the lakes and streams, — 
and were frequent callers at the dwellings of the 
pioneers. Settlers, and particularly settlers' wives, 
for a time after their arrival were often somewhat 
alarmed at the sudden appearance of a dark-faced 
crowd around their cabin, and the fearful stories of 
Wyoming and Cherry Valley would flash to their 
minds and blanch their cheeks ; but the hearty and 
good-humored laugh, in which the Indian always 
indulged on perceiving that his presence inspired 
fear, would dispel the alarm, and after a short time 
an Indian was hardly more dreaded than a grazing 
deer. Mr. William C. Rumsey, now of Howell, 
relates his first meeting with Indians in the sum- 
mer of 1833 at his farm, on Green Oak Plains, as 
follows : " In the winter of 1832-33, while making 
my home at Ann Arbor, it being the winter after 
the Black Hawk war, I heard a good inany Indian 
stories, which were well calculated to startle a new- 
comer. I did not have the privilege of seeing one 
until the month of June, 1833, while peaceably at 
work on my place alone, — the nearest house a half- 
mile distant, and the ne.xt two miles off. The first 
thing I knew was a couple of Indians came up 
behind me and saluted me. Looking up and be- 
holding some three hundred or more men, women, 
and children soon surrounding me, I thought my 
time had come. Concealing my fright as much as 
possible, all I could understand of their talk was 
'whisky.' I shook my head to all their talk. After 
examining my jug near by, and satisfying them- 
selves that it contained no whisky, they left me 
and went on their way, some of them laughing, I 
suppose, at my fright. Tiiey came upon me so 
suddenly and unexpectedly that I was not pre- 
pared for that kind of a show. I left soon after 
for my boarding-place, giving my nervous system 
time to recuperate." 

As in their interview with Mr. Rumsey, so the 



22 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



red men were always on the lookout for and anx- 
ious to obtain whisky; and they would always 
become intoxicated when they were able to pro- 
cure it in sufficient quantities. But it is the testi- 
mony of an old settler, that even when under the 
influence of the poison, " they were less to be 
dreaded than the same number of whites in the 
same condition." 

Besides being inoffensive and friendly, the In- 
dians were really useful to the settlers in a small 
way, by furnishing them with articles of food and 
utility. They brought game, fish, honey, sugar, 
beeswax, dressed deer-skins, baskets, and some 
other articles, and were always desirous to sell 
these, or to barter for other commodities. Fine 
saddles of venison, or wild turkeys, were sometimes 
sold by them for two cents per pound, at a time 
when pork was worth twenty-five dollars a barrel 
in Detroit, and flour brought twelve dollars per 
barrel. An instance is mentioned where a turkey 
of twenty-five pounds weight was given by an 
Indian in exchange for a quart of whisky cost- 
ing twenty-five cents per gallon; and a bushel of 
berries for the same equivalent. Any article pos- 
sessed by an Indian could be purchased from him 
for a small amount of whisky; but the idea is not 
intended to be conveyed that the settlers, or many 
of them, practiced that kind of barter for the 
sake of profit to themselves. Other articles than 
whisky were desired by the Indians, such as flour, 
meal, and salt. The first two of these, however, 
were too scarce (previous to the harvest of 1838) 
to be bartered by the settlers, who found it ex- 
tremely difficult to obtain them in sufficient quan- 
tities for their own necessities. Deer-skins, nicely 
dressed by the Indian method, were plenty among 
them, and were freely bartered or sold to the 
whites. "I have seen," says Mr. Isaac Stow, 
" whole suits of clothing made from Indian-tanned 
buckskin worn by white men, and pants made of 
this material were very common." The price of 
a good dressed deer-skin was three or four shil- 
lings if purchased, and a corresponding amount of 
other articles (according to the ideas of the Indian 
owner) in barter. A large proportion of the earl)' 
male settlers wore articles of clothing made from 
these skins. But it was principally in the fur- 
nishing of game and fish as articles of food that 
the Indian trade was most advantageous to the 
people, and it is said that supplies from this source 
have often been received with gratitude by families 
who were temporarily destitute of other provisions. 

The abundance of fish and game in this county 
in the early years of its settlement is spoken of as 
having been almost marvelous. Mr. Daniel Case, 
of Howell, mentioned that he saw t\vent)'-t\vo deer 



in one day, while looking for land with James 
Sage, and hundreds of wild turkeys were often 
seen in a day's travel. The Hon. Ralph Fowler 
says he has seen from his own door eight or ten 
deer browsing in the timber near by (but he also 
says lynxes and bears were more plenty than was 
desirable, and that in the first season of his resi- 
dencejlere he killed one hundred and twenty-five 
massAsaugers). The Hon. Isaac Stow, of Iosco, 
says, "Wild game was abundant, and contributed 
largely to tlie supplies of the early pioneer, espec- 
ially the deer and wild turkey ; the former being 
so common that, thougli they furnished the red 
man with food and clothing, they might almost 
daily be seen leisurely feeding or gamboling in the 
forests." Mrs. C. W. Burwell, of Genoa, in her 
pioneer reminiscences of that town, said, "The 
winter (1836-37) was very mild, with only snow 
enough to be pleasant, as were many of the suc- 
ceeding winters. The deer were very numerous, 
would come almost to the door, and if we went 
only a little distance from the house we were 
almost sure to see two or more of the graceful 
creatures. Once, and once only, we were sur- 
rounded by wolves ; we did not seek for nor 
admire them as we did the deer. Game of all 
kinds was very plenty, also fish in great abund- 
ance in our numerous lakes; a great help and 
luxury to new-comers." 

To be located in a region thus teeming with 
Nature's gifts was an advantage seldom enjoyed 
by settlers in new countries. Besides the partial 
supplies of game and fish furnished by their 
friendly Indian neighbors, the settlers themselves 
(most of whom were adepts with the rifle and fish- 
ing-gear) could easily gain from the forests and 
streams sufficient store of food at least to keep the 
wolf of hunger away from their cabins ; and many 
did supplement their slender supplies in this man- 
ner during the period of scarcity and ruinous 
prices of food which preceded the abundant har- 
vest of 1838. Notwithstanding these resources, 
however, actual suffering for lack of food did 
occur among the settlers in Livingston in those 
years, as appears from the following extract from 
an address of the Hon. W. A. Clark, before the 
Pioneer Society, in 1876. He said, " Families, 
to my knowledge, in 1837-38 lived for days, 
through necessity, on boiled acorns, with fish 
cooked and eaten without salt or fat of any kind. 
Provisions were then often held at fabulous prices; 
. . . beef, pork, and flour had to be brought from 
Detroit, at a cost of from one to two dollars per 
hundred, to Brighton, forty miles. It was not so 
very high, either, for the round trip, with an ener- 
getic teamster and an enterprising team, usually 



SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY. 



23 



took three to four days, if not longer." But even 
when mentioning the straits to which some fami- 
lies were brought for food in those trying times, 
Mr. Clark also shows that fish was a principal 
article of their scanty diet, and that without this 
aid, furnished from the prolific waters of Living- 
ston, their fare must have been still more meagre. 
After the harvest of 1838 all this was changed, 
and whereas, before that time, wheat had sold at 
two dollars per bushel, with flour, of course, in 
proportion, and other provisions at an equally ex- 
orbitant rate, after that time wheat was so abun- 
dant that it sometimes sold at less than three 
shillings.* Thenceforth, scarcity was unknown ; 
and the opposite condition — that of too great abun- 
dance — was complained of by many as a calamity. 
And it was such, in so far as the exceedingly low 
prices prevented farmers from realizing a money 
profit from their agriculture. But the calamity of 
seeing their granaries bursting with stores of un- 
salable bread-stuffs was a light one to the settlers 
compared with that of seeing their families in 
danger of suffering for lack of provisions. 

It was an advantage of no little importance pos- 
sessed by the early settlers in Livingston over 
pioneers in many other and less favored regions, 
that they found here a country ready for immediate 
use in the processes of agriculture. Instead of a 
dense and unbroken forest, extending over all the 
county, they found a large proportion of the lands 
to consist of beautiful oak-openings, occasionally 
interspersed with old Indian fields. In most of 
these the soil was comparatively easily worked, 
and frjable, and crops could be put in here with a 
ver\' small proportion of the delay and laborious 
])reparation which is necessary to bring heavily 
timbered lands into fit condition for cultivation. 

Another and a very decided advantage was 
found in the unsightly marshes, which had been 
so contemptuously mentioned by the government 
surveyors. On these marshes there grew a heavy 
burden of tall coarse grasses, which, in the absence 
of timothy, clover, or other cultivated fodder, fur- 
nished very good food for cattle. Plain grass was 
also found in abundance in the openings (probably 
brought in by the annual fires kindled there by the 
Indians during many previous years), and this was 
equally good and nutritious. The existence of 

* Mr. R.ilph Fowler, in speaking of times in Livingston Couniy 
in 1844-45, s.iys al that time he hauled his wheat to Detroit, and 
there sold it al forly-foiir cents a bushel, receiving his pay in bills 
of the St. Clair Hank, which failed before he left ihe cily, and he 
sold the money at fifty per cent, of its face. " Vou could not," 
says Mr. Kowlcr, "sell the best fat cow in town for five ilullais 
in money." People became tliscour.igc<l at ihc very abunilance, 
and some returned to llieir old houKS in New Vurk Stale, though 
probably most of them came back to Michigan afterwards. 



these, enabled the settlers here (who were nearly 
all men of sufficient means to purchase stock) to 
bring cattle with them at the time of their settle- 
ment, without fear that the animals would die for 
lack of subsistence during the first or succeeding 
winters. Many of the first settlers in Livingston 
did so bring cattle with them, and they derived 
great benefit from being able to do so, as well as 
from the ease and facility with which they were 
able to .start their crops in the openings, thus 
avoiding much of the usual preliminary work of 
clearing, hand labor without the aid of teams, 
weary waiting until lands are made ready, seeds 
planted, and harvests finally secured, — a period in 
which the pioneer in general, experiences more of 
hardship and suffering than he is ever again called 
on to endure. 

Taken as a whole, with all attending circum- 
stances, the settlement and development of Living- 
ston County was accomplished with less of priva- 
tion than usually occurs in the settlement of an 
equal extent of territory. The pioneers here un- 
questionably saw much of hardship and some- 
thing of suffering, but more than one of those 
who still remain have said to the writer of this, that 
those pioneering days were, with all their depriva- 
tions, the pleasantest days of their lives; and there 
is little doubt that of all the present survivors, by 
far the greater portion will say at least, that they 
enjoyed life quite as well in their log cabins of 
forty years ago as they do now in their well-ap- 
pointed farm-houses, or in the town residences to 
which some of them have retired. Referring to 
this. Judge Josiah Turner — himself a pioneer of 
Livingston — has expressed himself before the 
Pioneer Association of the county as follows: 

" No matter what our fortunes in life may have 
been ; no matter that we cleared up broad acres ; 
no matter that we have pulled down our log 
houses, and filled our larger barns ; no matter what 
wealth or fortune may have given us; no matter 
what honors our fellow-citizens may have show- 
ered upon us, there never has arisen on us so 
serene a day as that wherein we labored here in 
the wilderness. Let me appeal to the conscious- 
ness of every old settler. How is it now that the 
forests are cleared? How is it that your children 
are grown up and you yourselves are able to live 
witliout labor in well-settled districts, whei;e you 
have all the appliances and refinements of life within 
your reach ? Has your modern pump in your 
kitchen brought you more delight than your ' old 
oaken bucket,' or your spring, a mile away? Is 
the roar of the grist-mill near your door any 
sweeter than the silence of a journey of ten, 
twenty, or thirty miles to mill ? Docs the face of a 



24 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



neighbor doctor look more cheery to you than it 
did when you could only see it by traversing 
townships? Is the quiet more satisfactory at 
evening, with your ' white kine' glimmering in the 
open field, than when you could count the wild 
deer lying in your door-yard? Experience an- 
swers all these questions, No !" 

REGARD OF THE SETTLERS FOR EDUCATION AND 
RELIGIOUS WORSHIP. 

Among the earliest settlers of the county were 
found persons from every division of the British 
Isles, and from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Canada ; 
but more than three-fourths of all were from the 
State of New York, and there were also a few from 
the more eastern States. The New York and New 
England immigrants brought with them (as it was 
natural they should) the advanced ideas of the 
favored communities from which they came upon 
the subjects of education and religious observance. 
After they had secured for their families shelter, 
and the means of present subsistence, they allowed 
very little time to elapse before they also provided 
for the education of their children ; though as the 
means at their command were limited, so, of course, 
the methods were far more rude, and the results 
obtained were more meagre, than tiiose of the 
present day ; but, though the schools were often 
taught in the cramped cabin of the settler, and sel- 
dom in any edifice more pretentious than the single- 
roomed log school-house, reared in a day by the 
combined labor of a few earnest heads of families, 
yet in these rude institutions of learning there 
have been laid the foundations of many an honor- 
able and useful career. " I think I may affirm," 
says Judge Turner, " that the county has from the 
earliest times felt the deepest practical interest in 
schools, and this feeling has not been without its 
results. We have furnished a president for one of 
the first colleges in the land, as also the head of 
another educational institution of no small reputa- 
tion." 

The case was the same among these pioneers 
from New York and New England with regard to 
religious observance. They recognized it as being 
among the necessaries of life equally with food, 
raiment, and shelter; and so, as soon as they had 
secured these in the most primitive form (and fre- 
quently, indeed, before they had secured them at 
all), they set about the finding or creating of oppor- 
tunities for divine worship, and neglected no chance 
of attending religious services whenever held at an 
accessible point, even if many miles distant. Liv- 
ingston County was a missionary field at a very 
early da)', and ministers of different denominations 
came here to preach to the settlers years before 



any church edifices were built, and before the 
formation of church organizations. Among the 
early pioneer preachers in the county were the 
Rev. Jonathan Post and Elder Ansel Clark (Bap- 
tists), the former of whom came here from Allegany 
County, New York, as early as, or before, 1835, 
and the latter of whom was here about the same 
time. He was ordained an elder by an ecclesiasti- 
cal council, held " at the school-house near Samuel 
G. Hathaway's," in Solon, New York, October 13, 
1830. Several Presbyterian ministers preached at 
different places through the county as early as the 
time of its organization, or earlier. One of these 
was the Rev. Mr. Kanouse, who came from Lodi 
Plains, in Washtenaw County, and preached at sev- 
eral places in Livingston, but principally in the 
southern part. Another was the Rev. William 
Page, of Ann Arbor (who afterwards came to 
live in Oceola township) ; and another, the Rev. 
Isaac W. Ruggles, of Oakland County, who 
preached a few times in the east part of Liv- 
ingston. The Rev. Father Kelly (Catholic), from 
Northfield, held services in the southeast part of 
Livingston nearly as early as any preacher was 
here, and it has been said that the old church 
building of that denomination was the first erected 
in the county. 

The preachers of the Methodist denomination 
were among the earliest laborers in this field. Of 
these, perhaps the Rev. Moses Gleason, who 
preached in Green Oak in 183 i, was the earliest; 
but next to him probably the Revs. John Cosart, 
Elijah Crane, and Washington Jackson were as 
early as any. Mr. Jackson labored very faithfully 
in the north part of the county, particularly in the 
formation of classes and establishing worship where 
none had been held before. Joseph Atwood, who 
was made an elder in the Methodist Church by 
Bishop Elijah Hedding, at Palmyra, New York, 
June II, 1826, was an early laborer here; and 
Elder John Sayre preached in the west part of the 
county in 1836, as did also the Rev. Mr. Breckin- 
ridge. Of the few early preachers here named, 
there was probably none more widely known 
through the county than the Rev. John Cosart, 
who was set apart for the office of elder in the 
Methodist Church by Bishop Enoch George, at 
Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1827. 

In Livingston County at that day — as elsewhere 
among new settlements — the opportunity of re- 
ligious worship was always gladly embraced, re- 
gardless of denominational differences; and whether 
a preacher was of the Presbyterian, Methodist, 
Baptist, or other Christian form of belief, his ser- 
vices were always welcomed by the pioneers, who 
fully appreciated the value of the church privileges 



ERECTION OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



25 



they had left behind wlien tliey emigrated from 
their old homes in the East. 

Ill the above brief mention it is not intended to 
do more than to give the names of a few out of 
tlie man)' early preachers of the county, and to 
glance at the first rude but earnest attempts of the 
settlers at religious and educational advancement. 
These subjects will be resumed, and a full account 
of churches and schools will be given in the sepa- 
rate histories of the several townships of the 
county. 



CHAPTER III. 

CHANGES OF CIVIL JURISDICTION— ERECTION 
AND ORGANIZATION OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY 
—COURTS AND COUNTY BUILDINGS. 

The several Counties formerly emiiracing the Territory of Liv- 
ingston — Erection ami Organization of Livinfjston — First Elec- 
tion of County Ofl'icers — Organization anil Early Proceedings 
of the Bjard of Supervisors — Organization of Courts — The 
Probate Court — County-Site and County Buildings — The Public 
Office Buildings — The New Offices of the Clerk and Register 
of Deeds — County Poor-House and Poor-Farm. 

COUNTIES FORMERLY EMBRACING THE TERRI- 
TORY OF LIVINGSTON. 

The county of Wayne was erected by executive 
act, November I, 1815. This was the first county 
formed in the Territory of Michigan, and embraced 
all the lands within it to which the aboriginal 
title had been extinguished, — including, of course, 
all of the present county of Livingston. 

By executive proclamation, dated January 15, 
1818, all of Wayne County lying north of the base- 
line was erected into the new county of Macomb, 
embracing all of the present counties of Macomb, 
Oakland, Livingston, St. Clair, and Lapeer, parts 
of Sanilac, Tuscola, and Shiawassee, the east half 
of Ingham, and all of Genesee, excepting a small 
part in its nortiiwcst corner; the boundaries of the 
newIy-crccted county being described in the proc- 
lamation as " beginning at the southwest corner of 
township number one, north of the base-line (so 
called) and in the first range; thence along the In- 
dian boundary-line, north, to the angle formed by 
the intersection of the line running to White Rock, 
upon Lake Huron ; thence with the last-mentioned 
line to the boundary-line between the United States 
and the British province of Upper Canada ; thence, 
with said line, southwardly, to a point in Lake St. 
Clair due east from the place of beginning; thence, 
due west, to the eastern extremity of said base-line, 
and, with the same, to the place of beginning." 

Oakland was taken from Macomb and erected a 
4 



county by proclamation of Governor Cass, dated 
January 12, 1819. That county then included, in 
addition to its present area, the southernmost tier 
of townships now in Shiawassee County, the two 
southern towns in Genesee, the east half of Ingham, 
and all of the present county of Livingston. It 
was not until March 28, 1820. however, that the 
organization of Oakland as a county was effected, 
under e.xecutive proclamation. 

Washtenaw County was " laid out" by the proc- 
lamation of Governor Cass, September 10, 1822, to 
include the two tiers of townships (Green Oak, 
Hamburg, Putnam, Unadilla, Iosco, Marion, Genoa, 
and Brighton) which now form the .south half of 
Livingston County, and also four tiers of townships 
south of the base-line. It was not organized as a 
county until December 31, 1836. 

Shiawassee County was "laid out" by executive 
proclamation at the same time that Washtenaw was 
erected, viz., September 10, 1822. Within the 
bounds of Shiawassee, as then laid out, there were 
embraced, in addition to its present territory, eight 
townships on the western side of Genesee, the 
northeast quarter of Ingham, and the north half of 
Livingston County, including the townships of 
Tyrone, Deerfield, Cohoctah. Conway, Handy, 
Howell, Oceola, and Hartland. Shiawassee was 
not organized until March 18, 1837. Thus it is 
shown that the territory which now forms the 
county of Livingston was first included in Wayne 
County, and so remained until January 15, 1818, 
when it became a part of Macomb ; that it was in- 
cluded in Oakland from the erection of that county, 
January 12, 18 19, until September 10, 1822, when 
its southern half was given to W^ashtenaw, and its 
northern half to Shiawassee. 

ERECTION AND ORG.\N'IZ.\TIO\ OF THE COUNTY 
—FIRST COUNTY ELECTION. 

The territory now Livingston County remained 
includedin Shiawassee and Washtenaw until March 
21, 1833, when Governor George B. Porter ap- 
proved " an act to provide for laying out the 
county of Livingston," as follows : 

"Be it enacted by the Legislative Council of the 
Territory of Michigan, That so niucli of tlie county of 
Washtenaw as is included within the following limits, 
viz. : townships one and two nortii, in ranges three, 
four, five, and six east of the principal meridian ; and 
so much of the comity of Shiawassee as is included 
within the following limits, viz : townships three and 
four north, in ranges three, four, five, and six east of 
the meridian, be and the same are hereby set off into a 
separate county, and the name thereof shall be Living- 
ston, which, for the present, shall, for all judicial pur- 
poses, remain the same as though this act had not 
passed . ' ' 



26 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



The name of tlie county was given in honor of 
Edward Livingston, Secretary of State under 
President Jackson. The territory of the new 
county remained attached for judicial and munici- 
pal purposes as before, viz., the south half to 
Washtenaw, and the north half to Oakland, — as 
Shiawassee, not having been organized, was at- 
tached to that county. 

The organization of Livingston County was 
effected under an act of the Legislature, approved 
March 24, 1836, by which it was provided "That 
the county of Livingston shall be organized, and 
the inhabitants thereof shall be entitled to all the 
rights and privileges to which, by law, the inhabi- 
tants of other counties of this State are entitled." 

At its organization the county embraced the 
townships of Green Oak, Hamburg, Putnam, Una- 
dilla, Howell, and Hartland. Green Oak — erected 
March 17, 1835 — included its present area, and also 
the township of Brighton ; Hamburg — erected 
March 26, 1835 — included, in addition to its pres- 
ent limits, the township of Genoa; Unadilla — laid 
out March 26, 1835 — included the present township 
of Iosco; Putnam — erected March 23, 1836 — took 
in what is now the township of Marion ; Howell — 
erected March 23, 1S36 — included, in addition to 
its present area, the townships of Oceola, Deerfield, 
Cohoctah, Conway, and Handy ; and Hartland — 
laid out at the same time — was embraced in its 
present limits. The northeastern (surveyed) town- 
ship of the county — now Tyrone — had not then 
been laid out by law, but was included in Deer- 
field, at the erection of that township, by act of 
March 20, 1 837. The subsequent subdivisions of 
the county are noticed in the several township his- 
tories. 

Under the provisions of the act organizing Liv- 
ingston County a special election for county offi- 
cers was held on the first Monday in May, 1836, 
resulting in the election of the following-named 
persons : 

Sheriff, Justus J. Bennett. 

County Clerk, F. J. B. Crane. 

Register of Deeds, Ely Barnard. 

Treasurer, Amos Adams. 

Judge of Probate, Kinsley S. Bingham. 

County Surveyor, Amos Adams. 

Coroners, John VV. Peavy, John Drake. 

Associate Judges, Elisha W. Brockway, Elnathan 
Noble. 

The total number of votes cast in the county for 
sheriff was one hundred and eight, this being the 
highest number cast for any of the offices. Of these 
one hundred and eight votes, Justus J. Bennett re- 
ceived fifty-one; F.J. Provost, twenty-five; J. F. Pro- 
vost, twenty-two ; and Joseph Loree, ten. For the 



office of county clerk ninety-one votes were cast, of 
which number F. J. B. Crane received ninety, and 
E. Barnard one. For register of deeds, Ely Bar- 
nard received the whole number cast, — eighty-one. 
For treasurer, Amos Adams received seventy-one, 
and S. D. Di.x seven. For judge of probate, Kinsley 
S. Bingham received seventy-eight; Isaac Smith, 
Jr., ten ; Isaac Smith, seven ; Kinslow Noble, one; 
Kins Bingham, two; Elnathan Noble, one ; An- 
thony Gale, one ; and Kinsley S. Probate, one. 
For associate judges, the two successful candi- 
dates — -Elisha W. Brockway and Elnathan Noble 
— received, respectively, fifty-one and ninety-nine 
votes ; and for the same office, Jonathan Burnett 
received eighteen ; Elisha M. Brockway, twenty- 
four; E. Noble, one; Kinsley S. Bingham, one; 
and " Noble," one.* 

ORGANIZATION AND EARLY PROCEEDINGS OF 
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. 

The first meeting of the Board of Supervisors of 
Livingston County was held at the house of Amos 
Adams, in Howell, on the fourth day of October, 
1836; the Supervisors present being 

Kinsley S. Bingham, of Green Oak. 

Christopher L. Culver, of Hamburg. 

John Hudson, of Putnam. 

Philester Jessup, of Howell. 

Eli Lee, of Hartland. 

Eli Lee was chosen moderator and Ely Bernard 
clerk. The Board then adjourned to meet on the 
following day. Upon reassembling, as per ad- 
journment, Elnathan Noble, Supervisor of Una- 
dilla, appeared and took his seat, and the Board 
proceeded to business. The session was continued 
until the sixth of October, when the Board ad- 
journed sine cUc. The business done at the session 
was as follows : It was 

" Resolved, by the Board of Supervisors, that a bounty 
of three dollars be paid by the county treasurer to any 
person who shall produce the certificate of a magis- 
trate, or other proper officer authorized to administer 
an oath, that the said person has actually killed a full 
grown wolf within the limits of the County of Living- 
ston since the organization of said county, and that 

*At the Presidential election in November, 1836, the Demo- 
cratic electors received one hundred and forty-two votes, and the 
Whig electors seventy-three votes, in Livingston County. At the 
election of 1S40 the Democratic electors received eight hundred 
and forty-four votes, and the Whig electors seven hundred votes, 
in the county. In 1S44 the Democratic Presidential electors re- 
ceived ten hundred and ninety voles in the county, to six hundred 
and eighty-seven cast for the Whig candidates. At the election 
in November, 1S50, on the question of giving equal suffrage to 
colored persons, the county gave four hundred and twenty votes, 
in favor of, and thirteen hundred and sixty-nine votes against the 
proposition. 



ERECTION OF LIVINGSTOl^I COUNTY. 



27 



the scalp of said wolf has been destroyed by the person 
administering the oath." 

For the payment of such bounties, a wolf-bounty 
fund of si.\ty dollars was voted, and the Board 
voted to raise a contingent fund of three hundred 
dollars for the expenses of the county^. 

The apportionment of taxes to the several towns 
of the county, and the assessment of each, was 
fi.xed as follows : 



Aggregate 
Assessment 

of 
I Townships. 



Hamburg i $31,743 

llarllaTnl 13.409 

(ireen Oak 68,724 

Howell sg.ss*' 

I'liaililla 15,808 

rmnam 27,812 



Township I County and g,^,^ ^.^ 
lax. State lax. 



Total., 



6142.00 

18.50 

67.38 

1 12.12 

14347 

46.^3 



$217,052 I $530.: 



SI45-S3 
61.61 

3'5-73 

273.61 

72.63 

127.79 



>997-2o 



$79-35 

33-52 

171.81 

1 48. 89 

39-52 

69-54 



$542-63 



Amos Adams, County Treasurer, was directed 
to pay the amount of the State ta.x as above to 
the State Treasurer, out of any moneys paid into 
his hands by the several township collectors. 

The following county orders were issued : 

To John Hudson, for services at Board $12.00 

" C. S. Culver, " " 12.00 

" K. S. Uingham, " " 14.00 

'• Phile-iler Jessup, " " 1300 

" F.lnathan Noble, " " 7.00 

" Eli Lee, " " 9.00 

" 1'". J. li. Crane, for stationery for Koard 2.00 

" |. J. Hennelt, " Sheriff's fees 10.00 

"F.J. B.Crane, " Cleik's fees 3.57 

" E. Barnard, " room rent for Register's office... 3.00 

** ** *' book for Supervisors 5-03 

'* *' *' services as Clerk of Board 4.00 

S94-57 

The second annual meeting of the Board was 
held on the third of October, 1837, in Howell, at 
the village school-house, but on account of cold 
and lack of heating apparatus in that building, 
adjourned to the Register's office. The Supervi- 
sors present were the following named, represent- 
ing all the towns then organized in the county, 
viz. : 

Elisha VV. Brockway, of Green Oak. 

Thomas J. Rice, of Hamburg. 

William T. Curtis, of Genoa. 

John W. Smith, of Howell. 

Jacob Sncll, of Byron (now Oceoki). 

Aaron Palmer, of Putnam. 

John How, of Decrficld. 

Elnathan Noble, of Un ,dilla. 

Thomas PJoskins, of Marion. 

Eli Lee, of Hartland. 

One of the first items of business transacted at 



this meeting was the giving of authority and direc- 
tions to the sheriff " to purchase for the use of the 
county a good twenty-eight inch stove, and place 
the .same in the school-hou.se in the village of 
Howell, and sufficient length of six-inch English 
pipe for the use of the same, and charge the same 
to the county." The bounty on wolves was con- 
tinued at three dollars per head, and a fund of one 
hundred dollars was voted to pay such bounties. 
A fund of six hundred dollars was voted for con- 
tingent expenses of the county. Orders were 
issued on audited accounts to the amount of nine- 
teen hundred and sixty-three dollars and eighty- 
four cents. The taxes as apportioned to the sev- 
eral towns, and the assessment of each, was as 
follows : 





Aggregate As- 








Township. 


sessment of 

'I'ownship, 

1837. 


Township 
Tax. 


County and 
Stjte Tax, 


State Tax. 


Hamburg 


?58oi5 


g 100. 12 


S106.15 


$17.57 


Byron 


69,656 


77.00 


126.74 


20.97 


I'utnam 


71,217 


269.73 


129.58 


21.44 




60.833 
68,813 




110.72 


18.31 


Hanland 


87-75 


125.21 


20.73 


Marion 


64,952 


85-50 


11.8.20 


1957 


Howell 


■ 26'„666 


370.49 


479.81 


79-44 


Deerfield 


i33-9'57 


H523 


243-65 


40.34 


Green Oak... 


165,749 


402.53 


301.62 


49.84 


Un.adilla 


122,095 


200.00 


222.22 


3679 


Total 


$1,079,203 




$^,9^3-9° 


$325-00 



The Board adjourned October 7th to meet No- 
vember 9, 1837, at which time, upon reassembling, 
there was no business to be transacted, and they 
adjourned sine die. 

At the annual meeting of the Board, held at the 
Register's office in Howell, October 2, 1838, all but 
one of the present townships of the county were 
represented, the following-named Supervisors being 
present: 

John How, from Deerfield. 

Thomas J. Rice, from Hamburg. 

George W. Lee, froin Marion. 

Jacob Snell, from Oceola (previously Byron). 

Robert Warden, Jr., from Green Oak. 

Charles P. Bush, from Genoa. 

Richard Lyon, from Brighton. 

Solomon Sutherland, from Unadilla. 

Ralph Fowler, from Handy. 

Rial Lake, from Howell. 

Alva Preston, from Tuscola (now Cohoctah). 

John J. Blackmer, from Hartland. 

Jo.seph I\L Becker, (rom Tyrone. 

George Reeves, from Putnam. 

Aid Osborn, from Iosco. 

The assessment and apportionment of ta.xes to 
each township, as there equalized, were as follows: 



28 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



-Aggregate 
TowiBHIP. Township 
Assessment. 


Township 
Tax. 


Cniinty Tax. State Tai. 


Brighton §91,587 

Deertield 73-189 

Green Oak 87,662 

Genoa 64.137 

Howell 75-0^2 

Handy- 58,689 

Hamburg 74-38i 

Hanland 74,784 

lena* 61,627 

Iosco 59-121 

Marion.- 66,076 

Oceola- 74.06S 

Tuscola- 73-340 

Tyrone- 69,622 

Putnam- 75-155 

UnadiUa 69,134 


S217-49 

145-75 

92.71 

248-61 

194-95 

26.75 

2OO.7S 

I7S.73 

139-31 
232. 88 
146-03 

94-44 
123.S9 
209.30 


S191.06 |il2S.40 
152.6S 102.61 
1S2.87 122.90 
133-79 89 92 
156.46 IO5-I5 
122.43 82.35 
15517 IO4-2S 
156.02 IO4.S4 
I2S.56 S6.4O 
123.33 82.97 

137-84 ■ 92-63 
154.52 103.84 
153.00 102.82 
145-16 97-61 
156.78 105.36 
144.22 96.92 


Total Si, 147,574 


$2,251.62 


S2.393-89 ?i,6o9.oo 



The previous vote granting bounties on wolves 
killed within the count}- was rescinded ; county 
orders were issued to the amount of two thousand 
three hundred and ninety-threedollars and eighty- 
nine cents, and the Board adjourned sine die, Oc- 
tober 6, 1838. 

By the provisions of a law passed by the Legis- 
lature in 1S3S, the powers and duties of the Board 
of Supervisors were transferred to and vested in a 
Board of County Commis.sioners. Under this law 
the first Board of Commissioners of Livingston 
County organized, and held their first meeting at 
the clerk's office, in Howell village, on Tuesday, 
the twentieth of November, 1S38. Present: the 
full Board, viz., Emery Beal, Charles P. Bush, and 
Orman Holmes. Emer\' Beal was chosen chair- 
man, and after resolving to rent a building for a 
Register's office, and directing the Register to place 
a stove therein at the expense of the county, the 
Board adjourned. 

Th e office of Co u ntj' Comm issioner was abol ish ed 
by act of Legislature approved February 10, 1842, 
and the duties and powers of that Board were 
transferred back to the Board of Supervisors of 
the count}-. The finst meeting of the Supervisors 
of Livingston Count}- under this law was held 
April 21, 1842, at the room where the courts were 
then held, in Howell. From that time until the 
present, the Board has continued to e.xercise its 
legitimate powers and functions undisturbed by 
further experimental legislation. 

ORG.\NIZ.A.TIOX OF COURTS. 

The act under which the county of Livingston 
was organized provided that " all suits, prosecu- 
tions, and other matters now [then] pending before 
any court of record, or before any justice of the 
peace" in the county of Washtenaw or of Oak- 

* Now Conwav, 



land, should be prosecuted to final judgment and 
execution in the same manner as if the act had 
not been jxissed. 

The first term of the court for the county of 
Livingston! was held at the school-house, in the 
village of Howell, on the eighth day of November, 
1837. Present: the Hon. William A. Fletcher, 
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the Hon. 
Elisha W. Brockway and Hon. Elnathan Noble, 
Associate Judges, all of whom are now dead. 
The names of the grand jur}- attending at that 
term were Price Morse, Edward F. Ga}-, Norman 
Brainard, Adoniram Hubbell, William E. Red- 
ding, Joseph Cole, Peter Y. Browning, Philester 
Jessup, James Wright, William L. Mead, Al- 
bert Parker, John Drake, George Walker, Horace 
Toncre, Jonathan Burnett, William B. Hopkins, 
Augustus Colton, Richard Toncre, and John An- 
drews. George W. Walker was appointed by the 
court, foreman. There being no prosecuting attor- 
ney for the count}-, the court appointed James 
Kingsley, of Ann Arbor, to act in that capacity 
for the term. The court appointed Samuel G. 
Percy as crier. The list of names of p)etit jurors 
at that term were as follows : Solomon Gew, Dan 
M. Fuller, Anson Nelson. Joseph Whitacre, Amos 
B. Root, Russell Blood, James Livermore. Seth 
G. Wilson, John Sutherland, Stephen Cornell, 
George Sewell, Frederick Goodenow, George W. 
Glover, Isaac Ela, Royal C. Barnum, Uriah Coil- 
son, James D. Mclntyre, and Francis Lincoln. 
The grand jur}- soon reported to the court that 
they had no business before them, and they were 
therefore discharged. There being no cases for 
trial, the petit jurors were also discharged. 

Judge Fletcher was a native of Massachusetts, 
and was engaged for some years in mercantile 
pursuits in that State. He settled in Michigan 
about the year 1820, and studied law in Detroit, 
and commenced the practice of his profession in 
that city. He was at one time attorney-general 
for the Territor}'. He was appointed chief justice 
of the Supreme Court after the admission of the 
State into the L'nion, and revised the statutes of 
the State in 1838. 

He resigned his oflSce as judge in 1842, resumed 
the practice of his profession, and died in Ann 
Arbor about 1S55. He was a man of high char- 
acter and strict integrit}-. The next circuit judge 
of the county was the Hon. Alpheus Felch. Judge 
Felch was born in Maine, in September, 1S06. He 
was a graduate of Bowdoin College. He emigrated 
to Michigan in 1833, and settled at Monroe. He 

f This account of the organization of the court for the county 
of Li»ing-ton is kindly furnished liy the Hon. Josiah Turner, 
Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit. 



COUNTY-SITE AND COUNTY BUILDINGS. 



29 



was a member of the State Legislature in 1S36-37. 
In 1842 he was appointed auditor-general; a few 
weeks after which he resigned that position, and 
was appointed judge of the Supreme Court. In 
1S45 he was elected Governor of the State, and in 
1847 ^^'"^^ elected a senator in Congress for six 
years. He now resides at Ann Arbor. He was 
an able judge, and is still in the practice of his 
profession. The next circuit judge of the county 
was the Hon. Charles W. Whipple. The ne.xt 
circuit judge who presided in this county was the 
Hon. Sanford M. Green, who is now the cir- 
cuit judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, and 
resides at Bay City. The ne.xt circuit judge was 
the Hon. Josiah Turner, who is still the judge of 
this district, and resides at Owosso. 

THE PROB.A.TE COURT. 

No business was done in the Probate Office of 
Livingston County during the incumbency of its 
first Judge of Probate, the Hon. Kinsley S. Bing- 
ham. The first Probate Court in the county was 
held by his successor, the Hon. James \V. Stans- 
bury, in Pinckney village, on the twenty-fifth of 
December, 1838; and the first business done was 
the appointment of a guardian for the minor heirs 
of Henrj' Zulauf, deceased. 

The first letters of administration were granted 
March 13, 1838, to Phoebe H. Drake, of Unadilla, 
and Thomas G. Sill, of De-xter, on the estate of 
John Drake, of Unadilla, deceased. 

The first will admitted to probate, and recorded 
iji the Probate Office, was that of James Sage, the 
first settler of Howell village and township, who 
died June 29, 1839. The will was dated January 
15th of that year, bearing the names of Wellington 
A. Glover, Mabel Glover, and O. J. Field as attest- 
ing witnesses, and was recorded July, 1839. Joseph 
H. Pincknej' was appointed executor of this will, 
which made bequests to the widow and children of 
the testator; the latter being mentioned as George 
T., James R., and Chester A. Sage, Marj' A. W. 
Pinckney, and Hannah A. Walker. 

The second will recorded was that of Timothy 
H. Munger, of Marion, dated June 29, 1840, bear- 
ing the signatures of Gardner Carpenter, Henry 
Green, and Horace Griffith as attesting witnesses, 
naming Horace Griffith as sole execu/z/.r, and be- 
queathing all the property of the testator to his 
wife, Adaline Munger. This will was recorded 
January 19, 1841. 

During the entire term of Judge Stansbury (1837 
to 1840, inclusive) the Probate Court was held at 
his office, in the village of Pinckney. The first 
Court of Probate held at Howell was by Judge 
George W. Knceland, February 8, i84r, and the 



first business done at that time was the granting of 
letters of administration on the estate of Josiah P. 
Jewett. From that time until the present the Pro- 
bate Court has been held at the county -seat. 

COUNTY-SITE AND COUNTY BUILDINGS. 

It has been mentioned above that the first term 
of court for the county of Livingston was held in 
the Howell school-house, in November, 1837. 
This school-house stood within the original plat 
of the village, laid out by Messrs. Crane and 
Brooks in 1835 ; which plat had been designated 
as the county-site of Livingston, in 1836, by three 
commissioners appointed for the purpose by the 
Go%'ernor of Michigan in accordance with the pro- 
visions of an act, passed by the Legislature at its 
session in that year, to locate and establish county- 
sites for counties in which they had not been 
previously established. 

In 1837 an act was passed by the Legislature 
authorizing the Supervisors of any county to bor- 
row money for the erection of county buildings. 
The Supervisors of Livingston, thereupon, at their 
annual meeting in October, 1837, " Rcsoked, That 
the qualified electors of the county be notified that 
a vote will be taken at the ne.xt annual election 
(November, 1837) whether the Board shall be au- 
thorized to borrow, on the credit of the county, a 
sum not e.xceeding ten thousand dollars for the 
erection of county buildings," as provided in the 
act above named. The notice was accordingly 
issued and the vote taken, but the result in the 
county was adverse to the loan. 

In 1838 an act was passed (approved February 
23d) providing "that the Board of Supervisors of 
Livingston County be, and they are hereby, au- 
thorized to borrow on the credit of the said county, 
at a rate of interest not e.xceeding seven per cent, 
per annum, and for a term not less than five nor 
more than fifteen years, a sum of money not ex- 
ceeding one thousand dollars, for the purpose of 
erecting a jail for said county." 

The question of taxation for the purpose of 
erecting necessary county buildings was again 
submitted to the voters of the county at the annual 
election of 1S38, and the result was the same as in 
the previous year. The courts continued to be 
held at the village school-house in Howell, and 
the sheriff continued to take such prisoners as he 
had to Ann Arbor for confinement, as authorized 
by an act approved February 8, 1858, which em- 
powered him "to convey prisoners to Washtenaw 
County, and deliver them into the custody of the 
sheriff or keeper of the jail of that county." 

On the twenty-first of April, 1842, the Board of 
Supervisors resolved " that George W. Knecland, 



30 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Richard P. Bush, and Jared Clark be authorized to 
contract with Benjamin J. Spring for his house to 
hold courts and to do other business in until the 
first day of the next November term of the Circuit 
Court." And this committee reported that they 
had so contracted with Mr. Spring for his ball- 
room for that period, for fifteen dollars, he to fur- 
nish wood. At the same meeting the Board 
authorized the drawing of an order in favor of 
the Presbyterian Society of Howell, for twenty 
dollars " for the use of their meeting-house at the 
last term of court, on condition that they can 
have it at twenty-five dollars a term as long as it 
is necessary ; said house to be used for all county 
meetings." Soon after this, the Presbyterian 
Church building became the court-house of Liv- 
ingston County, and continued to be used regu- 
larly for sessions of the court for about three 
years, the county paying forty dollars per annum 
for its use. The prisoners of the county were still 
confined at Ann Arbor. 

From the time when the county-site was estab- 
lished at Howell, in 1836, a determined opposition 
to the location had been developed, and strong 
efforts were made to secure its removal. This 
project was brought before the Legislature at the 
session of 1837, and was met and defeated by the 
remonstrance of F. J. B. Crane (the proprietor of 
the original plat of Howell) and a large number of 
other signers. The agitation for changing the 
location of the seat of justice continued, however, 
unabated (and in fact rather increasing) for a 
number of years, and took the form of a project 
to enlarge the county, by taking in a part of Oak- 
land ; thus to bring Brighton nearer the territorial 
centre, and cause the county-site to be located at 
that village. This agitation had the effect of 
causing the defeat of all attempts to raise money 
by taxation for the erection of county buildings 
under the provisions of the acts of 1837 and 
1838. 

The site on which the court-house and public 
offices now stand was not included in the limits 
established as the county-site in 1836. Within 
those limits Mr. Crane had laid out and donated a 
square of ground (still known as the " old public 
square") for the purpose of the erection of county 
buildings, and at the time of its laying out there 
seemed no reason to doubt that when such build- 
ings were erected they would be located on that 
square. Influences were afterwards brought to 
bear, however, which secured the passage of an act 
(approved March 20, 1841) providing "That the 
limits of the present county-site of the county of 
Livingston be, and the same are hereby, so extended 



as to embrace the west half of section thirty-six, 
township three north, of range four east ; and that 
the county commissioners* of said county be, and 
they are hereby, authorized to erect, in conformity 
to law, county buildings on the site they shall 
deem most eligible on tlie said described land ; 
provided the owners of said land shall convey to 
the county by a good and sufficient title, free and 
clear from all incumbrance, four acres of land for 
the site that shall be so selected." The tract thus 
added to the limits within which the site for county 
buildings might be located joins the original (Crane 
and Brooks) plat on the north and east, including 
all that part of the west half of the section not 
embraced in the plat.f It was from the lands em- 
braced within this extension that the present court- 
house square was selected. It includes a part of 
the northwest, and a part of the southwest quarter 
of section thirty-si.x, and was conve)'ed to the 
county in 1842 and 1843. The chain of title is as 
follows : The part lying in the southwest quarter 
was entered from government, December 3, 1833, 
by John D. Pinckney for Alexander Phraser. On 
the second of July, 1835, Alexander Fraser deeded 
to Alexander D. Fraser, trustee for Edward Brooks 
and Charles G. Hammond, both of Detroit. On 
the twenty-third of October, in the same year, it 
was conveyed back to Alexander Fraser, and on 
the twenty-fourth of the same month John D. 
Pinckney;}; and Alexander Fraser convej-ed an 

* From 1838 to the spring of 1842, a Board of County Commis- 
sioners exercised the powers which Ijefore and since that period 
have been vested in the Board of Supervisors. At a meeting t)f 
this Board of Commissioners held in the spring of 1841, they re- 
solved "that there shall be levied on the county of Livingston, 
in October next, a ta.x of two thousand dollars for the purpose of 
building a court-house in the village of Howell;" but on submit- 
ting the question to the voters, the result w.is the same as in pre- 
vious yeais. 

f The original plat covered the west half of the southwest 
quarter, and the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of the 
section; so that the extension made by ihe act of March, 1841, 
included the east half of the southwest qu.irter, and the east half 
and northwest quarter of the norihwest quarter. 

J As having reference to a question which appears to have arisen 
in later years as to the perfection of the title from Mr. Pinckney, 
the following transcript from the record of the Board of Supervi- 
sors under date of January 14, 1863, is given, viz.: "The com- 
mittee on the claim of Mrs. John D. Pinckney 10 the lots occupied 
by the county buildings reported as follows: Your committee, ap- 
pointed to inquire of Almon Whipple and others aboui ihe claim 
of Mrs. Pinckney to the lands on which the county buildings stand, 
find that Mr. Pinckney located the lauds and then deeded them to 
Cowdrey, but his wife did not sign the <leed. Cowdrey deeded 
the lauds to the county. Now we find that Mrs. Pinckney has 
quit-claimed to John Cummiskey, William McPherson, S. F. Ilub- 
beil, Mylo L. Gay, John H. Galloway, William Melvin, V. R. T. 
Angel, Z. H. Marsh, Almon Whipple, Joseph M. Gilbert, Edward 
F. Gay, William B. Smith, F. C. Whipple, F. Wells, and William 
Riddle. Your committee would recommend that the county 
treasurer pay the above persons ihe sum of twenty-five dollars on 



COUNTY-SITE AND COUNTY BUILDINGS. 



31 



undivided half of the property to Samuel Cow- 
drey, trustee for George R. Decker, and the remain- 
ing half to Peter A. Cowdrey. On the fifth of Sep- 
tember, 1836, Decker deeded his interest to Peter 
A. Cowdrey, who thus became sole owner. On the 
first of November, 1842, Peter A. Cowdrey con- 
veyed to the Supervisors of the county of Liv- 
ingston that part of the square lying within the 
southwest quarter of tlie section, with a provision 
for its reversion if not used for the erection of 
county buildings. 

That part of the square lying within the north- 
west quarter of the section was embraced in a tract 
entered from government by Moses Thompson, 
May 15, 1834, and by him conveyed to Edward 
Thompson, by deed dated May 13, 1839. On the 
third day of October, 1843, Edward Thompson con- 
veyed to the Supervisors of Livingston County 
all that part of the square lying in the northwest 
quarter of the section, with condition of rever- 
sion to the grantor or his representatives if not 
used, or when ceasing to be used, for county 
buildings. 

At the annual meeting of the Supervisors, Oc- 
tober 19, 1843, it was 

"Resolved, As the opinion of the Board of Super- 
visors of the county of Livingston, that the subject of 
the erection of county buildings lias become one which 
commends itself to the serious consideration and de- 
cisive action of the citizens of the county. 

"Resolved, That the extra expenses to which the 
county is yearly subjected for want of such buildings, 
and which is believed to be from two to three hundred 
dollars per year, together witii the unavoidable incon- 
venience, as well as the serious risk which the public 
is constantly incurring of an entire destruction of the 
records of the county by fire, or other accidents, are 
believed by the Board of Supervisors to show the 
absolute necessity of having such buildings." 

" Resolved, That in consideration of the fact that, as 
the law upon the subject now stands, the Supervisors 
are prohibited from levying a tax for such purposes, 
they would respectfully recommend that petitions be at 
once circulated among the tax-payers of the county for 
signatures, praying the Legislature of the State to enact 
a law authorizing the Board of Supervisors, at their 
discretion, to levy a tax for such purposes." 

A bill, such as proposed by the Board, was in- 
troduced in the House of Representatives by the 

iheir making and executing a good quit-claim deed of conveyance 
of the lands on which ihe county buildin;;s stand, embracing the 
public square; all of which we most cheerfully report to your 
honorable body for further action. 

" F. Wkiib, 
" O. 15. ClIAMHERS, 
" liowiiLl., January 6, l86j. Commillce." 



Hon. Ralph Fowler, and was passed in that body 
in 1845, but not being supported by Hon. E. M. 
Cust, then in the Senate, it was defeated. 

It appears that in the summer of 1S45 the Su- 
pervisors had fully made up their minds to proceed 
to the erection of a court-house and jail, believing 
themselves empowered to do so by the affirmative 
result of a vote then recently taken at the several 
township-meetings. The Board appointed a build- 
ing committee composed of George W. Peck, of 
Brighton; Odcll J. Smith, of Howell; James M. 
Larue, of Putnam ; Ralph Fowler, of Handy ; and 
Jairah Hillman, of Tyrone ; which committee, on 
the ninth of June in that year, advertised that they 
" will receive plans, specifications, and proposals 
for the erection of the county buildings contem- 
plated to be built at Howell, in said county, at 
their respective places of residence until the sec- 
ond Monday of October next ; the said buildings 
to consist of one or more edifices of brick or wood, 
comprising the court-room, jail, and accommoda- 
tions for the several county offices." What plans, 
specifications, and proposals (if any) were received 
by this committee does not appear. 

At the annual meeting of the Supervisors in 
October, 1S45, it was resolved by that body, that, 
" Whereas doubts have arisen as to the legality of 
any tax for the erection of county buildings based 
on the vote of the people of the county at the late 
township-meetings, the Board, under advice of 
counsel, regard it as inexpedient and unsafe to 
levy the same." No further action, therefore, was 
taken at that time, e.xcept the offering of fifteen 
dollars for the best, and five dollars for the second 
best plan of a court-house, and the ordering of the 
publication of that offer for two months in the 
Livingston Courier. 

At the same time a committee appointed to 
contract with Enos B. Taylor for the use of rooms 
for the court and jury, reported that they had con- 
tracted with Mr. Taylor for the same at eighty dol- 
lars per year for three years. The report was 
accepted and adopted. 

At the session of 1846 the Legislature of Michi- 
gan passed " An Act to provide for the Erection 
of County Buildings in the County of Livingston." 
This act (approved February iSth) provided: 

Sec. I. "That the Board of Supervisors of the county 
of Livingston and their successors in office be, and 
they are hereby, autiiorized and em|)0wered to erect 
county buildings for the use of said county. 

Sec. 2. " For the purpose of carrying into effect the 
provisions of this act, the said Board of Supervisors is 
authorized to levy on the taxable property of said 
county, from time to time, such sum as they may deem 



32 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



necessary, not exceeding tliree thousand dollars in any 
one year; any law to the contrary notwithstanding. 

" This act shall take effect from and after the second 
Monday of April next." 

On the second of June, 1846, a special meeting 
of the Supervisors was held, and the Board re- 
solved to levy a tax for the erection of county 
buildings, to the amount of two thousand dollars 
annually, for two successive years, and in the third 
year to raise such sum (not exceeding two thou- 
sand dollars) as necessary to complete the build- 
ings ; and a committee was appointed to report a 
plan. A plan drawn and furnished by Mr. Justin 
Lawyer was adopted, and on the following day 
the Board 

"Resolved, That the outside walls of the court- 
house building be made, the foundation, of stone, to 
be sunk in the ground two feet, and to be raised three 
feet above the surface, and to be three feet thick ; the 
first story to be twelve feet high, made of brick wall 
twenty inches thick, with brick columns [pilasters] pro- 
jecting four inches; the wall of tlie second story to be 
sixteen feet high and sixteen inches thick, of brick, 
with same columns as the first story, and the columns 
to extend up to the frieze, with suitable brick cap ; the 
wall of the gables to be twelve inches thick." 

It was also 

" Resolved, That a belfry be erected on the court- 
house suitable to place a bell in, provided the people 
of Howell and others shall raise a sufficient sum to 
purchase a suitable bell" ; and tlie jieople of Howell 
were also granted " the privilege to break up, grub out, 
grade, fence, and seed down the public square in the 
village of Howell, and to set out such shade-trees as 
they shall think proper for the ornamenting of tlie said 
square." 

At their meeting, held on the tenth of August, 
1846, the Board resolved to let the contract for the 
court-house and jail building to Cyrenus Hall, for 
five thousand six hundred dollars, and Messrs. 
Bradford Campbell, Smith Beach, and Gardner 
Wheeler were authorized and directed to close 
and execute the contract. The negotiations with 
Mr. Hall came to naught, however, and a contract 
was made with Enos B. Taylor, and confirmed by 
the Board, October 12 ; Mr. Taylor's sureties being 
Alnion Whipple, William McPherson, Derastus 
Hinman, and Richard P. Bush. 

Mr. Taylor commenced work on the building in 
the fall of that year, and payments to a consider- 
able amount were made to him during the winter 
and spring following, but it was not completed 
until late in the fall of 1847. The Board of Super- 
visors, at their meeting on the thirteenth of Octo- 
ber, authorized the building committee to accept 



the building (in case it should be completed before 
their January meeting), to insure it, and to deliver 
the necessary amount of bonds to Mr. Taylor in 
payment of his contract. And at the meeting of 
the Board, held on the third of January, 1848, the 
committee reported that the building for the court- 
house and jail had been completed, and that they 
had accepted it from Mr. Taylor. The stuccoing 
of the e.xterior of the building was not included in 
Mr. Taylor's contract, but was contracted for with 
Bai'sley Mount, for three hundred and tvvenLy-eight 
dollars, and was done in September, 1848. 

Immediately after the completion and occupation 
of the court-house building, the Board of Super- 
visors resolved that permission be given to the sev- 
eral religious societies which had no meeting- 
houses (which was then the case with all, except- 
ing the Presbyterian) to hold religious worship in 
the court-room ; and the Methodist, Baptist, and 
Congregational societies availed themselves of 
this privilege until provided with church edifices, 
though dissatisfaction occasionally arose at what 
some of the societies regarded as unjust discrimi- 
nation or favoritism, and once or twice the propo- 
sition was made (but not acted on) to exclude all 
religious societies. The services of the Plpiscopal 
Church of Howell were also held there prior to 
their occupation of the Congregational meeting- 
house; and since the demolition of that building. 
Episcopal worship has occasionally been held in 
the court-room until the present time. Besides its 
uses as a court-house and jail, the building is also 
the residence of the sheriff of the county. 

The first court in this court-house was held by 
the Hon. Josiah Turner as county judge, and he 
has, in that office and in that of circuit judge, pre- 
sided over the courts held in this building almost 
continuous!)' until the present time. His court is 
now in session there, at the time of this writing, 
November, 1879. 

THE PUBLIC OFFICE BUILDINGS. 

The offices of the Clerk, Register of Deeds, and 
Treasurer of Livingston County were first located 
in the tavern-house of Amos Adams (afterwards 
known as the Eagle Hotel), at Howell, Mr. Adams 
himself being the first treasurer of the county, and 
Mr. F. J. B. Crane, the first county clerk, being 
domiciled at the house as a permanent boarder. 
Mr. Justus J. Bennett, the first sheriff of the count}-, 
had his office at Adams' at such times as his pres- 
ence became necessary at the county-seat, — which 
could not have been very often, as during the first 
year and a half of his term there was no court 
held in Howell, and his prisoners, if he had any, 
were taken to Ann Arbor for confinement. The 



COUNTY-SITE AND COUNTY BUILDINGS. 



33 



ofificc-quartcrs of Mr. Bingham, the judge of pro- 
bate, were probably in his own hoii.se at Green 
Oak, — and they certainly might as well be there a.s 
at Howell, for he did no probate busiiie.s.s whatever 
during the time that he held the office. 

On the nortliea.st corner of the "' okl public 
square" in Howell Mr. Crane erected a small 
building in the summer of 1837. It was a one- 
story frame building of two rooms, and intended 
b)' him to be used as a private office; but into this 
the public offices of the county were soon after- 
wards transferred, it being at first rented and after- 
wards purchased by the county. 

The following items from the record of the pro- 
ceedings of the County Commissioners and Board 
of Supervisors liave reference to this old building 
and to the erection of the first clerk and register's 
office on the court-house square, viz. : 

November 20, 1838, the County Commissioners 
resolved " to rent the building now occupied as 
Clerk and Register's office for one year, at ninety 
dollars, payable half-yearly." 

April 21, 1842, the Supervisors authorized the 
Clerk to contract for the plastering of his office, 
and "to use it as he shall see fit, provided it does 
not interfere with the business of the county, nor 
injure the building." The county clerk at that 
time was Josiah Turner, who also transacted his 
professional business as attorney-at-law and master 
in chancery in the same office. 

June 9, 1845. — The Supervisors directed the 
Clerk " to clear the county offices [the buildings on 
the old square] of all property not belonging to 
the county or to the county offices." 

October 15, 1845.— " y?£w/7'f^/, That the Board 
give their consent to have the county buikling re- 
moved to the land appropriated for the use of the 
county buildings, provided it be done without 
expense chargeable to the county ; and that the 
clerk be authorized to superintend the same and 
make the necessary repairs." Under this authority, 
the " county building" was removed from its origi- 
nal site at the northeast corner of the old public 
square, and placed on or near the spot where the 
clerk's office now stands, in the court-house 
grounds. 

January 3, 1849. — The Board appointed William 
C. Rumsey and Spaulding M. Case a committee, 
" with power to procure the necessary materials, 
and contract for the erection of two fire-proof offi- 
ces for Clerk's and Register's offices ; the same to 
be in one building, one storj' high, of brick ; said 
building to be of the same general form of the 
Clerk and Register's office in Washtenaw County, 
and to be completed and ready for use before the 
first of October next." The cost of this build- 
5 



ing was limited to five hundred dollars. The 
Board further resolved "that the old building on 
the court-house square, occupied as Clerk and Reg- 
ister's office, be removed to some suitable place, 
to be selected by \\'illiam C. Rumsey, on the 
vacant ground in the rear of the square." Under 
these resolutions the erection of the new "fire- 
proof" office building was let by the committee on 
contract to George W. and Frederick J. Lee ; and 
the old office building was moved to the rear of 
the square. The cost of its removal and grading 
the grounds was one hundred and twenty-nine 
dollars. 

January 8, 1850. — The building committee re- 
ported to the Board the completion and acceptance 
of the new building. The price [)aid to the Messrs. 
Lee was, contract, four hundred and ninety-eight 
dollars ; extras, forty-seven dollars and twenty 
cents. Total, five hundred and forty-five dollars 
and twenty cents. 

October 18, 1850. — Elijah F. Burt was appointed 
a committee to sell the old office building and 
contents. He reported an offer of forty-five dollars 
from William B. Smith. The Board recommended 
that the offer be accepted. The building was sold 
and removed from the square, and is now standing 
on the south side of Grand River Street, in How- 
ell, a short distance east of the Rubert House. 
The Clerk and Register's office building, erected, as 
above shown, in 1849, and demolished in 1873, 
was of similar construction, and about the same in 
size and general appearance as the old office build- 
ing now standing in the square, east of the court- 
house. 

This old building, containing the offices of the 
Judge of Probate and County Trer.surer, was erected 
in 1853. At the annual meeting of the Supervisors, 
in October of the previous year, the Board appro- 
priated five hundred dollars for the purpose of 
grading and fencing the square and building a 
treasurer's and a probate office, both to be included 
in one building, similar to the one then recently 
built for the Clerk and Register of Deeds ; and a 
committee was appointed to prepare plans for the 
same. 

January 3, 1853. — The report of the committee 
was received and accepted, and R. P. Bush, F. C. 
Whipple, and L. D. Smith were appointed a build- 
ing committee. The contract was awarded to 
John B. Kneeland, who completed the building 
during the succeeding summer and fall, and it was 
accepted by the building committee in October, 
1853. In the spring of 1854 its exterior was 
stuccoed (under supervision of Charles Benedict) 
to correspond with the office building on the west 
side of the court-house. 



34 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



THE NEW OFFICES OF THE CLERK AND REGISTER 

OF DEEDS. 

On the 17th of October, 1873, the Supervisors' 
committee on public lands and buildings reported 
to the Board that the building containing the 
offices of the County Clerk and Register of Deeds 
was in so dilapidated a condition as to render it 
inexpedient to make further repairs upon it. And 
they reconnnended that the sum of one thousand 
dollars be raised for the construction of a new 
building for these offices and for repairs on the 
ofifices of the Treasurer and Judge of Probate. 

The report of the committee was accepted and 
adopted, and tlie Board directed their chairman to 
appoint a suitable person to superintend the erec- 
tion of the proposed building, and to let the con- 
tract for its construction to the lowest responsible 
bidder. Under these instructions, Mr. Horace 
Halbert was appointed .such superintendent of 
construction, and the contract was let to Messrs. 
Tunnard & Beardslcy for the sum of two thousand 
five hundred and thirty-three dollars. The old 
building was demolished, and work on the new 
one was conmienced immediately. It was com- 
pleted and occupied early in 1874; its total cost 
being about three thousand one hundred dollars, 
including the removal of the old building and 
some other matters, but exclusive of the new 
safes, furniture, and fi.xtures which were put 
into it. 

It is a neat and substantial structure, — one storv, 
but of ample height, — and more than double the 
size of the old building. It affords good accom- 
modation for the offices of tlie Clerk and Register, 
and it is proposed to erect a similar building for 
the Probate and Treasurer's offices, — a project 
which will doubtless be carried into effect at an 
earl)' day. 

COUNTY POOR-IIOUSE AND FARM. 

Down to, and including the year 1870, the sys- 
tem in practice by the county of Livingston for the 
support of its poor was the granting of outside re- 
lief where such course seemed most proper and 
advisable, and the keeping of the more helpless 
poor, the insane and idiotic, by contract; the place 
where these were kept being known as the poor- 
house, though not the property of the county. In 
their report for the year named (ending October, 
1870), the majority of the Board of County Super- 
intendents of the Poor said : "And we would fur- 
ther confidently recommend the present mode of 
keeping the poor to be the best that can be 
adopted." But, on the other hand, a committee 
appointed by the Board of Supervisors to visit the 
poor-house, and inspect and report on the work- 



ings of the system (the committee being com- 
posed of Charles Fishbeck, John Wood, S. B. 
Sales, John A. Tanner, and N. A. Smith) reported 
at the same time as follows: 

"First, — That the poor are as well cared for by 
the present contractor as they can be under the 
present mode of caring for the poor; that they 
have plenty to eat, and a clean bed to sleep in, and 
seem to be well satisfied with their treatment. 

" Second, — That the conveniences are not suit- 
able. We found them in a small room of about 
eighteen by twenty-two feet, which is occupied by 
the insane and sane, males and females, as sleeping-, 
sitting-, and dining-room. The house is a frame 
building, boarded up and down and battened, with- 
out plaster, which your committee would consider 
warm enough for warm weather, but too cold for 
winter. Your committee would respectfully recom- 
mend that there be a county farm purchased, not 
to exceed eight miles from the village of Howell, 
of not less than eighty nor more than one hundred 
and twenty acres, and that there be suitable build- 
ings erected on the same for the purpose of taking 
care of the poor and insane of Livingston County." 
This report was adopted by the Board, and on the 
third of January, 1871, a committee composed of 
the Supervisors of Green Oak, Unadilla, Tyrone, 
and Conway [representing the four corner towns 
of the county], " to go with the superintendents of 
the poor and examine and report to the Board, as 
soon as they can, the best farm in their opinion, 
without regard to the number of acres, as to in- 
clude stock, wheat on the ground, teams, and tools 
with said farm," 

The result of several examinations was the selec- 
tion of the farm offered by Mr. Hiram Wing, in the 
southwest quarter of section fifteen in the town- 
ship of Marion ; the buildings on which are located 
almost exactly on the territorial centre of that 
township. And at a special meeting of the Super- 
visors, held January 6, 1 87 1, the Board resolved 
" that they hereby authorize the County Superin- 
tendents of the Poor to purchase the farm of 
Hiram Wing, of Marion, of two hundred and 
fifteen acres, for said county, also tools and wheat 
on the ground, for the sum of ten thousand dol- 
lars, to be paid as follows [here designating the 
amount, time, and manner of the several pay- 
ments]; . . . and that we appropriate two thou- 
sand five hundred dollars of the money now raised 
towards the payment for the said farm, and that 
we appropriate one thousand dollars, raised for 
buildings and repairs, to purchase teams and stock, 
and repairs on said farm." 

The farm — now the poor-farm of the county of 
Livingston — was conveyed by Mr. Wing to the 



THE PRESS. 



35 



county, January 5, 1871 ; and on the ninth of the 
same month the following report and resolution 
was adopted by the Supervisors : 

" W/tereas, The Board of Supervisors of the county 
of Livingston have bought a farm for the purpose 
of keeping the county Poor and Insane; now, tliere- 
fore, tlie said Hoard of Supervisors of said county do 
licrcby instruct and require tlie Superintendents of 
the Poor of said comity to hire a good practical 
firmer to take charge of said farm, under their di- 
rections, by the year, at an expense not exceeding 
five hundred dollars per year . . . And the man so 
liircd by the superintendent to take possession of said 
poor-farm on the first of April, ad. 1871, or as 
soon after as may be . . . And at the time the con- 
tract expires for the keeping of the poor and insane 
tlie Superintendents remove or cause then to be re- 
moved the poor and insane to said farm, with the teams 
of said county; and further instruct the Superintendents 
to build or cause to be built, at the expense of the 
county, a suitable building, of brick or stone, for keep- 
ing of the insane ; said building to be sixteen by twenty- 
four feet, fire-proof, with cells secured by bolts and 
bars." 

Afterwards a committee was appointed to visit 
the faiin and confer with the Superintendents on 
various matters, including the erection of the 
building for the insane. This committee reported 
to the Board June 13, 1871, recommending " that 
said building be built two stories high, twenty-two 
by thirty feet, and that it will be necessary to use 
the sum of fifteen hundred dollars for the comple- 
tion of the same, and for the further maintenance 
of the poor." This report was adopted, and the 
]5oard resolved that the Superintendents be author- 
ized to receive sealed proposals for three weeks for 
the erection of the building as recommended, and 
that the chairman of the Board and the County 
Clerk be autiiorized to issue orders for a sum not 
to exceed fifteen hundred dollars for the purposes 
recommended by the cominittee. 

In the annual report of the .Superintendents of 
the Poor for the year ending October i, 1 871, it 
was shown that the farm produced, in this first 
season of the county's occupancy, three hundred 
and sixty eight bushels of wdieat, three lumdrcd 
and twenty bushels of oats, eighty bushels of bar- 
ley, and fifty tons of hay ; the potato crop being 
a failure. The Superintendents also reported that 
" The building which your honorable body author- 
ized us to erect has been contracted for the sum 
of fifteen hundred dollars, and is progressing, to 
be completed by the first of the present month." 

The building was completed a little later, the 
farm-buildings repaired, antl a fine barn has since 
been erected ; and an experience of eight years has 



shown the new system of supporting the poor of 
the county to be much preferable to the previous 
olie. 

The report of the Superintendents of the Poor 
for the year ending September 30, 1879, shows as 
follows: The number of families relieved during 
the year outside the county house was eighty-one, 
comprising two hundred and fifty-two persons. 
The whole number of persons supported at the 
county house during the year was thirty-four, in- 
cluding two mutes, and four idiotic. The number 
supported at the Insane Asylum during the year 
was twenty. The whole number receiving assist- 
ance in any form was three hundred and six. The 
receipts from the sale of the surplus product of the 
farm in the year was seven hundred and two dol- 
lars and fifty-si.x cents. 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE PRESS— THE PROFESSIONS— LIVINGSTON 
CIVIL LIST— COUNTY SOCIETIES. 

The Press of Livingston County^Tlie Livingston Courier — 
Livingston Republicin — Living-toii Democrat — ^Howell Inde- 
pendent — Fovvlerville Forum — Brighton Citizen — Fowlerville 
Review — The Medical Profession — Early Physicians of Living- 
ston County — Medical Societies — Livingston County Medical 
Association — The Legal Profession — Early Lawyers of the 
County — Livingston Civil List — Livingston County Pioneer .Vs- 
sociation — Livingston County Bible Society. 

THE PRESS OF LIVINGSTOX COUNTY. 
THE LIVINGSTOX COURIER. 

The Livingston Courier, — a five-column folio, — 
the first paper published in the county of Living- 
ston, was first issued on the tenth of January, 1843, 
from its office of publication in the village of 
Brighton, and bore the names of Nicholas Sullivan, 
Publisher, and F"rederick C. Whipple, Editor. In 
that first number of the Courier was contained a 
notice of the death, at the age of thiity-one years, 
of the Hon. Stevens T. Mason, the first Governor 
of the State of Michigan, which event occurred in 
the city of New Yorlc, on the fourth of the same 
month. It also contained a mention of the death 
of the Hon. Joshua Lee, M.D., December 31, 1842, 
in Yates County, New York, at the age of fifty- 
seven ; a notice of the marriage in Earmington, 
Oakland County, of James 15. Lee, of Brighton, to 
Miss Samantha Chadwick, of Earmington ; of a 
successful " Donation Party," then recently held at 
the house of "that venerable divine, the Rev. Jona- 
than Post"; the business cards of Whipple & Peck, 
and Daniel C. Marsh, of Brighton, Attornej-s and 



36 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Counselors at I,avv ; of Ira P. Bingham and Wilbur 
Fisher, Physicians and Surgeons, of Brighton ; of 
J. B. & D. R. Lee, and D. Cable, Merchants 6f 
Brighton ; and of the public-houses of Morris 
Bennett, Robert Bigham, and B. P. Vealey (" late 
R. D. Power's"), all of Brighton. 

In his address to his patrons and the public the 
proprietor said, " We are well aware of the im- 
possibility of giving to the public a paper which 
shall exactly suit the taste of every individual ; our 
aim will be to present such a variety of miscel- 
laneous selections, political and editorial matter 
as may be read with interest and profit by all. 
Our aim especially will be to make it valuable as 
a family newspaper, inculcating wholesome and 
correct principles in morals as well as in politics; 
a medium which may be relied on for correct in- 
formation upon all subjects which enter its col- 
umns. In politics we embrace heartily, and shall 
adhere strictly, to the Democratic creed and doc- 
trine as taught and expounded by its most emi- 
nent disciples. We do this, not from motives of 
interest, but from a settled conviction that these 
principles, as first taught by Jefferson, are the cor- 
rect principles of government, and best calculated 
to confer the greatest good upon the greatest num- 
ber. While we intend to keep the public informed 
of all matters of public interest which relate to the 
county, as they occur, matters of mere local in- 
terest, especially those matters relating to the 
county-seat, which have heretofore agitated and 
divided the county, will not be made the subject of 
discussion in our columns ; we shall be the advo- 
cate of no local interest, nor pander to sectional 
prejudice in any form. . . . We wish the paper to 
have a general circulation through the county, and 
this may be easily accomplished by the kindness 
of our Democratic friends in different parts of the 
county." 

The Courier was continued at Brighton for nine 
months, and was then removed to Howell, at which 
village it was first issued October 1 1, 1843, by the 
same proprietor, but with Lewis H. Hewett as its 
editor. The last number bearing Mr. Hewett's 
name as editor was issued December 11, 1844. In 
September, 1846, the paper was sold by Mr. Sulli- 
van to E. R. Powell, who conducted it until Decem- 
ber, 1848, when he sold to William B. Smith. It 
was published by Mr. Smith until April, 1856, 
when it was purchased by George P. Root, under 
whom it continued for one year, and at the end of 
that time ceased to e.xist. 

THE LIVINGSTON REI'UliLICAN. 

"On the twenty-seventh day of April, 1835, 
under the supervision of II. & L. M. Smith, the 



Republican made its first appearance in Howell."* 
This is the statement made by Lewis M. Smith in 
his "Valedictory," printed in the columns of the 
Republican in its issue of July 6, 1859, at which 
time the name of George L. Sage first appeared as 
editor and publisher. During the period of four 
years and two months, which had intervened be- 
tween its establishment and the time referred to, 
the Messrs. Smith had conducted the paper as 
publishers and proprietors. They then sold to 
George W. Lee and George L. Sage, — Mr. Sage 
assuming the editorship, as mentioned above. In 
1862 it was sold to James Bowers, who continued 
its editor and publisher until his death, which oc- 
curred near the close of the political campaign of 
1866. The office was then sold to Andrew D. 
Waddell and Julius D. Smith, who took possession 
on the twenty-fifth of December in that year. Mr. 
Waddell continued as editor and manager of the 
paper until March, 1868, when he sold his interest 
to J. D. Smith. He remained as sole or part pro- 
prietor of the Republican for about nine and a half 
years, during which time he had successively asso- 
ciated with him in its publication F. H. Marsh, 
George W. A.xtell, Solomon T. Lyon, and E. B. 
Vanderhocf, — the last-named gentleman being half- 
owner in the paper in the fall of 1877, at which 
time it was sold to L. C. Miller, its present pub- 
lisher. In politics ihc Republican has always been 
what its name indicates. Its office of publication 
is in Weimeister Block, south side of Grand River 
Street, Howell. 

THE LIVINGSTON DEMOCRAT. 

This paper, now published by Joseph T. Titus & 
Son, was established on the ruins of the old Living- 
ston Courier, which ceased to exist in April, 1857. 

The Democrat is printed at Howell, and is one 
of the largest newspapers published in the State. 
It is the only Democratic paper issued in the 
county, and consequently enjoys an extensive pat- 
ronage. It was established in August, 1857, by 
Joseph T. Titus, who came to Howell from the 
city of Jackson (where he had published the Jack- 
son Patriot), at the solicitation of several of the 
leading Democrats of Livingston County, for the 
express purpose of establishing a Democratic 
paper in the county. The office of the Democrat 
is in a brick building on the west side of East 
Street, just south of Grand River Street. 

THE HOWELL INDEPENDENT. 
This paper — a five-column quarto weekly — was 
commenced at Howell village by A. G. Blood & 

* This statement is reproduced verbatim, as authority for giving 
a time different from that which stands at the head of the Rfpiib- 
licaiis columns as the dntc of its birth. 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



37 



Co., in 1 87 1, its fir.st number being issued by that 
firm on tin; 8th of jXpvW in that year. The office 
of pubUcation was located in Wcimeistcr Block. 

The Independent never paid the expense of pub- 
lication, and at the end of about nine months 
Messrs. Blood & Co. sold the concern to Julius D. 
Smith and Charles E. Cooper. Mr. Smith took 
part of the material and added it to the office of 
the Livingston Republican, which he was then pub- 
lishing, and Mr. Cooper, with the remainder, at- 
tempted to continue the publication of the Inde- 
pendent, but a trial of less than two months sufficed 
to show that the enterprise could not be made 
remunerative, and it was therefore abandoned. 

THE FOWLERVILLE FORUM 

was a small sheet, printed in the office of the lude- 
pendcnt, and circulated to a limited extent in Fow- 
lerville for about three months. 

THE BRIGHTON CTTIZEX 

This journal had its origin in the publication of 
the Brighton Bulletin, of which the first number 
was issued in September, 1871, by A. G. Blood & 
Co., from the publication office of their paper, the 
Hozvell Independent. 

In the year of its commencement the Bulletin 
was purchased from Blood & Co. by George W. 
Axtell, who, having also purchased the necessary 
material and equipment of an office (the Bulletin 
not having these, as it had been published in the 
Independent office), removed it to its proper loca- 
tion at Brighton, and changed its name to that of 
the Citizen, under which title it first appeared on 
the second of January, 1872. 

The enterprise was far from promising at first, 
but after a time its affairs became more prosperous, 
and its proprietor found it expedient to enlarge 
the paper from a seven-column folio to a five- 
column quarto. Mr. Axtell continued to publish 
the Citizen until November, 1877, when he sold 
the establishment to W. H. Bowman, of Howell, 
and J. D. Ellenwood, of Brighton, who have re- 
mained proprietors and publishers of the paper 
until the present time, under the firm-name and 
style of Bowman & Ellenwood. They have im- 
proved the paper, and greatly increased its circu- 
lation. Connected with the Citizen establishment 
is a job printing-office, which docs excellent work, 
and is well patronized. 

THE FOWLERVILLE REVIEW. 

On the ninetecntli of June, 1874, the first num- 
ber of the Foii'lei~i'ille Rcvicxu wzfi i.ssued by Willard 
H. Hess and George L. Adams, at the village of 
Fowlervillc. It was a four column quarto, and 



was continued in that size and form until January, 
1875, when it was changed to a seven-column 
folio. In October, 1877, it was again changed, 
and became a five-column quarto, as at present. 
At the time of the last change in the size of the 
paper its proprietorship was also changed, Mr. 
Adams' interest in the establishment being pur- 
chased by Mr. Hess, who continued alone until 
the first of January, 1879, when Mr. Adams be- 
came, by purchase, the sole owner and publisher, 
and has so continued until the present time. The 
Review is published weeklx', on Fridays, and is 
independent in politics. 

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 
EARLY PHYSICIANS. 

For several years after the first settlers entered 
Livingston County there was no physician located 
in all its territory. The inhabitants of the southern 
and southeastern part of the county depended on 
the medical men of Washtenaw County, while those 
in the eastern and interior parts of Livingston re- 
lied on the services of Dr. F. Curtis, a physician 
who had settled in Rochester, Oakland County, in 
1832, and soon afterwards removed to Kensington, 
in the same county, but on the border of Liv- 
ingston. People living as far west as Livingston 
Centre traveled on foot to Kensington in cases of 
sickness to secure the services of Dr. Curtis. He 
is still living, at Holly, Oakland County, and says 
that at one time in those years he was physician 
to nearly every family in Livingston County, 
when there were not well persons enough to take 
care of the sick. This was about the year 1835. 
In the following year Dr. Samuel W. Pattison lo- 
cated in Fentonville, Genesee County, and he soon 
began to be called by the few inhabitants of the 
northern and northeastern portions of Livingston. 

Dr. Pattison, who now lives in Ypsilanti, read a 
few years ago an address to the Washtenaw Pio- 
neer Society, in which he referred to that early time, 
and to his extended professional rides from Fenton- 
ville, as follows : " It soon became known that a 
physician had settled at Dibbleville [afterwards 
P^entonville], and I had professional calls quite a 
distance, — to Highland, White Lake, Grand Blanc, 
Deerfield, and Hartland. I was guided to many of 
these places through timbered openings by marked 
trees, and often following Indian trails. . . . During 
the months of August and September the inter- 
mittent and remittent fevers — diseases peculiar to 
low or flat countries — prevailed to an alarming 
extent. The well were the exception ; whole fam- 
ilies were down, many became discouraged, and 
some fled, but it was remarkable that most of these 
returned to Michigan." 



38 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Dr. Cyrus Wells, of Oakland County, — the father 
of Dr. William L. Wells, of Howell, — was also very 
frequently called to attend patients in Livingston 
County in the early 3'ears of its existence. He 
was the physician who was called in the spring of 
1837 to attend the last sickness of Mr. Samuel 
Waddell, in the western part of the town of How- 
ell, and his ride extended even farther west to the 
township of Handy. His practice in Livingston 
was fully as large as that of Dr. Curtis, and much 
more extended than that of Dr. Pattison. 

The first physician of Livingston County was 
Dr. Wilber Fisher, who came from Ann Arbor in 
1836, and settled at Brighton. He was not the 
possessor of a finished medical education, but 
having good natural ability and still more tact, he 
secured an extensive practice, and was on the 
whole a successful physician. 

Dr. Ira P. Bingham visited Brighton in 1S35, but 
did not locate permanently as a physician until 
1 84 1. He has remained there until the present 
time, but latterly he has not given his whole atten- 
tion to the practice of his profession. He is now 
the senior physician of the count}". 

Dr. Gardner Wheeler was the first physician of 
Howell, settling and commencing practice there in 
1838. He was a native of the State of Massachu- 
setts in 179S, and removed thence in his boyhood 
to Norwich, Chenango County, New York, which 
at that time was regarded by New Englanders as 
" the far West." At Norwich he studied medicine, 
commencing with Dr. Mitchell, and completing his 
studies with Dr. Wilco.x ; after which he married, 
and remained there until 1837, when he came to 
Michigan, stopped one year in Scio, Washtenaw 
Count)', and came to Howell in the following year 
as mentioned. He lived and practiced here with 
great success for more than twenty years, and 
died, widely known and universally respected, on 
the eleventh of January, 1859, at the age of sixty- 
four years. He was a prominent member of the 
Masonic fraternity, and Worshipful Master of the 
Howell Lodge, which, at a communication held 
January 15th, adopted this resolution: 

"JVhcrcas, Our worthy brotlier, Dr. Gardner Whee- 
ler, our late Master of this lodge, has been summoned 
by the mallet of Death to that Eternal presence whence 
emanates all true Masonic light, and thereby hath been 
lost to his family a husband and a fatlier, and to us an 
esteemed and honored brother; therefore, be it 

" Rcsolvetf, Tliat while we recognize in the death of 
our worthy brother ' the handiwork of Him who doeth 
all things well,' we can but grieve over the loss of one 
who, tiirougli life, has been the steadfast friend and 
determined supporter of our ancient and time-honored 
order, whose every day, in life, in death, has illustrated 



its virtues and its usefulness, in showing forth to the 
world ' the noblest work of God,' an honest man ; for 
while we claim not perfection for our brother, and 
would ask for him, in death, what is seldom granted 
in life, — exemption from detraction and abuse, draw- 
ing over his foibles and his follies the broad mantle 
of Masonic charity, we add our united belief that his 
every act in life was dictated only by those motives 
which belong to the heart of a ' Man and a Mason.' " 

One of the many eulogistic notices of Dr. 
Wheeler, which were published immediately after 
his death, said of him, " He has occupied a prom- 
inent position in our community, both by his pro- 
fessional acquireinents and superior social quali- 
ties, which endeared him to a large circle of friends. 
He was ever ready to attend the call of the afflicted, 
and vt'as faithful in his endeavors to alleviate suf- 
fering wherever it came in his way, whether in the 
mansion of the affluent or in the cottage of the 
poor. He was often elevated to posts of honor 
and trust by his fellow-citizens, and was beloved 
by all who knew him for his many virtues, which 
were so prominent as to excuse his faults." A 
daughter of Dr. Wheeler (Mrs. Buckland) is now 
living in Howell, and a son — Dr. John A. Whee- 
ler — is practicing in Whitehall, Muskegon County, 
Michigan. 

Dr. Charles A. Jeffries commenced practice in 
Howell the next year after Dr. Wheeler, and re- 
mained until 1843, when he removed to Washte- 
naw County. He is still (or was recently) living, 
but entirely blind. 

Dr. Nichols Hard was the ne.xt physician who 
came to Howell, commencing practice in the vil- 
lage in 1841. He remained only about two years. 
He was married in April, 1843, to Miss Eunice M. 
Farnsworth, of Green Oak, and immediately after- 
wards left the county. 

Dr. William Huntington came to Livingston 
County in November, 1S43, and took the practice 
and office then recently vacated by Dr. Jeffries, in 
Howell. From that time until the present he has 
remained there in successful practice. His son. 
Dr. W. C. Huntington, is now associated with him 
in business. 

Dr. E. F. Olds came to Howell in the fall of 
1843, and announced himself as a physician (which 
he probably was), but never gained any practice 
worth noticing. He was a writing-master as well 
as physician, and while in Howell he taught a class 
in penmanship with considerable success. At a 
recent date he was living in Philadelphia, Penn- 
sylvania. 

Dr. William Dowlman, from Lincolnshire, Eng- 
land, a graduate of the Western Reserve Medical 
College, at Cleveland, Ohio, commenced practice 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



39 



in Howell in 1846, but did not establish there per- 
manently. He removed after a time, and during 
the last twenty years has practiced in the western 
part of the State. Recently he has established 
himself in practice in the township of Marion. 

Dr. Thomas R. Spence located in Howell in 
1S46, and acquired a good practice. He remained 
about six years, and then moved to Detroit. He 
is now in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Dr. Z. Hawley Marsh commenced practice in 
Howell village in 1847, and has remained here 
until the present time. He is a graduate of the 
Castleton (Vermont) Medical College, a good phy- 
sician, and at present treasurer of the Livingston 
County Medical Association. 

Dr. Andrew Blanck, now a member of the 
County Medical Association, came from Bath, 
Steuben County, New York, in 1848, and settled 
in Howell, where he has since remained in suc- 
cessful practice. 

Dr. William L. Wells, son of Dr. Cyrus Wells, 
of Oakland County, whose ride e.xtended over a 
large part of Livingston in an early day, came to 
Howell in 1849, "i""^ '■^''^ '•'^^ foundation of the 
successful and extended practice in which he is 
still engaged. He is a member of the Livingston 
County Medical Association, a physician of high 
repute, and one of the senior practitioners of the 
county. Dr. W. H. Martin, who afterwards prac- 
ticed in I'inckney, was a student in Dr. Wells' 
office. 

Dr. Henry J. Rumsey — who had previously been 
engaged for a short time in mercantile business in 
Howell — began practice in that village in 1853. 
He died in Howell, May 16, 1858. An obituary 
notice of his death said, " As a citizen he was emi- 
nently enterprising and public-spirited, a friend of 
good order and reform. The large circle who had 
enjoyed his professional services as a physician 
very soon learned to esteem him still more as a 
friend. Indeed, he was a universal favorite in a 
very large community." 

Dr. Robert C. Hutton commenced the practice 
of medicine in Howell in 1857, and has resided 
there since that time. He is secretary of the 
county medical association, and a member of the 
firm of Spencer & Hutton, druggists, of Howell. 

Dr. Thomas B. Lamb was one of the pioneer 
physicians in the northeastern part of the county, 
being established in practice at Parshallville as 
early as 1840. He was one of the seven members 
of the profession who issued the call for the forma- 
tion of tile Livingston County Medical Society in 

1843- 

Dr. Josiah T.Clark located in Hartland about 
the same time that Dr. Lamb came to practice in 



Parshallville. He was a successful physician in 
fhe town for many years, and died at Hartland 
Centre. 

Dr. Freeman Near commenced as a physician in 
Hartland, in 1840 or 1841. He was town treasurer 
of Hartland in the latter j'ear, and a signer of the 
call for the formation of a medical society in 1843. 

Dr. William H. Ha}-ford located early in Hart- 
land and is still in practice there. He is now 
President of the Livingston County Medical 
Association. 

The first physician in the southern tier of towns 
— and one of the first in the county — was Dr. Wil- 
liam Stevens, who came to Pinckney village in 
1837, and practiced there for si.x years, removing 
in 1S43. He is now practicing in some of the 
more Western States. 

Dr. Robert M. Stansbury was a native of the 
State of New York, and a brother of Mrs. Caro- 
line M. Kirtland, who, under the nom-de-plume of 
" Mary Clavers," was the author of a little volume 
of fiction, entitled, "A New Home. Who'll Fol- 
low?" Dr. Stansbury located in Pinckney in 1838, 
practiced there for some three or four years, and 
removed to Brooklyn, New York, and afterwards 
to San Francisco, California, where he died in 
charge of a hospital about 1852. 

Dr. Isaac Brown was born in Massachusetts, 
July 4, 1792. He conmienced practice in Pinck- 
ney in 1842, and some two or three years later 
removed into the township of Hamburg,, where he 
died January 24, 1862. 

Dr. J. W. Angell located in Pinckney in 1843. 
After a few years' practice here he removed, and 
is now living in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. 

Dr. Charles W. Haze was born in Wilson, Ni- 
agara County, New York, August 14, 1820. He 
graduated at the Western Reserve Medical Col- 
lege in Cleveland, Ohio, and established in prac- 
tice in Pinckney in April, 1845. He is still in prac- 
tice there, and is one of tiie best known and most 
highly valued physicians in the county. 

Dr. William H. Haze, born in Canada W'est in 
April, 1816, and a graduate of the Western Re- 
serve Medical College, came to Pinckney in Au- 
gust, 1847. He practiced there but two years, 
having removed in 1849. He is now out of prac- 
tice and resides in the city of Lansing. 

Dr. John R. Goodrich, a native of Vermont, ^ , 
where he was born in 181 1, graduated at the Cas- \' 
tleton (Vermont) Medical College, and came to 
Livingston County in 1851, locating in Pinckney. 
He died April i, 1856. Dr. Goodrich was the 
first Senior Warden of the Livingston Lodge, F. 
and A. M., at Pinckney. 



40 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Dr. W. G. Rogers commenced practice in Pinck- 
ney in January, 1858. 

Dr. Robert Le Baron, a native of Michigan, born 
in 1838, graduated in the medical department of 
the University of Michigan in 1861, practiced with 
Dr. Haze in Pinckney for about one year, was after- 
wards surgeon of the Fourth Michigan Infantry in 
the war of the Rebellion, and after his army ser- 
vice located in Pontiac. He is now surgeon at the 
Military Academy at Orchard Lake. 

Dr. Junius L. Field came to Livingston County 
in the fall of 1836, and settled in practice in Una- 
dilla, being the first physician there. He practiced 
in that town and vicinity until his death, which 
occurred in November, 1867. He was a good phy- 
sician and much esteemed. 

Dr. Morgan was practicing in Unadilla in 1843. 
Little has been learned in regard to him. 

Dr. Foster came from Canada to this county 
about 1845, and settled in Unadilla, from whence, 
after a number of years, he moved to Ypsilanti, 
and died there some twelve years since. He was 
a graduate of the Western Reserve Medical Col- 
lege. 

Dr. Samuel Du Bois is a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and, in early life, was for a time a teacher. 
He commenced the study of medicine in 1850, 
entered the Michigan University in 1852, and 
graduated from the medical department of that 
institution in 1855. After a short period of prac- 
tice in Leslie, Ingham County, Michigan, he came 
to Livingston County in 1856, and settled at Una- 
dilla, where he is still in practice. He is a mem- 
ber of the State Medical Association, has been 
twice elected president of the county association, 
and ranks among the most prominent practitioners 
of Livingston County. 

Dr. Samuel Grisson was an early physician in 
the township of Hamburg, but after two or three 
years' practice there removed to Washtenaw 
County. He was a student with Dr. Halleck of 
Whitmore Lake, and received his diploma at 
Geneva, New York. 

Dr. Thomas Hoskins came to Marion township 
in 1S36. He practiced there for three or four 
years, and about 1840 removed to Scio, Washtenaw 
County. He was the first supervisor of the town 
of Marion. 

Dr. Ruel Randall — not a regularly educated 
physician — was the first to practice in the township 
of Handy. His treatment was on the " Tl.omp- 
sonian" system. He is still living. 

Dr. Henry N. Spencer was the first regular phy- 
sician in that town. He came from Chautauqua 
County, New York, and settled at Fowlerville in 
October, 1853. He remained there in practice 



until 1S69, when he removed to Howell (having 
been elected judge of probate in 1868). Since 
that time he has been located at the county-seat, 
where, besides his practice, he is engaged in the 
drug business in partnership with Dr. Hutton. 

Dr. J. M. Long (homceopathist) was early in 
Handy, having settled in Fowlerville in or about 
1855. Another of the same school. Dr. Ezra J. 
Bates, came there some three or four years later, 
and became a partner with Dr. Long, and after- 
wards his successor, when Dr. Long removed, 
about i860. Dr. Bates moved to Vermont in No- 
vember, 1863, and died there. Dr. Long now lives 
in Coldwater, Michigan. 

Dr. Jabez Paul (not regularly educated, but a 
Thompsonian practitioner) was the first to grapple 
with disease in the town of Iosco, having com- 
menced there in 1842. 

Dr. Schuyler was also an early physician of that 
town. 

In the above mention of early ph\-sicians it has 
been the intention to include those who commenced 
practice in Livingston County during the first 
quarter of a century of its existence. Of most of 
those who came later the names will be found in 
the membership lists of the Medical Association, 
and in the several township histories. 

MEDICAL SOCIETIES. 

In June, 1845, a call was published in the Liv- 
ingston Courier, under the heading of " Livingston 
County Medical Society," for a meeting of physi- 
cians to be held at the court-house on the twenty- 
si.vth of that month, for the purpose of organizing 
a County Medical Association. The call was signed 

by 

Isaac Brown, M.D. 
VVilber Fisher, M.D. 
Thomas B. Lamb, M.D. 
Ira P. Bingham, M.D. 
Freeman Near, M.D. 
William Huntington, M.D. 
Gardner Wheeler, M.D. 

No report of the meeting has been found, nor 
anything further in reference to the organization 
of the society. 

The Livingston County Medical Association. — 
Pursuant to a call, issued unofficially some weeks 
previously, several members of the medical profes- 
sion, residents in the county of Livingston, con- 
vened at the council-rooms of the village of How- 
ell, June 28, 1876, and organized by electing Samuel 
Du Bois, M.D., chairman, and R. C. Hutton, M.D., 
secretary. An organization was then effected un- 
der the above name and title, and a constitution 



THE LEGAL PROFESSION. 



41 



was adopted, which then and since tliat time has 
been signed by the following-named physicians, as 
members of the association, viz. : 

Samuel Du Bois, Unadilla. 

Z. Hawley Marsh, Howell. 

William L. Wells, Howell. 

Robert C. Hutton, Howell. 

George O. Austin, l-'owlerviUe. 

A. S. Austin, Fowlerville. 

James A. Brown, Fowlerville. 

William J. McIIench, Brighton. 

Cutting B. Wiley, Brighton. 

Richard Murphy, Hartland. 

William M. Hayford, Hartland. 

Cyrus Mather, Howell. 

Charles G. Cruickshank, Howell. 

William Caldwell, Byron. 

Aaron W. Cooper, Fowlerville. 

Isaiah Goodno, Oak Grove. 

Hollis F. Sigler, Pinckney. 

Robert B. Smith, Le Roy. 

Casper V. Beebe, Howell. 

Charles W. Haze, Pinckney. 

Henry N. Spencer, Howell. 

Alexander D. Hagadorn, Milford. 

David L. Howes, South Lyon. 

Orson W. Tock, Gaines. 

Leslie M. Goodrich, Unadilla. 

Jesse G. Lindsley, Highland. 

Andrew Blanck, Howell. 

Horace R. Hitchcock, Howell. 

Charles F. Bennett, South Lyon. 

William H. Erwin, Oak Grove. 

Henry P. Seymour, Byron. 
The honorary members are as follows : 

Edward S. Dunster, Ann Arbor. 

John W. Langley, Ann Arbor. 

Donald McLean, Ann Arbor. 

Theodore McGraw, Detroit. 
The regular meetings of the association occur 
on the third Wednesdays of June, September, De- 
cember, and March. The annual meeting is held 
in June each year at Howell. Other meetings are 
held alternatclj- with Brighton and Fowlerville. 

The present officers of the association are as 
follows : 

William li. Hayford, of Hartland, President. 
Abel S. Austin, of Fowlerville, Vice-President. 
R. C. Hutton, of Howell, Secretary. 
Z. Hawley Marsh, of Howell, Treasurer. 

THE LEGAL PROFESSION. 
EARLY LAWYERS OF THE COUNTY. 

The first attorney who established in the business 
of his profession in Livingston County was James 



W. Stansbury, who came to Livingston County 
in 1837, locating as an attorney in the village of 
Pinckney. In November, 1836, he was elected 
judge of probate, succeeding Kinsley S. Bingham 
in that ofifice. It was under liini that the first busi- 
ness of the Probate Court was done at Pinckney, 
where it was always held during his term of office. 
Mr. Stansbury, though never regarded as a very 
able lawyer, was quite literary in his tastes and 
acquirements, and stood well in the community as 
an honest and trustworthy man. About 1850 he 
removed from Pinckney to Ithaca, New York. 
He is now living in Danville, Illinois. 

Wellington A. Glover, the earliest of Howell's 
attorneys, settled in that village in 1838, and 
opened his office in the rear of Edward F. Gay's 
store. He was a fair lawyer, but never acquired a 
very lucrative business here. In politics he was 
strongly Whig, and it has been thought by some 
that his business might have been more prosperous 
if he had been politically with the dominant party 
in Livingston. His Whig principles, however, se- 
cured for him the postmastership of Howell under 
the Harrison administration in the spring of 1841. 
He also held, by ap^jointment, the office of prose- 
cuting attorney of Livingston County at about the 
same time. He died in Howell in 1843. 

Daniel C. Marsh located as an attorney in Brigh- 
ton in 1S39, and was appointed prosecuting attor- 
ney of Livingston County in 1841. He is still 
living in Brighton, but has retired from the practice 
of his profession. 

Josiah Turner, a native of Vermont, who had emi- 
grated from that State to Michigan, and stopped 
for a time in Ann Arbor, came from that place to 
Livingston County, and established as an attorney, 
at Howell, in 1S40. Since that time he has been 
almost constantly in public office, though not by 
his own seeking. Immediately after his arrival in 
Howell, he was made master in chancery, and at 
the commencement of the following year assumed 
and performed the duties of county clerk, though 
nominally the deputy of Jesse Mapes, who had 
been elected to the office. In February, 1842, Mr. 
Turner was appointed by the court to the office of 
clerk, to fill the term of Mr. Mapes, who resigned 
at that time. In November, of that year, he was 
elected to the same office, and .was re-elected in 
1844. In November, 1846, he was elected county 
judge, and re-elected in 1830. During these eight 
or ten years immediately following his settlement 
in Howell, besides attending to the duties of his 
offices, and also being at different times engaged 
in mercantile ventures, he kept up the business of 
his profession, and steadily prospered in it. He 
was elected judge of probate in 1856. In May, 



42 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



1 857, he was apf>ointed judge of the Supreme Court, 
and in the following November was elected circuit 
judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, which office 
he has held (by re-election in 1S63, 1S69, and 
1875) until the present time. The popularity' of 
Judge Turner in the countj- of his adoption is 
shown by the fact that at the time of his re-elec- 
tion, in i85g. he received three thousand four hun- 
dred and eight\--nine votes, out of a total of three 
thousand five hundred and sixty-nine cast in Liv- 
ingston for that office; and again, in 1875. he 
received four thousand two hundred and fort>-- 
seven votes out of the four thousand two hundred 
and sixty cast in the county. In the year 1S60, 
Judge Turner removed from Howell to Owosso, 
Shiawassee Countj*, as a more central point in his 
judicial circuit, and he still resides there. 

Frederick C. WTiipple, a native of Connecticut, 
and a graduate of L"nion College, in New York, 
came to Michigan in 1840. and after a short stay 
in Ann Arbor came to Livingston Count)-, where 
he was admitted to practice in May, i84i,and im- 
mediately established himself in his profession at 
Brighton. He was the first editor of the Lh'iag^- 
stori Courier, established in that village by Nicholas 
Sulli\-an, in 1843. In the jear 1846 he removed 
to Howell, where he lived during the remainder 
oi his brilliant professional career, in which he 
stood confessedly at the head of the bar of Living- 
ston County, and was regarded as one of the best 
jury lawj'ers in the State of Michigan. He held 
the office of prosecuting attorney (by appoint- 
ment) for several years, was elected judge of pro- 
bate in 1S48, re-elected in 1852, and was elected 
Circuit Court commissioner in 1868. He died 
in the township of Oceola, on the twent\--second 
of March, i S72. Immediately after his death, the 
Howell Lodge, No. 38, F. and A. M. (of which he 
had been a member and a Past Master 1, adopted 
the following resolution : 

" Whereas, The all-wise Governor of the Universe 
has seen fit to call our brother, Frederick C. Whipple, 
late Past Master of this lodge, from this transitor)- world 
to his more immediate presence in His spiritual temple; 
therefore, be it 

"Resolved, That in thb dispensation of Divine Prov- 
idence we recognize the loss of one who was ever a 
generous and public-spirited citizen ; an eminent law- 
yer; a kind husband and father, and a faithful friend : 
and whose early life and brilliant intellect gave promise 
of future greatness unsurpassed ; and whose memorv 
will linger long in the hearts of his neighbors, acquaint- 
ances, and friends." 

George W. Peck commenced business as an at- 
torney, in Brighton, in 1S42, and in that or the 
following year entered into a law partnership with 



F. C. Whipple. Mr. Peck was elected and served 
as representative in the Michigan Legislature of 
1846, and as representative in the Thirt\--fourth 
Congress in 1855-57. He was a good talker, and 
ver\- effective before a jur}% but was not a profound 
lawyer. The profession was distasteful to him, and 
in the year 1847 he abandoned it, and afterwards 
removed to Lansing. He is now connected, in 
some capacity, with a coal-mining enterprise in 
Missouri. 

Lauren K. Hewett came from Washtenaw County 
to Howell, in May. 1842. He never ranked high 
as a law\-er. In 1857 he removed hence to Lan- 
sing, where he engaged in banking business, at 
which he was not more successful than he had 
been in the law. 

Lewis H. Hewett, then a lawyer of Ann Arbor, 
was admitted to practice in the courts of Li\-ing- 
ston Count)-, in November, 1839, and about four 
years later located as an attorney in Howell, where, 
in partnership with his brother, he formed the law 
firm of L. H. and L. K. Hewett. L. H. Hewett 
succeeded F. C. Whipple as editor of tlie Lh-ingstcrn 
Courier, on its removal to Howell, in 1S43. He 
was a fair lawyer, though careless and desultory in 
his methods. After five years' stay in Howell he 
removed to Detroit, where he died suddenly. 

Richard B. Hall located in Howell, in 1S43. He 
held the office of justice of the peace and some 
minor offices during his stay here, and left in 1S4S. 
He was what is known as a good fellow, told good 
stories, and was quick at repartee, but no more 
than ordinar\- as a lawyer. He is now a detective 
officer in California. 

James H. Ackerson also located in Howell in 
1843, and remained there about five years, during 
which time he was once or twice elected justice 
of the peace, but it does not appear that he ever 
stood high in his profession. The Hon. J. W. 
Turner, in an address before the Pioneer Society-, 
thus mentions him : 

" At an early day there lived in Howell a lawyer 
named Ackerson, who at one time, I believe, 
boarded at Benjamin J. Spring's hotel. It was 
supposed by many that Ackerson would not hesi- 
tate, in a pinch, to use all the arts of a pettifogger. 
And, indeed, on one occasion, a man who was 
really guilty, but who was arrested for larceny on 
a defective warrant, got the privilege from the ar- 
resting officer to come down from the country and 
see Ackerson before he appeared to answer to the 
charge. His attorney of course discovered the 
invalidity of the process and arranged that he 
would come out and break down the f»ap»ers for a 
consideration, as well as ' run off' the defendant 
before another paper could be issued. Of course. 



THE LEGAL PROFESSION. 



43 



when Ackerson went out to attend the suit, he 
rode one horse and led another ; and some one 
who remarked his leaving town in that manner, 
spoke to Spring about it some time during the 
same day. Spring's reply was ' tliat Ackerson 
does a law and livery business both !' " Mr. 
Ackerson removed from Howell in the spring of 
1848, and returned to the State of New York. 

John B. Dillingham commenced the practice of 
the law in Howell in or about 1845, and remained 
here until about 1859, when he removed to East 
Saginaw. He held the office of prosecuting at- 
torney of Livingston County for the term succeed- 
ing the election of 1856. He was a man of large 
heart and a good lawyer. He died in Howell, 
while on a visit, or business trip here, from Sagi- 
naw. 

Justin Lawyer settled at the county-seat as an 
attorney in 1846. He remained here but a few 
years, and removed to Union City, Branch County, 
Michigan. He now resides in the city of Cold- 
water. 

Charles C. Ellsworth came from Vermont in 
1846, and commenced reading law in the office of 
Judge Turner. He was admitted to the bar in 
1848, and, having married a daughter of Mr. Ed- 
ward F. Gay, of Howell, removed to Greenville, 
Montcalm County, Michigan, in 185 1. He is a 
lawyer of e.xcellent ability, and was elected to 
represent the district in which he resides, in the 
Forty-fifth Congress. 

Another of the law students of Judge Turner 
was John F. Farnsworth, who read in his office in 
1S42-43. He was never a member of the Living- 
ston bar, but removed to St. Charles, Illinois, where 
he established himself in the profession, and has 
since served in Congress as representative from 
that district. 

William A. Clark commenced the practice of 
the law in Brighton, about 1848. He was elected 
prosecuting attorney of Livingston County in 1850 
(being the first who filled that office by election), 
and was re-elected in 1852, about which time he 
removed to Howell. Some twelve to fifteen years 
later he removed to Saginaw City. 

Henry H. Harmon was a teacher in the Howell 
schools in the winter of 1847-48. After the close 
of his term, in the spring of the latter year, he com- 
menced reading law in the office of Lewis H. 
Hewett, and was admitted in 1S49. He was elected 
Circuit Court commissioner in 1852, prosecuting 
attorney in 1854, and judge of probate in 1864. 
He has accumulated a comfortable fortune in the 
profession, and is still in practice in Howell. 

M)lo L. Gay read law in the office of F. C. 
Whipple, and was admitted to the bar in 1853, but 



has never practiced in the courts. He is now a 
banker at F"owlerville, but resides in Howell. 

Marcus B. Wilcox was a lawyer of fine ability, 
an excellent and affable gentleman, and an upright 
man, against whom no word of rej^roach could 
ever be truly spoken. He was established in the 
practice of his profession at Pinckney soon after 
1850, but afterwards moved to Howell. He was 
elected to the office of prosecuting attorney in 
i860, and again in 1866. Soon after the close of 
his term he died in Howell village. 

Sardis F. Hubbell, although the first law student 
in Livingston County (in the office of Wellington 
A. Glover, in 1840-41), did not commence practice 
here until fourteen years later. He completed his 
studies with Hon. A. C. Baldwin, at Milford, Oak- 
land County, and was admitted to the bar in that 
county in December, 1846. He then practiced for 
eight years in Oakland, and removed thence to 
Howell, in the spring of 1854. He was elected 
Circuit Court commissioner in the same year, and 
to the office of prosecuting attorney in 1858, 1862, 
and 1864. He is still a resident in Howell, and 
engaged in the profession which has given him 
a competence. 

Andrew D. Waddell, a native of Steuben County, 
New York, came in childhood with his parents to 
settle in Howell township, but on the death of his 
father, in 1837, returned with the family to New 
York, where, after reaching maturity, he com- 
menced the study of the law. In 1855 he re- 
turned to Howell, completed his reading in the 
office of John B. Dillingham, and was admitted to 
practice by Judge Sanford M. Green, in October, 

1856. One month after his admission he was 
elected Circuit Court commissioner, and was again 
elected to the same office in i860. In 1872 he 
was elected prosecuting attorne)', and re-elected 
in 1874. He now resides in Howell, and is one of 
the most prominent members of the Livingston 
bar. 

Jerome W. Turner was only aboLit three years 
old when he came with his father. Judge Josiah 
Turner, to settle in Livingston County. Passing 
the years of his childhood and youth principally 
in Howell, he commenced the study of the law at 
an early age, was admitted to the bar in March, 

1857, ''"'^ commenced business with Judge Fred- 
erick C. Whipple. After a j'ear or two of practice 
in Howell, he removed to Corunna, Shiawassee 
County, and was there elected to the State Senate 
in November, 1868. In 187 1 he removed to 
Owosso, where he still resides. Mr. Turner is 
ranked among the best lawyers of the State of 
Michigan. 

The foregoing mention of early attorneys — in- 



44 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



tended to include those who were located in busi- 
ness in the county during a period of twentj.- years 
from its organization — is based on information ob- 
tained from Judge Turner and others, who are 
necessarily well acquainted with the subject 

THE PRESENT BAR OF LmNGSTON. 

The bar of Livingston County at the present 
time is composed of the following-named gentle- 
men, viz. : 

H. H. Harmon, Howell. 

S. F. Hubbell, 

A. D. Waddell, 
Dennis Shields, " 
L. S. Montague, " 

B. T. O. Clark, Brighton. 

A. D. Cruickshank, Fowlerville. 
Rollin H. Person, Howell. 

H. F. Higgins, Fowler\ille. 

B. F. Button, 

John Conner, " 

F. H. Warren, 

J. T. Eaman, Pinckney. 

T. R. Shields, 

P. V. M. Botsford, Oceola. 

J. I. Van Keuren, " 

Hugh Conklin, Howell. 

UVINGSTON CIVIL LIST. 

In this list the names are given of those persons 
who have held count)" offices in Livingston, and 
also of citizens of the count}' who have held im- 
portant offices in or under the State or national 
government. 

UIsITED STATES SENATOR. 

Kinsley S. Bingham, elected in 1859 ; died at Green 
Oak, October 5, 1S61. 

GOVERXOR OF MICHIGAX. 

Kinsley S. Bingham, inaugurated January 3, 1S55 ; 
second inauguration, January 7, 1857. 

JUDGE OF THE SLTREME COURT. 

Josiah Turner, appointed May 9, 1857; served on 
Supreme Bench until January i, 1S58. 

REPRESEXTATTVE Df CONGRESS. 

Kinsley S. Bingham, elected in 1846 ; re-elected in 
1848. 

PRESIDE]S"TIAL ELECTORS. 

George W. Lee, 1S60. ] Samuel G. Ives, 1872. 

DELEGATE TO FIRST COXN'ENTIOJf OF ASSENT.* 
EInathan Noble. 

* ConTened at Ann Arbor, September 26, 1836. 



DELEGATES TO SECOND CON-V'ENTION OF ASSENT.f 



George W. Jewett. 
Solomon Sutherland. 



Stoddard W. Twichell. 



DELEGATES TO CONSTITLTTONAL CON^VENTION OF 

18504 
Daniel S. Lee. I Robert Warden, Jr. 

Robert Grouse. | Ely Barnard. 

DELEG.\TE5 TO CONSTITUTIONAL CON^'ENTION OF 

1867.1 

Benjamin W. Lawrence. ] Edwin B. Winans. 

MEMBER OF CONSTITUTIONAL COM>USSION OF 

1873-!! 
Ira D. Grouse. 

ST.\TE SENATORS. 

Edward M. Gust, Hamburg, elected in November, 

1841 ; re-elected in 1842, 1843, ^^ and 1844. 
Gbarles P. Bush, Genoa, elected in November, 1845 > 

re-elected in 1846.** 
Nelson G. Isbell, elected in November, 1S47 ! ^^' 

elected in 184S, 1849, ^^^ 185°- 
William McGauIey, Brighton, elected in November, 

1852. 
John Kenyon, Jr., Tyrone, elected in November, 1854. 
Marcus B. Wilcox, Putnam, elected in November, 

1S56. 
Robert Grouse, Hartland, elected in November, 1S5S. 
John H. Galloway, Howell, elected in November, 

1S60. 
William A. Glark, Howell, elected in November, 1862. 
Da\-id L. La Tourette, Tyrone, elected in November, 

1866. 
Mylo L. Gay, Howell, elected in November, 1870. 
Gharles M. Wood, Pinckney, elected in November, 

1874. 
Horace Halbert, Gonway, elected in November, 1S78. 

SPEAKERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENT-\TI\"ES. 

Kinsley S. Bingham, Green Oak, 1838, 1839, and 

1842. 
George W. Peck, Brighton, 1847. 

REPRESENTATIVES IN THE LEGISLATLTiE OF 
MICHIG.AN. 

Second State Legislature, convened January 2, 1837. — 
Kinsley S. Bingham, Green Oak. 

Third Legislature, convened January i, 1838. — Kins- 
ley S. Bingham, Green Oak ; Flavins J. B. Grane, 
HowelL 

Fourth Legislature, convened January 7, 1839.— Kins- 
ley S. Bingham, Ira Jennings, Green Oak. 

f Convened at Ann Arbor, December 14, 1S36. 

J Convened at Lansing, June 3. 

\ Convened at Lansing, May 15. 

II Convened at Lansing, August 27. 

\ President of the Senate /ro tempore January I. 1S44. 

** President of the Senate /ra tempore Janoarv 30, 1847. 



LIVINGSTON CIVIL LIST. 



45 



Fifth Legislature, convened January 6, 1840. — Charles 

P. Bush, Genoa. 
Sixth Legislature, convened January 4, 1841. — Kins- 
ley S. Bingham, Green Oak ; Charles P. Bush, 

Genoa. 
Seventh Legislature, convened January 3, 1842. — Kins- 
ley S. Bingham, Green Oak ; Charles P. Bush, 

Genoa. 
Eighth Legislature, convened January 2, 1S43. — Ely 

Barnard, Charles P. Bush, Genoa. 
Ninth Legislature, convened January i, 1844. — Ely 

Barnard, Genoa ; Robert D. Power, Brighton. 
Tenth Legislature, convened January 6, 1845. — Rob- 
ert D. Power, Brighton ; Ralph Fowler, Handy. 
Eleventh Legislature, convened January 5, 1846. — 

George W. Peck, Brighton ; Washington Wing, 

Iosco. 
Twelfth Legislature, convened January 4, 1847. — 

George W. Peck, Ira Jennings, Brighton. 
Thirteenth Legislature, convened January 3, 1S48. — 

Robert Grouse, Hartland ; Chester Hazard, 

Genoa. 
Fourteenth Legislature, convened January i, 1849. — 

Bradford Campbell, Brighton ; Joseph L. Hart- 

suff, Unadilla. 
Fifteenth Legislature, convened January 7, 1850. — 

John Kenyon, Jr., Tyrone; George W. Knee- 
land, Howell. 
Sixteenth Legislature, convened February 5, 1851. — 

Spaulding M. Case, Brighton ; Ralph Fowler, 

Handy. 
Seventeenth Legislature, convened January 5, 1853. 

(First Legislature chosen under apportionment 

prescribed by the constitution of 1850.) — James 

Gleason, Hartland; Charles W. Haze, Putnam. 
Eighteenth Legislature, convened January 3, 1855. — 

Samuel G. Ives, Unadilla; Charles A. Wilber, 

Howell. 
Nineteenth Legislature, convened January 7, 1S57. — 

Samuel G. Ives, Unadilla; John How, Deer 

Creek. 
Twentieth Legislature, convened January 5, 1859. — 

David Bush, Handy; John Gilluly, Brighton. 
Twenty-first Legislature, convened January 2, 1861. 

— Jacob Kanouse, Cohoctah ; Edwin B. Winans, 

Hamburg. 
Twenty-second Legislature, convened January 7, 1863. 

— Henry H. Harmon, Howell; Edwin B. Winans, 

Hamburg. 
Twenty-third Legislature, convened January 4, 1S65. 

— David G. Colwell, Tyrone; William Ball, 

Hamburg. 
Twenty-fourth Legislature, convened January 2, 1867. 

— William Ball, Hamburg; Alexander H. Bene- 
dict, Handy. 
Tiuenty-fifth Legislature, convened January 6, i86g. — 

Mylo L. Gay, Howell ; James B. Lee, Brighton. 
Twenty-sixth Legislature, convened January 4, 1871. 

— George W. Crofoot, Putnam ; Giles Ross, Hart- 
land. 



Twenty-seventh Legislature, convened January i, 1873. 

— D. W. Dinturff, Handy; John Carter, Brighton. 
Tioenty-eighth Legislature, convened January 6, 1875. 

— Louis Meyer, Brighton ; Isaac Stow, Iosco. 
Twenty-ninth Legislature, convened January 3, 1877. 

— Giles Ross, Hartland. 
Thirtieth Legislature, convened January, 1879. — 

Thompson Grimes, Pinckney. 

CIRCUIT JUDGE. 

Josiah Turner, elected in November, 1S57 ; re-elected 

in 1863 ; again in 1869 ; and for a fourth term in 

1875- 

COUNTY JUDGE. 

Josiah Turner, elected in November, 1846 ; re-elected 

in November, 1850. 

SECOND JUDGES. 
John Kenyon, Jr., elected in November, 1846 ; resigned 

in 1849. 
W. R. Cobb, elected in November, 1849, to fi" vacancy 

occasioned by the resignation of John Kenyon. 
Leland Walker, elected in November, 1850. 

ASSOCIATE JUDGES. 

Elislia W. Brockway, Elnathan Noble, elected in 1836. 

Solomon Sutherland, Elisha W. Brockway, in office 
from 1838 to 1840, inclusive. 

William A. Buckland, Charles D. Topping, elected 
in November, 1840. 

William McCauley, Alonzo Slayton, elected in Novem- 
ber, 1844. 

JUDGES OF PROBATE. 

Kinsley S. Bingham, elected in May, 1836; qualified 
July 15, 1S36. 

James W. Stansbury, elected in November, 1836. 

George W. Kneeland, elected in November, 1840; re- 
elected in November, 1844. 

Frederick C. Whipple, elected in November, 1848 ; 
re-elected in November, 1852. 

Josiah Turner, elected in November, 1856; resigned 
May 9, 1857, having been appointed circuit judge. 

Ira P. Bingham, appointed May, 1857, to fill vacancy 
occasioned by the resignation of Judge Turner. 

Ira P. Bingham, elected in November, i860. 

Henry H. Harmon, elected in November, 1864. 

Henry N. Spencer, elected in November, 1868. 

Jacob Kanouse, elected in November, 1872. 

Edwin B. Winans, elected in November, 1876. 

SHERIFFS. 

Justus J. Bennett, elected in May, 1836. 

William Tompkins, elected in November, 1837. 

Robert D. Power, elected in November, 1838 ; re- 
elected in November, 1840. 

Richard P. Bush, elected in November, 1842; re- 
elected in November, 1844. 

William E. Huntley, elected in November, 1846; re- 
elected in November, 1848. 

Edward Bishop, elected in November, 1S50; re-elected 
in November, 1852. 



46 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Van Rensselaer T. Angel, elected in November, 1S54; 
re-elected in November, 1S56. 

John A. Tanner, elected in November, 1858. 

Henry Hartman, elected in November, 1S60 ; re-elected 
in November, 1862. 

Giles Tucker, elected in November, 1864. 

John G. Gould, elected in November, 1866. 

Elisha E. Hazard, elected in November, 1868 ; re- 
elected in November, 1870. 

William Goodrich, elected in November, 1872 ; re- 
elected in November, 1874. 

Charles E. Beurman, elected in November, 1876; re- 
elected in November, 1878. 

COUNTY CLERKS. 

Flavins J. B. Crane, elected in May, 1836; re-elected 
in November, 1836. 

Philester Jessup, elected in November, 1837. (Under 
Mr. Jessup the business of the office was chiefly 
done by Ely Barnard, deputy clerk.) 

Almon Whipple, elected in November, 1S38. (The 
deputy clerk under Mr. Whipple was George W. 
Jewett, who performed the duties of the office 
during the first half of Mr. Whipple's incum- 
bency, and a portion of them afterwards.) 

Jesse Mapes, elected in November, 1840. (During all 
of Mr. Mapes' term the duties of the office were 
performed by his deputy clerk, Josiah Turner, now 
judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit.) Mr. Mapes 
resigned in February, 1842. 

Josiah Turner, appointed by the Circuit Court, Feb- 
ruary 18, 1842, to fill the vacancy caused by res- 
ignation of Jesse Mapes ; elected in November, 
1842 ; re-elected in November, 1844. 

Elijah F. Burt, elected in November, 1846; reelected 
in November, 1S48. 

Daniel D. T. Chandler, elected in November, 1850; 
re-elected in November, 1S52. 

Abel F. Butterfield, elected in November, 1854; re- 
elected in November, 1856. 

Neil O'Hearn, elected in November, 1S58. 

Elisha W. Grant, elected in November, i860. 

William R. Cobb, elected in November, 1862. 

Grin H. Winegar, elected in November, 1S64. 

Solomon T. Lyon, elected in November, 1866. 

Albert L. Hathaway, elected in November, 1868; re- 
elected in November, 1870. 

Benjamin F. Batcheler, elected in November, 1872 ; 
re-elected in November, 1874. 

Halsted Gregory, elected in November, 1876. 

Newton T. Kirk, elected in November, 1878. 

REGISTERS OF DEEDS. 

Ely Barnard, elected in May, 1S36 ; continued in office, 
by re-election, from 1S36 to 1840, inclusive. 

George W. Jewett, elected in November, 1840. 

Derastus Hinman, elected in November, 1842; re- 
elected in November, 1844. 

William C. Rumsey, elected in November, 1S46; re- 
elected in November, 1S48. 



Levi D. Smith, elected in November, 1850; re-elected 
in November, 1852; re-elected in November, 
1854; re-elected in November, 1856. 

Amos S. Adams, elected in November, 1858. 

William Williamson, elected in November, i860; re- 
elected in November, 1862. 

Neil O'Hearn, elected in November, 1864; re-elected 
in November, 1866. 

Harry J. Haven, elected in November, 1868 ; re-elected 
in November, 1870. 

William E. Watson, elected in November, 1872; re- 
elected in November, 1874. 

William M. Beach, elected in November, 1876; re- 
elected in November, 1878. 

COUNTY TREASURERS. 

Amos Adams, elected in May, 1836. 

George W. Jewett, elected in November, 1838. 

Almon Whipple, elected in November, 1840. 

Chester Hazard, elected in November, 1842; re-elected 
in November, 1844. 

Ricliard P. Bush, elected in November, 1846. 

James M. Murray, elected in November, 1848 ; re- 
elected in November, 1850. 

Charles Benedict, elected in November, 1S52; re- 
elected in November, 1854. 

Henry Hartman, elected in November, 1856 ; re-elected 
in November, 1S58. 

Ira Knight, elected in November, i860. 

William C. Rumsey, elected in November, 1862 ; re- 
elected in November, 1864. 

Albert Riddle, elected in November, 1866; re-elected 
in November, 1868. 

Ira O. Marble, elected in November, 1S70. 

Horace Halbert, elected in November, 1S72 ; re-elected 
in November, 1874. 

William R. Miller, elected in November, 1876; re- 
elected in November, 1S78. 

PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS. 
The first prosecuting attorney for Livingston 
County was James Kingsley, of Ann Arbor, who 
was appointed as such by the court, for the first 
term, held in Livingston, November, 1837. Those 
who held the office by appointment during the 
period from 1837 ^° 1850 (when it became elect- 
ive) were the following-named persons, viz. :* 

Wellington A. Glover. 
Daniel C. Marsh. 
Lewis H. Hewett. 
Frederick C. Whipple. 
Charles C. Ellsworth. 

The list of prosecuting attorneys who have held 
the office by election is as follows : 
William A. Clark, elected in November, 1850; re- 
elected in November, 1852. 

* This list is furnished l:)y Jmlge Turner, who is un.^ble to give 
from memory the dates and duration of their respective terms of 
service. 



LIVINGSTON CIVIL LIST. 



47 



Henry H. Harmon, elected in November, 1S54. 

John B. Dillingham, elected in November, 1856. 

Sardis F. Hubbell, elected in November, 1858. 

Marcus B. Wilcox, elected in November, i860. 

Sardis F. Hubbell, elected in November, 1862 ; re- 
elected in November, 1S64. 

Marcus B. Wilcox, elected in November, 1866. 

Dennis Shields, elected in November, 1868; re-elected 
in November, 1870. 

Andrew D. Waddell, elected in November, 1872; re- 
elected in November, 1S74. 

Andrew D. Cruickshank, elected in November, 1876 ; 
re-elected in November, 1878. 

CIRCUIT COURT COMMISSIONERS. 
Henry H. Harmon, elected in November, 1852. 
Sardis F. Hubbell, elected in November, 1854. 
Andrew D. Waddell, elected in November, 1856. 
Mylo L. Gay, elected in November, 1858. 
Andrew D. Waddell, elected in November, i860. 
Dennis Shields, elected in November, 1862 ; reelected 

in November, 1864. 
Benjamin T. O. Clark, elected in November, 1866. 
Frederick C. Whipple, elected in November, 1868. 
William H. Wells, elected in November, 1870. 
Benjamin T. O. Clark, elected in November, 1872; 

re-elected in November, 1874. 
Andrew D. Cruickshank, elected in November, 1874. 
Philip V. M. Botsford, Rollin H. Person, elected in 

November, 1876. 
Phillip V. M. Botsford, James I. Van Keuren, elected 

in November, 1878. 

COUXTV .SURVEYORS. 

Amos .\dams, elected in May, 1836; re-elected in No- 
vember, 1836. 

John Farnsworth, elected in November, 1S38. 

Amos Adams, elected in November, 1840. 

Ezra N. Fairchild, elected in November, 1842. 

Amos Adams, elected in November, 1844. 

Ezra N. Fairchild, elected in November, 1846. 

Amos Adams, elected in November, 184S. 

Ezra N. Fairchild, elected in November, 1850. 

John Giiliily, elected in November, 1S52. 

Ezra N. Fairchild, elected in November, 1854. 

Abner B. Wood, elected in November, 1856. 

Ezra N. Fairchild, elected in November, 1858. 

John M. Clark, elected in November, i860. 

Abner B. Wood, elected in November, 1862. 

Ezra N. Fairchild, elected in November, 1S64; re- 
elected in November, 1866; re-elected in Novem- 
ber, 1868; re-elected in November, 1870. 

Miles W. Bullock, elected in November, 1872; re- 
ele{ ted in November, 1874. 

Isaac Teller, elected in November, 1876. 

Emerson W. Grant, elected in November, 1878. 

CORONERS. 
John W. Peavy, John Drake, elected in May, 1836. 
George W. Kneeland, elected in November, 1S38. 
Wilber Fisher, elected in November, 1839. 



Chauncey Childs, elected in November, 1840. 
William Younglove, Charles S. Norton, elected in No- 
vember, 1842. 
Charles S. Norton, John Kenyon, elected in November, 

1844- 

Edward Bishop, Benjamin Crawford, elected in No- 
vember, 1846. 

Edward Bishop, Chester Townsend, elected in No- 
vember, 1848. 

Daniel Person, Amos Adams, elected in November, 
1850. 

Joseph Brown, Conrad Hayncr, elected in November, 
1852. 

William Beamer, Edward Dedemer, elected in Novem- 
ber, 1854. 

Ferdinand Grisson, Ira Knight, elected in November, 
1856. 

Peter Russell, Calvin Handy, elected in November, 
1S58. 

Ephraim J. Hardy, Benjamin W. Cardell, elected in 
November, 1S60. 

Edward Browning, Martin R. Foster, elected in No- 
vember, 1862. 

Edward Bishop, Conrad Hayner, elected in November, 
1864; both these re-elected in November, 1866. 

Daniel Person, Conrad Hayner, elected in November, 
1S68. 

Edward Bishop, Daniel Person, elected in November, 
1870. 

Jeremiah Nichols, Benjamin W. Cardell, elected in No- 
vember, 1872. 

Benjamin W. Cardell, Alonzo Fowler, elected in No- 
vember, 1874. 

William R. Cobb, John Fulmer, elected in November, 
1876; both re-elected in November, 1878. 

COUNTY COMMI.SSIONERS. 

Emery Beal, Charles P. Bush, Orman Holmes, the first 
Board of Commissioners of Livingston County, 
elected in November, 1838. 

Bradford Campbell, elected in November, 1839. 

Emery Beal, elected in November, 1840. 

Chester Hazard, elected in November, 1841. This 
was the last election of county commissioner, the 
office being abolished at the next session of the 
Legislature. 

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF COMMON SCHOOLS. 

Isaac W. Bush, elected in 1867. 
William A. Sprout, elected in 1869. 
Peter Shields, elected in 1871. 
William Ball, elected in 1873. 

COUNTY SOCIETIES. 
THE LIVINGSTON COUNTY PIONEER ASSOCI.A.TION. 
This association, of which "any person maj' be- 
come a member, who became a resident of Living- 
ston County previous to the fourth day of July, 
A.D. 1 850," has for its principal objects — as declared 



48 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



in its constitution — " to collect and keep in re- 
membrance the many interesting incidents connec- 
ted with the early settlement of Livingston County, 
and thus to be instrumental in handing the same 
down to future generations ; to cherish and keep 
alive that peculiar fellow-feeling existing among 
those who were called to endure together the 
thousand hardships and privations consequent upon 
the settlement of a new country ; to afford oppor- 
tunities for the interchange of thought, and the 
cultivation of a more social state of feeling in the 
community; and, through the medium of public 
lectures and addresses, to afford a pleasing and in- 
teresting entertainment for all." 

The first meeting of pioneers, preliminary to the 
formation of this association, was held, pursuant to 
previous notice, on the fourth of July, 1871, at the 
Melvin House, in Howell, from which place it was 
adjourned to the office of Mylo L. Gay. There it 
was called to order by Sardis F. Hubbell, on whose 
motion William C. Rumsey (being the oldest resi- 
dent of the county present) was called to the chair, 
and Mylo L. Gay appointed secretary of the meet- 
ing. After the transaction of some preliminary 
business, and the appointment of Edward F. Gay, 
Ezra N. Fairchild, and William C. Rumsey as a 
committee to draft a constitution, the meeting was 
adjourned, to reassemble at the court-house in 
Howell, on the twenty-seventh of the following 
September, for the purpose of adopting a constitu- 
tion, and perfecting the organization of the pro- 
posed association. 

At the adjourned meeting the association was 
fully organized by the adoption of a constitution, 
and the election of William C. Rumsey as Presi- 
dent, Mylo L. Gay as Secretary, and Hiram Wing 
as Treasurer, for the ensuing year. An able and 
entertaining address (the first given before the as- 
sociation) was then delivered by the Hon. Josiah 
Turner, and was warmly applauded, after which 
the meeting was adjourned to December 20, 
1871. 

An article in the constitution fi.xed the third 
Wednesday in December of each year as the time 
of holding the annual meetings of the association ; 
but this was changed soon after, and the time was 
fi.xed " on the Wednesday evening of the week in 
which the Circuit Court for the county of Living- 
ston shall open, in the month of January in each 
year, at seven o'clock, p.m., at the court-house in 
Howell, at which time the officers shall be chosen 
for one year." The article was again amended 
January 16, 1878, fi.xing the Wednesday following 
the opening of the Circuit Court in June, instead 
of January, of each year, as the time of holding 
the annual meetinfr. 



It is understood that the convening of the an- 
nual meeting during the term of the Circuit Court 
in Howell is not more for the accommodation of 
members of the society who may be present as 
jurors, or witnesses, or litigants, than to insure the 
presence of Judge Turner, who, although now a 
citizen of Owosso, is one of the most prominent of 
the living pioneers of Livingston County, and per- 
haps the one who exhibits a deeper interest than 
any other person in the association and its objects. 
These meetings are regularly held at the court- 
house, and each one is made peculiarly interesting 
by one or more addresses from members, reciting 
half-forgotten incidents relating to the settlement 
of the county, and the struggles and privations of 
the brave men and women who first made their 
hoines here in the wilderness. 

Below is given a list of those who have become 
members of the association, from its organization 
until the present time, viz.: 

Name. Nativity. Where and WJien Settled. 

H.uinihal Lee New York Green 0.ik, Oct. 1S30. 

Levi Pullen Maine riitnam, August, 1831. 

Mary Lee Veiinont, 1811. Green Oak, 1S32. 

Robeit Warden Scotland " " M.ay, 1833. 

Benjamin Blaine New York Harlland, June, 1833. 

James Craig Scotland Unadilla, July, 1833. 

Is.aac Bennett New York H.amburg, October, 1833. 

Robert Bigham Vermont Brighton, April, 1834. 

Kiias .S|>rague Massachusetts.. " May, 1834. 

William Palmer New York " June, 1834. 

Elisha H. Smith " Howell, Octolier, 1834. 

George Palmer " Brighton, June, 1834. 

William C. lirockway.... " Green Oak, Oct. 1834. 

Mrs. John D. Pinckney... " Howell, October, 1834. 

Feulinand Grisson Gennany Hamburg, August, 1834. 

Jonathan Burnett Connecticut Green Oak. May, 1834. 

W.U.Corson New York " " 1S34. 

AViUiam C. Rumsey Vermont " " April, 1835. 

George L. Sage Born in Howell, Jan. 1835 

Sardis F. Hubbell Ohio Hartland, October, 1835. 

Walter D. Whalen Vermont " Octol>er, 1835. 

David Hyatt New Jersey Han-burg, June, 1835. 

Morris Thompson New York Howell, ]une, 1835. 

Joseph Rider " Genoa, November, 1835. 

Freeman Fishbeck " " November, 1835. 

John A. Van Camp New Jersey Green Oak, May, 1835. 

Nicholas Kristler Delawaie Genoa, October, 1S35. 

Pardon Barnard New Yo.k " June, 1S35. 

Richard Walker " Oceola, Novemljer, 1835. 

Samuel G. Ives " Unadilla, April, 1835. 

Freeman Webb " Putnam, November, 1835. 

William S. Barnard " Genoa, October, 1835. 

F. G. Rose " Putnam, Novemljcr, 1S35. 

N. B. Green Massachusetts ..Marion, November, 1835. 

Mrs Sarah Brower England Putnam, M.ay, 1835. 

Mrs. Emily Pullen New York Hamburg, June, 1835. 

Mrs. Lucy A. Cobb " Brighton, 1835. 

Z. U. Drew " Hamburg, M.iy, 1835. 

Frederick J. Lee " Marion, June, 1S36. 

Ich.ibod Kneeland " Howell, June, 1836. 

Hiram Wing Massachusetts ..Marion, .Apiil, 1836. 

Benjamin Curtis New York Howell, June, i jj6. 

George D. Bdcer " Marion, Uecembci, 1836. 

William McPherson Scotl.and Howell, September, 1836. 

William .McPherson, Jr... " " September, 1836. 

Alexamler Mcpherson... " " September, 1836. 

Ephraiin J. Hardy Vermont Oceola, May, 1836. 

Erastus Watrous Connecticut ....Genoa, June, 1S36. 

Daniel Case ....New York Howell, May, 1836. 

Joseph Brown England M.arion, July, 1836. 

Elihu Haynes New York Hartl.and, June, 1836. 

Isaac Slow Vermont Iosco, S-ptember, 1836. 

N. S.uiuders.- New York Oceola, October, 1836. 

A.Saunders •' " October, 1836. 



COUNTY SOCIETIES. 



49 



N;imc. 



Where and When Settled. 



Nativity. 

William II. JilUs England Mniiun, August, 1836. 

Solumon T. l-ynn New York " August, 1836. 

Tciev lircwei- " Howell, July, 1836. 

Almon Brewer " " July, 1836. 

Orlantlo I'.rcwer " " July, 1836. 

Andrew 1>. W.iildell " " May, 1836. 

(ieorge K. IIoughtaling..Micliigan Civeen 0.\1<, August, 1836. 

William WhilaUcr New York Oeeula, July, 1S36. 

i;ii>lia K. Ila/.ard " I k-noa, August, 1836. 

(ieorge \V. Lee '• Marion, June, 1836. 

Kaloli Fowler " Handy, June, 1836. 

Marvin Gistoii '• Howell, .May, 1836. 

C. \V. linrlier " Green Oak, June, 1836. 

Chester llazanl " Genoa, August, 1836. 

C. \V. Hurwell " " November, 1S36. 

Jesse J. Ilause '• Putnam, June, 1S36. 

Edwin li. Winans " Unadilla, June, 1836. 

Jacoli Kanouse New Jersey Cohiictali, May, 1836. 

Neil O'llearn New York tireen Oak, Oct. 1S36. 

.Samuel J. Dains " I Iand)nrg, April, 1S36. 

O. S. I'arsons Mieliigan Conway, Dec. 1836. 

lohn W. Wright New York Iosco, October, 1836. 

Thomas Love Kngland Marion, July, 1836. 

Knoch 1). Davis New York Hamburg, May, 1S36. 

John li. La Rowe " Howell, 1836. 

i iL'orgc Sewell Knglnnd Marion, June, 1836. 

Henry H. Smith New York " June, 1836. 

William O'Hcarn Ireland Green Oak, Oct. '1S36. 

I'.li^ha C. Wright New York Iosco, Octolier, 1S36. 

Moses KuUer M.assacluisetts..I'utnam, Nov. 1836. 

O. B. Chambers Vermont Ilartland, Sept. 1836. 

T. C. Kuller M,issachusetts..l'iitnani, April, 1836. 

George Gjeady England Green Oak, Sept. 1836. 

George M. Kield New York " May, 1836. 

William Sexton " Marion, June, 1S37. 

I'arley H. Sexton " " Nov. 1837. 

Ed»iard F. G.iy Connecticut " April, 1837. 

Mylo L. Gay " " April, 1^37. 

Richard Fishbeck New- York Howell, Sept. 1S37. 

Ezra N. Fairchild ... " Marion, May, 1837. 

'I hom.as B. Brooks " " January, 1837. 

Francis Monroe " IIowclI, June, 1S37. 

Abram A. Van Ness " " June, 1S37. 

Daniel Person Vermont Iosco, March, 1S37. 

Isaac W. Bush New York Handy, June, 1837. 

William A. Clark " Brighton, April, 1837. 

Almon Whipple " Handy, October, 1837. 

Joseph A. Dibble " Genua, June, 1837. 

Edwin B.icheler Rhode Island. .Oceola, February, 1S37. 

James A. Preston Michigan Cohoctah, .\pril, 1837. 

I'atrick Mcl.cer Ireland Unaililla, Nov. 1837. 

.\ndrew Sharp New York Genoa, December, 1837. 

Charles M. Wood Massachusetts.. Iosco, June, 1837. 

Alanson P. Dickinson New York Brighton, January, 1S37. 

H. B. Ralhbun " Cohoctah, March, 1S37. 

Cyrenus Morgan " Brighton, Sept. 1837. 

C. W. Leonard " Deertield, .\pril, 1837. 

Joel A. Chapin " " May, 1837. 

li. T. O. Cl.irk " Brighton, May, 1837. 

.\. C. Briggs " Oceola, March, 1837. 

Lewis V. Curry Born in Brighton, Octo- 
ber, 1837. 

L. Jud~on New York Brighton, August, 1S37. 

.Mrs. Jane L. Brooks Connecticut.. ..Marion, January, 1837. 

Myron .Mitchell New York " April, 1837. 

C. H. Person " ......Iosco, February, 1S37. 

James L. Tapping " Deerlield, June, 1837. 

Samuel M. Conely New York City. Brighton, August, 1837. 

John Wasson New York .... L'na<lilla, June, 1837. 

S. T. Salmon New Jersey IIand)urg, .Vpril, 1S38. 

Hiram Pearsons New York Howell, April, 1838. 

N.nhan Field " Marion, September, 183S. 

.■\lbert L. Hathaway Michigan Ilartland, April, 1838. 

Ira Brayton '. New York Howell, Sept. 1S38. 

William R. Cobb Vermont Brigliton, Nov. 1838. 

Irancis S. Hardy " Oceola, .May, 183S. 

Elisha W. Grant MassachuscUs..Conway, .\pril, 1838. 

Robert Whitacre New York Oceola, 1S38. 

Mrs. N. Field " Marion, September, 1838. 

Edward P. CJregory Michigan Howell, November, 1839. 

Joseph B Skilbeck England " July, 1839. 

I.osson Gordon, New York Conway, February, 1S39. 

Franklin Kelly " Cohoctah, M.ay, 1S39. 

Rial B.trnum Michigan Un.idilla, Nov. 1839. 

C larles F. Cimia I " Hand>urg, Sept. 1839. 

li. S. Ranisde!! " Cohoctah, 1839. 



N.imc. Nativity. Where an-J When Settled. 

James P. Clark New York Deerlield. May, 1839. 

L. E Riddle Oceola, October, 1839. 

James Parker Hamburg, October, 1839. 

Josiah Turner Vermont Howell, .■\pril, 1840. 

William R. Melvin Connecticut " October, 1840. 

William Williamson England Hamburg, October, 1840. 

Edward Bishop New York " M.ay, 1840. 

Graham N. Baiker " Conway, March, 1840. 

Ilemy O. Barnaid Born in Genoa, Dccem- 

lier 15, 1840. 

Benjamin F. Batchelor Born in Oceola, May 13, 

1840. 

Dewitt C. Kneeland New York Howell, May, 1840. 

Charles E. Beurman Germany Genoa, August, 1S40. 

Ira O. Marble Maine Decrfield, 1840. 

Albert Tooley New York Genoa, June, 1S41. 

Vi'illiam More " Putnam, October, 1841. 

L(u-enzo .Smith " Marion, November, 1S41. 

Julius D. .Smith " " Noveniljcr, 1841. 

John Shields Ireland Unadilla, January, 1841. 

Dennis Shields " " January, 1841. 

John Ryan " Deerfield, June, 1S41. 

Ira P. Bingham New York Brightcm, June, 1841. 

Legrand Clark " Ilartland, May, 1841. 

Elizabeth Noble Born in Putnam, August, 

1841. 

J. M. Ilolden Rhode Island...Green 0.ik, 1841. 

William P. Hopkins Ciuinecticut Howell, April, 1842. 

Alva G. Blood Michis-an Oceola, January, 1842. 

James B. Lee New York Brighton, October, 1842. 

L. K. Hewett " Howell, May, 1842. 

Henry S. Worthingtmi ... " Hariland, October, 1842. 

H. G. W. Fry " Oceola, September, 1842. 

Wdliam Brower " Putnam, November, 1842. 

Albert Wakenian Born in Tyrone, Novem- 
ber, 1842. 

J. L. Peilibone Born in Genoa, Decem- 
ber, 1S42. 

Mrs. Anna C. Kelly New York Brighton, 1842. 

J. C. Carmer " Tyrone, May, 1842. 

M.F. Harrow " Puinam, October, 1843. 

William B. Smith Canada Howell, October, 1843. 

Ira D. Crouse New York Ilartland, Nov. 1843. 

William Huntington " Howell, November, 1843. 

Henry Siivdcr " Coinvay,Septenil)er,l845. 

John D. iilanck " Cohoctah, October. 1S43. 

Hobart A. Twichell Connecticut Hamburg, May, 1844. 

George Wilber New York Howell, August, 1S44. 

George McDowell " Marion, April, 1844. 

M. H. McManus Ireland Green Oak, Dec. 1844. 

Edward G. McPherson... Born in Howell, March, 

1S45. 

S. M. \ erkes Pennsylvania. ..Howell, May, 1845 

James Harger New York Marion, May, 1S46. 

Arthur F. Field " Cohoctah, Nov. 1846. 

Abram Swiiz " Oceola, May, 1S47 

Egbert F. Albright " Ilartland, March, 1S4S. 

William L.Wells " Howell, June. 1849. 

John W. Ingraham •' Tyrone, March, 1850. 

THE LIVINGSTON COUN'. Y BIBLE SOCIETY. 

This organization — the predecessor of the pres- 
ent society of the same name — was formed in tlie 
year 1S42, but no account of the proceedintjs on 
the occasion of its formation have been found. 
The first president, however, was the Rev. Jona- 
than Post. 

The annual meeting of the society for 1S43 was 
held at the Presbyterian meeting-house, in Howell, 
on Tuesday, the twenty-fourtli day of January. In 
the absence of the pre.sident, William Noble, Jr. 
(one of the vice-presidents), was called to the chair, 
and Josiah Turner was appointed secretary />ro 
U'l/i. The following were then elected officers of 
the society for the ensuing year, namely : 

President, Rev. Jonathan Post ; Secretary, Josiah 
Turner; Treasurer, A. L. Hill; Kxectitive Com- 



so 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



mittee, Rev. N. G. Chase, Rev. Mr. Cochran, E. F. 
Gay, Joseph B. Skilbeck, and William McPhenson; 
Vice-Presidents, Isaac Smith, of Green Oak ; John 
G. Horton, of Hartland ; William Noble, Jr., of 
Brighton; Dillis Dexter, of Tyrone; James Bur- 
nett, of Hamburg; Pardon Barnard, of Oceoia; 
Daniel Boutwell, of Deerfield; Charles Cowlam, of 
Putnam ; John T. Watson, of Marion ; E. E. Greg- 
ory, of Howell ; Alva Preston, of Tuscola ; John J. 
Brown, of Conway; Samuel Conklin, of Handy; 
John Wood, of Iosco; John B. Van Daren, ofUna- 
dilla. 

Notice was given by the Rev. Mr. Bacon that a 
branch society had recently been formed in Brigh- 
ton, and it was voted to turn over to that society 
the Bibles remaining in the hands of Mr. Noble. 
The executive committee were authorized to em- 
ploy the Rev. Mr. Dixon as agent to distribute 
Bibles to the destitute through this county, and 
the following named gentlemen were appointed 
delegates to the meeting of the State Bible So- 
ciety, at Jackson, February 1 6th, viz.: Rev. Jona- 
than Post, E. F. Burt, Rev. Mr. Dixon, Josinh 
Turner, Rev. K. E. Gregory, William McPIierson, 
Rev. Seth Hardy, Rev. E. Mosher, and Rev. John 
Scofield. 

The annual meeting of the society in 1845 was 
held at the Congregational (Presbyterian) meeting- 
house, in Howell, on the tenth of April, and the 
following officers were elected for the year, viz.: 

President, E. E. Gregory, of Howell. 

Vice-Presidents, Deacon Isaac Smith, Green 
Oak; Rev. J. G. Horton, Hartland; Rev. Jonathan 
Post, Brighton; Dillis Dexter, Tyrone; Deacon 
James Burnett, Hamburg; Pardon Barnard, Genoa; 
Lorenzo Boutell, Deerfield ; Charles Cowlam, Put- 
nam ; J. T. Watson, Marion ; A. L. Crittenden, 
Howell ; Hora^-e Cook, Tuscola ; Charles Thomp- 
son, Conway; Samuel Conklin, Handy; Levi Mun- 
sell, Iosco; J. L. Hartsuff, Unadilla. 

Secretary, Josiah Turner, Howell. 

Treasurer, Nicholas Sullivan, Howell. 

Executive Committee, Rev. J. H. Rasco, Rev. 
R. Pengelly, Rev. A. L. Crittenden, William Mc- 
Pherson, J. B. Skilbeck. 

The above account of the early meetings of the 
society is given principally for the purpose of re- 
cording the names of the men who were prominent 
in its organization, and who were earnestly engaged 
in the promotion of the praiseworthy objects for 
which it was formed and maintained. 

A new society, under the same name, was formed 
in 1849, but the names of its first officers cannot 
be given. That the interest in it was continued 
unabated for many years, and that its officers and 
members were no half-hearted workers, is shown 



by the following report of the proceedings of the 
society, at its annual meeting in 1859, viz. : 

" The eleventh annual meeting of the Livingston 
County Bible Society was held, agreeable to pre- 
vious notice, at the Methodist church in Howell, 
June 12, 1859; Hon. Josiah Turner, president of 
the society, in the chair. 

"The following officers of the society were duly 
elected for the ensuing year : 

" President, Hon. Josiah Turner. 

"Vice-President, J. B. Skilbeck. 

" Secretary, E. V. Burt. 

" Treasurer, George W. Lee. 

" Executive Coinntittcc. 

" Rev. R. McBride, Howell. 
" Rev. R. C. Crawford, Howell. 
" Rev. J. G. Horton, Oceoia. 
" Rev. Mr. Alford, Unadilla. 
"J. F. Jennings, Esq., Green Oak. 
"After a discussion by Rev. Mr. Wright, agent 
of the American Bible Society, and others, it was 

^^ Rcsdved, That the society now proceed to appoint 
suitable persons to canva.ss the townsliips of Howell, 
Oceoia, and Marion, — said townshi[)seach to be divided 
into four equal districts, to wit : 

" Howell— First District, J. G. Mason and B. W. 
Cardell; Second District, H. P. Laker; Third Dis- 
trict, S. M. Yerkes ; Fourth District, Joseph Stafford. 

" Oceoia — First District, Ebenezer Kellogg ; Second 
District, Rev. J. G. Horton ; Third District, L. Whit- 
ney ; Fourth District, J. M. Eager. 

" Marion — First District, E. Hart ; Second District, 
E. F. Burt; Third District, A. J. Itsell ; Fourth Dis- 
trict, L. P. Mellendy. . 

'' R, solved. That Rev. R. McBride and E. F. Burt 
be apiJointed a committee to superintend carrying out 
the plan of exploration and supply provided for by the 
foregoing appointments, and that the same be com- 
pleted within three months from date. 

"Resolved, That the executive committee have 
power to fill any vacancies that may occur in the said 
appointments, and that said committee also be author- 
ized to appoint one or more suitable persons to canvass 
the townships of Iosco, Handy, Conway, Oak Grove, 
Deerfield, Tyrone, and Hamburg." 

The society is still in existence, but no such 
active work as that indicated above has been done 
in the later years, probably because the necessity 
for it no longer exists. The present officers of the 
society are 

R. C. Hatton, President. 

John Black, Secretary. 

Newton T. Kirk, Treasurer. 
Depository, at H. H. Wilber's drug-store, corner 
of Grand River and East Streets, Howell. 



INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. 



51 



CHAPTER V. 

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. 

I'ublic Highways — Clinton ami Kalamazoo Canal, and Dexter 
Itianch — I'lank-Roads — Detroit and Grand River Plank-Road 
Company — Howell and Byron Plank-Road Company — Detroit 
and Howell Plank-Road — Lansing and Howell Plank-Road — 
Railroads — Detroit and Shiawassee Railroad Project — Other 
Proixjsed Railroads — Detroit, Lansini; and Northern Railroad. 

PUBLIC HIGHWAYS. 

The first step in the dii-ection of public internal 
improvement in all countries and regions is the 
biiikiing or opening of routes of travel, however 
primitive and rude these may be. The immigrant, 
in traveling towards his prospective home in the 
wilderness, must bestow some labor — be it more 
or less — in opening a route over which to reach it 
with his family and the few household necessaries 
which he brings with liim. In densely wooded 
regions this task is often a heavy one, while it is 
comparatively trifling in such a country as the first 
settlers found in Livingston County, where access 
cotild be had to almost any spot through the con- 
venient openings. But even here the new-comers 
were obliged occasionally to use the axe, to open 
a path through an intervening thicket or to fell a 
few trees to make a solid way across a stream or 
marshy place. And this work, light and insignifi- 
cant as it was, was road building, — an improve- 
ment which it was necessary to make before the 
settler could reach the spot where his cabin was to 
be reared. 

The first highways in Livingston were the In- 
dian trails, of which the principal was the Grand 
River trail, traversing the county through its centre 
from southeast to northwest, as has already been 
mentioned, and over this route, first while it was 
a mere trail, and afterwards when it became the 
Grand River road, a large proportion of the immi- 
grants to tlie county passed on their way to their 
j)laces of settlement. 

On the fourth of July, 1832, the Congress of the 
United States passed an act directing the President 
to appoint three commissioners to lay out a road 
" from Detroit, through Sciawassee County, to the 
mouth of the Grand River," for military and other 
purposes. The road was according!)' " laid out," 
and the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars 
was expended by the government in the years 
1833 and 1834 in working the eastern part of the 
road ten miles out from Detroit. A further appro- 
priation of twenty-five thousand dollars was made 
by Congress, March 3, 1835, and this amount was 
expended in 1835-36 in clearing the road one 
hundred feet wide through the limbered land, and 



in constructing bridges on its line across the Rush, 
Huron, Shiawassee, and Cedar Rivers. This was 
the last work done on the Grand River road by 
the general government, as Michigan had ceased 
to be a Territory and became a sovereign State. 
A grant of five thousand acres of land was, how- 
ever, obtained from the United States for the ben- 
efit of the Grand River and the Saginaw roads, of 
which grant this road received its proportion. 

After the United States ceased making appro- 
priations for the Grand River road, — or Grand 
River turnpike, as it was called, — very little was 
done on it for a time. When Judge Turner came 
to Livingston County (1840) little, if any part of 
the road was graded west of Brighton. The State, 
however, took up the work soon after, and the con- 
struction of the road was continued by State ap- 
propriations made from time to time. An act, ap- 
proved April 2, 1841, provided that five thousand 
dollars be expended on the construction of this 
road, under the direction of the Board of Internal 
Improvement ; this sum being taken from the si.xty 
thousand dollars which remained unexpended of 
the appropriations previously granted for the 
" Northern Wagon-Road," which project had at 
that time been virtually abandoned. A part or all 
of this appropriation was e.xpcnded, under the su- 
pervision of Mr. Mullett, of Detroit, in opening 
the road from Fowlerville to Lansing, and about 
that time, or soon after, the first line of stages (lum- 
ber-wagons) was put on the route between Howell 
and Lansing by Ralph Fowler, O. B. Williams, of 
Williamston, and others. In 1845 an act was 
passed (approved March 24th), authorizing and di- 
recting the expenditure of certain non-resident 
highway taxes upon that portion of the Grand 
River road "between the village of Howell and 
the house of Justus Gilkey, in Ingham County." 
The non-resident ta.xes so directed to be expended 
embraced all the taxes of that kind levied on prop- 
erty l}'ing within two miles of the road on each 
side, in the years 1845 to 1S4S, inclusive, and also 
all of such taxes which remained une.xpended on 
the first of May, 1845. Ralph Fowler, of Handy, 
and J. H. Kilborn, of Ingham County, were ap- 
pointed by the act special commissioners, " to 
have superintendence of said road within their re- 
.spective counties, and to direct where the labor 
shall be performed on said road." 

An act was passed in March, 1848, providing 
" that ten thousand acres of internal improvement 
lands be, and the same are hereby appropriated, for 
the purpose of improving the Detroit and Grand 
River road, between the village of Howell, in Liv- 
ingston Count}-, and the village of Michigan, in the 
county of Ingham ;" si.x thousand acres to be 



52 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



expended in Ingham, and four thousand acres in 
Livingston County, under direction of special com- 
missioners appointed by the Governor. By these 
appropriations, witli subscriptions, and the expen- 
diture of local highway ta.xes, the road was finally 
completed. 

The old route of the road was north of the 
north bend of Cedar River; but in 1849 ^^ was 
changed for a more southerly and nearly straight 
one through the west part of the township of 
Handy, and over this the road was opened and 
worked by Ralph Fowler and others, with funds 
raised largely by subscription. The construction 
of this part of the road will be found more fully 
noticed in the history of the township of Handy. 

A large number of State roads were authorized 
by the first Legislature of Michigan, at the session 
of 1835-36, several of which were to be laid out 
across the county of Livingston, or some portion 
of it. An act, approved March 26, 1836, provided 
that " there shall be laid out and established a 
State road from Allegan, in the county of Allegan, 
through the county-seats of Barry, Eaton, and 
Ingham ; and the said road shall terminate at 
Howell, in the county of Livingston, where it may 
intersect the United States road running from De- 
troit to Grand River; and Joseph Fisic, of Alle- 
gan, Calvin G. Hill, of Barry, and F. J. B. Crane,* 
of Livingston County, be, and they are hereby 
appointed, commissioners for that purpose." 

Other roads authorized by act of the Legislature 
at the same time, and of which the proposed routes 
lay partly in Livingston, were the following, viz. : 

"A State road from Jacksonburgh, the county- 
seat of Jackson County, by the most direct and 
eligible route to Howell, the county-seat of Liv- 
ingston." The commissioners appointed to lay 
out and establish this road were William R. 
Thompson, Oliver Russ, and George B. Cooper. 

A State road from Pontiac, Oakland County, to 
be laid out over the most direct and eligible route, 
and "to terminate at the county-seat of Ionia." 
Alfred L. Williams, Erastus Yeomans, and William 
Terry, commissioners to lay out and establish the 
same. 

A State road " commencing at Ann Arbor, and 
running in a northwesterly course on the most 
direct and eligible route to the county-seat of 
Livingston." Henry Rumsey, Moses Thomspon, 
and Benjamin Hobart, commissioners. 

A State road " from the village of .Saginaw, or 
the county-site of the county of Saginaw, to run 
thence in a southerly direction through Byron [?], 



* An act approved .March iS, 1S37, appoiiUed Guy C. Lee 
niissi(_ncr in place of Mr. Crane, 



the county-site of Livingston, and thence through 
the village of Dexter, in the county of Washtenaw, 
to intersect the United States road running from 
Detroit to Chicago, at or near the village of Clin- 
ton, in the county of Lenawee." The commis- 
sioners named in the act were Alfred L. Williams, 
Salmon H. Matthews, and Nathaniel Noble. 

A State road " from the village of Pontiac, in 
Oakland County, to Mapes and Bursley's mills, 
on Oak Creek, in township three north, range si.x 
east [Hartland], and thence to the centre of Shia- 
wassee County." John S. Wilber, Samuel Mapes, 
and George Buckley, commissioners. 

Legislation providing for the construction of 
roads was continued quite as briskly during the 
ne.xt two years. By an act approved March 17, 
1837, the laying out of a State road was author- 
ized and directed "from the village of Pontiac, in 
the county of Oakland, b)' the most direct and 
eligible route to the village of Lyons, in the county 
of Ionia ;" and Truman F. Lyon, A. F. Bell, and 
John McKelvey were appointed commissioners 
for the purpose. Another section of the same act 
directed that " there shall be laid out and estab- 
lished a State road from the county-seat of Gen- 
esee to the county-seat of Washtenaw County; 
and that Ira D. Wright, Philip H. McOmber, and 
Jesse Pinney be, and they are hereby appointed, 
commissioners for that purpose." The routes of 
both these roads traversed Livingston Count)' ; 
the first from east to west, and the latter from 
north to south by way of the village of Brighton. 
And by section thirty-seven of the same act, a 
road to pass through the northeastern part of 
Livingston was authorized, viz.: "A State road at 
or near Farmington City, so called, in the county 
of Oakland, running by the head of Walled Lake, 
to Byron, in the county of Shiawassee, on the 
most direct and eligible route;" the commissioners 
appointed by the act for the purpose being Erie 
Prince, Isaac Wixom, and John Thomas. 

A road " from Dexter, in the county of Washte- 
naw, to the county-seat of Ingham, and from thence 
by the most eligible route to the village of L\-ons, 
at the mouth of the Maple," was authorized by act 
approved February l6, 1S37, to be laid out before 
January i, 1839. Solomon Sutherland, of Una- 
dilla, Livingston County, and Edward Lyon and 
A. Crosman, of Dexter, were appointed commis- 
sioners. 

In 1838, by act approved February 2Sth, a road 
was authorized to be laid out by Ephraim B. 
Danforth, of Ingham County, George W. Jewett, 
of Livingston, and Albert ¥.. Bull, of Barry, com- 
missioners " from the Grand River road at Howell, 
the coimtv-seat of Livingston Count\'; thence on 



INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. 



53 



the most eligible route, by tlie county-seats of 
Ingliani, Eaton, and Barry, to the mouth of the 
Kalamazoo River, in the county of Allegan." 

During the seven years next succeeding 1838, 
State roads were directed to be laid out through 
or in Livingston County, as follows : 

1839. — Road " commencing at a certain point 
upon the west lino of Ingham County, where the 
State road laid out and established from Bellevue 
to the west line of Ingham County terminates; 
thence in an easterly direction to the mills in Les- 
lie, on the most eligible route, until said route 
shall intersect the Grand River turnpike, at or near 
the village of Pinckney, in the county of Living- 
ston." Commissioners, Henry Fisk, Bcnj. Davis, 
and Amos K. Steele. Act approved April i8th. 

1839. — State road "commencing at the village of 
Pontiac, in the county of Oakland; thence on the 
most direct and eligible route through the county 
of Livingston, by the way of Meadville, to what is 
called the Battise Trail, in the township of Stock- 
bridge, Ingham County; thence on the most direct 
and eligible route to the village of Jackson, in the 
county of Jackson." Commissioners, Solomon 
Sutherland, Thomas Godfrey, and Mason Branch. 
Act approved April 18, section 24. 

1S40. — "State road running from the village of 
Milford, in Oakland County, to the township of 
Howell, in Livingston County." Commissioners 
to lay out, Morgan L. Smith, Phineas Bates, and 
W. A. Buckland. Act of :\Iarch 4th. 

1841. — "A State road commencing at or near 
the fifty-seventh mile-post on the Grand River 
turnpike; from thence on the most eligible route 
along the valley of the Red Cedar River, until it 
intersects said turnpike at the meridian line . . ." 
Commissioners, J. H. Kilborne, of Ingham, Elijah 
Grant and Martin W. Randall, of Livingston 
County. Act approved April 13th. 

1S44.—" State road from Ann Arbor, in the 
county of Washtenaw, by way of the village of 
Brighton, in the county of Livingston, Murray's 
Mills, and the village of Flushing, in the county of 
Genesee, to the Saginaw turnpike, at a point about 
fourteen miles north of the village of Flint." Com- 
missioners, Albert Stevens, John Kenjan, Isaac 
Penoyer, and James H. Murray. Act approved 
March 9th. 

1844. — State road "commencing at or near the 
point where the road leading from the village of 
De.xter, in the county of Washtenaw, to Mason, 
in Ingham County, crosses the west line of Liv- 
ingston County; running thence by the most fea- 
sible route through the township of Hamburg to 
the village of Brighton, in said county of Living- 
ston." Commissioners, Solomon Sutherland, Jus- 



tus J. Bennett, and Jasper II. Buck. Act approved 
March 9th. 

1845. — "A State road from Pontiac, in the 
county of Oakland, to Hillman's Tavern, in the 
township of Tyrone, in the county of Livingston." 
Commissioners, Willard K. Goodrich and William 
Capron, of Oakland, and Jairah Hillman, of Liv- 
ingston. Act approved March 24th. 

1845. — "A State road commencing at the vil- 
lage of Brighton, in Livingston County, antl run- 
ning thence to the village of Fentonville, in Gen- 
esee County." Commissioners, Harvey T. Lee 
and Alonzo Slayton, of Livingston, and Elisha 
Holmes, of Genesee. Act approved March 24th. 
In 1848 an act was passed (March 23d) appropri- 
ating two thousand acres of the State internal 
improvement lands for the purpose of opening and 
improving this road. 

It is to be borne in mind, however, that to " lay 
out and establish" a road — particularly in the 
earlier years — was not equivalent to opening and 
making it ready for travel ; but that in many in- 
stances j'ears intervened between the time when a 
highway was laid out by the commissioners and 
the time when it was made passable for vehicles; 
and that it was not unfrequently the case that roads 
which had been authorized and laid out were never 
opened. 

CLINTON AND K.ALAM.AZOO CANAL. AND DEX- 
TER BRANCH. 

The project of the Clinton and Kalamazoo Canal, 
■ — to be built by the State as part of the extensive 
internal improvement system inaugurated about 
the time of the admission of Michigan into the 
Union, — was introduced in the Legislature at the 
session of 1837, and resulted in an appropriation 
(by act approved March 20th) of the sum of twenty 
thousand dollars from the internal improvement 
fund, fortheprosecution ofseveral surveys for canals 
and slack-water navigation on rivers, among these 
being included as follows : " for the survey of a 
canal, or for a canal part of the way and railroad 
the balance of the route, commencing at or near 
Mount Clemens, on the Clinton River, to termi- 
nate at or near the mouth of the Kalamazoo River." 
Under this appropriation a preliminary survey was 
made, of a route to pass through Livingston County 
by way of Crooked Lake in the township of Genoa; 
thence to the waters of the Cedar, and so west- 
ward to the Grand and Kalamazoo Rivers. A 
more southerly, as well as a more northerly, route 
through the county was examined, and each had 
its adherents, who, respective!}', were confident of 
the superiority and ultimate adoption of that route 
in which they were most interested. By people 



54 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



having no local interests to ser\-e, however, it was 
generally believed that the route by way of Crooked 
Lake was the one to be preferred. In connection 
with this, a project was conceived by private parties 
to construct a branch canal to unite with the pro- 
posed State canal in Livingston County, and con- 
tinue along the valley of the Huron to Dexter, 
in Washtenaw County, where it would strike the 
central of the three lines of railway which had 
then recently been authorized by the Legislature 
to be built by the State. In 1839 the project of 
this branch canal was brought before the Legisla- 
ture, which thereupon passed " an act to incorpo- 
rate the Dexter Branch Canal Company," approved 
April 19th, in that year. By the terms of this 
act, the company so incorporated was empowered 
and authorized (as soon as funds were provided) 
" to construct, make, and finish a canal of suffi- 
cient width and depth to admit the passage 
of such boats or other craft, through said canal, 
as are commonly used and employed in the 
carrj'ing trade, and also to make such locks 
and guards, in and around said canal, as shall 
render the occupation safe and easy for boats 
or any other craft that may be used thereon. 
Said canal to commence at the village of Dexter, 
in the county of Washtenaw, and extend to the 
Clinton and Kalamazoo Canal, in the county of 
Livingston, by the following route : commencing 
at the village of Dexter, from thence up the valley 
of the Huron River, or as near the valley as prac- 
ticable, to the peninsula between Portage and Bass 
[Base?] Lakes ; from thence to the northwest side 
of Bass Lake ; from there up the valley of the out- 
let of Crooked Lake, on the most approved and 
direct route, where it will intersect the line of the 
Clinton and Kalamazoo Canal. ... It shall and 
may be optional with this corporation, that in place 
of the aforesaid canal they may use the bed of the 
Huron River, commencing at the village of Dex- 
ter, and from thence to improve the same by ex- 
cavation and by dams and locks and other im- 
provements, so as to make a safe and easy slack- 
water navigation for boats and other craft up said 
river to the lakes before described, and also to im- 
prove and use the lakes as a part of said navigable 
communication, and from said lakes by the afore- 
said canal route to where the same intersects the 
line of the Clinton and Kalamazoo Canal." The 
commissioners appointed by the act of incor- 
poration were Samuel W. Dexter, Asa Williams, 
Nathaniel Noble, Alanson Crosman, Cyrel Nichols, 
and Nelson H. Wing. The capital stock of the 
company was fifty thousand dollars. It was re- 
quired that the work be finished within six years 
from the passage of the act. 



Beyond the above-mentioned legislation and the 
making of some preliminar}- surveys, nothing was 
ever done towards the construction of either the 
main line of the Clinton and Kalamazoo Canal, or 
of the Dexter Branch, through any part of Living- 
ston Count}', though a portion of the east end of 
the main work was completed from Mount Clem- 
ens. But, for a period of about ten years from 
the inception of these projects, strong hopes were 
entertained by many that they would ultimately 
be completed; and extravagant expectations were 
indulged in of great advantages to accrue in con- 
sequence, to the county, and particularly to certain 
localities along the projected line. As late as 
1845 the matter was discussed in the public prints 
in a manner showing that there was still abundant 
confidence among the people in the accomplish- 
ment of the scheme and in the great and beneficial 
results sure to follow. An editorial article, which 
appeared in the Detroit Advertiser in Februarj' of 
that year, in speaking of the main canal, and of a 
change of route which seemed to the writer to be 
desirable, said that" the western route of the canal 
should be so modified that, after leaving the Clin- 
ton River and the small lakes of Oakland and 
Livingston Counties, it should pass down the val- 
leys of the Red Cedar and Grand Rivers to Lyons, 
Ionia County, and to the head of navigation on 
Grand River," and added that the work appeared 
to be second in importance only to that of the 
Central Railroad. At the same time the Living- 
ston Courier thought that the canal ought to com- 
mence at Detroit, instead of Mount Clemens, and 
that its proper route would be from the former 
place northwestwardly through Livingston County 
to the head of navigation on Grand River. " A 
canal," said the Courier, " connecting Detroit and 
Grand River w'ould undoubtedly be one of the 
greatest of our internal improvements and the 
greatest source of revenue to the State." Similar 
views and expectations were quite generally enter- 
tained during the earlier years of the canal agita- 
tion, but beyond the privilege of indulging for a 
time in these pleasant anticipations, the people of 
Livingston County never derived any benefit from 
the visionary- projects of the Clinton and Kalama- 
zoo Canal and its De.xter Branch. 

PL.\XK-RO.\DS. 

DETROIT AND GR.VXD RIVER PL.\XK-ROAD 
COMPANY. 

This company was incorporated by act of Legis- 
lature (approved March 12, 1844), which provided 
" That C. P. Bush and Ely Barnard, of Livingston 
County, and Levi Cook, John Blindbur\% and 
David Thompson, of Wayne County, be and they 



INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. 



55 



are hereby appointed commissioners, under whom, 
or a majority of whom, subscriptions may be re- 
ceived to the stock of the Detroit and Grand River 
Plank-Road Company, hereby incorporated ; and 
they shall cause books to be o[)cned at the village 
of Howell, in tlie county of Livingston, and at the 
office of the city clerk in tiie city of Detroit, 
county of Wayne, for three successive daj's, at 
such time as a majority of them shall direct, for 
the purpose of receiving subscriptions to the capi- 
tal stock of said company." The company was 
incorporated for the period of twenty years from 
the passage of the act ; its capital stock was placed 
at fifty thousand dollars, in shares of fifty dollars 
each; the object for which it was incorporated was 
set forth in the act to be " the improvement of the 
present Grand River turnpike, from the northerly 
line of the Cass farm, in the cit)* of Detroit, to the 
point where the base line intersects the said road ;" 
and for this purpose the company was "authorized 
to take immediate possession of the Grand River 
turnpike from the city of Detroit to the base line," 
and was required to plank the road from Detroit 
to the base line " with sound [)lank not less than 
three inches in thickness, and not less than 
eighteen feet in length, to be well fastened down at 
the bed timbers, so as to make the same a good 
plank-road at all seasons of the year." The com- 
pany was required, under penalty of forfeiture of 
charter, to complete eleven miles of the road with- 
in five years, and the remainder within ten years, 
from the passage of the act. An amendatory act 
was passed May 4, 1846, by the provisions of 
which the company, instead of being compelled to 
lay a plank-road, were required to " cause to be laid 
down and constructed a good and substantial plank, 
macadamized, or charcoal road, from the city of 
Detroit to the said point where the base line inter- 
sects said turnpike ; such road to be not less than 
sixteen feet in width, and of such materials and 
description as shall make the same a good substan- 
tial road at all seasons of the year." The intention 
was to extend this road ultimately to Howell, but 
the obstacles encountered were too great to be 
surmounted at that early day, and the company 
never even organized under their charter. 

HOWELL .\ND BYRON PL.\NI<:R0.\D C0MP.\NV. 

In 1850 the Howell and Byron Plank-Road 
Company was incorporated for a period of .si.xty 
years and with a capital stock authorized to the 
amount of thirty thousand dollars, for the receipt 
of subscriptions to which, George W. Lee, Josiah 
Turner, B. W. Dennis, F. J. Provost,* and Noah 

* By .in act passed in March, 1851, Nathaniel Turner and 
ILirvey T. Lee were made commissioners in plnce of Messrs. 
Dennis and Provost. 



Ramsdell were appointed commissioners. The 
object of the incorporation of the company, as 
set forth in the act (approved March 25th), was 
"to lay out, establish, and construct a plank-road 
and all necessary buildings and appurtenances, 
commencing in the village of Howell, and termi- 
nating in the village of Byron, in the county of 
Shiawassee ;" and authority was conferred to unite 
the road at any point with the road of any other 
company. 

This company organized and elected George 
W. Lee as President, and Josiah Turner, Secretary 
and Treasurer, but no part of the road was ever 
built. 

DETROIT AND HO^YELL rL.\NKRO.\D. 

This coinpany was incorporated in 1848 (by act 
approved April 3d), with a capital stock of one 
hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, " for 
the purpose of building and maintaining a plank- 
road from the city of Detroit, in the county of 
Wayne, on the most eligible route to the village 
of Howell, in the county of Livingston ; and also 
from some point at or near the Sand Hill, so 
called, on the Grand River road, in the said 
county of Wayne, to the village of Watcrford, in 
said county; and also from some eligible point on 
the main line of the plaiilc-road hereby authorized 
to the village of Milford, in the county of Oak- 
land. Said company shall have the right to in- 
crease their capital stock to one hundred and fifty 
thousand dollars, and to extend the road to the 
town of Michigan, in the county of Ingham." 
Henry Ledyard and A. S. Bagg, of Detroit, Jabcsh 
M. Mead, of Plymouth, Augustus C. Baldwin, of 
Milford, and Josiah Turner, of Howell, were em- 
powered as commissioners to receive subscriptions 
to the stock. The company was authorized — as 
soon as organized — "to enter upon and take pos- 
session of so much of the Detroit and Grand River 
road, so called, as lies between the city of Detroit 
and the village of Howell, and to proceed to con- 
struct and maintain thereon a plank- road." 

The company was duly organized with Hon. C. 
C. Trowbridge as President, and Henry Ledyard, 
Secretary and Treasurer. Work was commenced 
a few months after the incorporation, and the road 
was finished to Howell during the }X-ar 1850. It 
immediately became financially successful, and for 
many years was an advantage to Howell and to 
Livingston County, second onl}' in importance to 
that which has since resulted from the opening 
of the railroad to Detroit and Lansing. 

LANSING AND HOWELL PL.ANK-ROAD. 
The Lansing and Howell Plank-Road Company 
was incorporated by act approved March 20, 1850, 



36 



HISTORY OF LI\TXGSTOX COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



with power " to lay oat, establish, and coostnict a grading. In this way all the planking hag been 
plank-road, and all necessar>- buildings, and ap- removed over the entire line, and, aithoogh the 
partenances. c; "^ at Landing. : ' ts of Detroit ar "i Plank- Road and 
Ingham, and te j ia the \-iIIage c : ; ^ 5:ag and Howell i ._....; ad are still ia use as 
county of Livingston, with the privilege of unitin- , .egal designations of the two sections of the 
said road at any point with the road of any o'^ztr line, the whole is now a solidiy-gracfed turnpike- 
company." James Seymour, Hiram H. Srn:!:;, It still accommodates - "Tt -t of travel, 

Ephraim B- Danforth, George W. Lee, and Fred- and is the main thoro _ . ^:Dn County, 

erick C- Whipple were appointed commissicre ; T.i : -gates still remam upon the line, and toil 

to receive sabscriptioos to the capital stc:'- -- ^ _ _ .- _%._ -j-jj^ _ _ ^ .- _• ^^^ 

was authorized to the amount of sixtj- ; _ - ng bytl. : - ;;2.- 

dollars. The company was empowered, as soon sidered an unjust burden bv manv of those who 

as organized, •"toe - Dssession : ' ' roads. To such com^daints, 

of so much ot the _ . .er roac, . _ ^ : ; . : _. . .nds which have been made in 

so called, as lies between the village of f Jtnsing late j-ears tor the discoannuance of toll-taking, the 

and the village of " :eed to cci- H;c- C C. Trc has recr tr. 

struct and maintair. _. i-road." Xiie iS 79) made a rez . ;j, thoug.^ ._. ^d- 

act of incorporation to reataia in ioFce for the dressed particularly to comD'aiaants in the imme- 

term of sixty j-ears. j 1: ^ - : - - of Detroit, is equally «^Iicable along 

The work of coostructioti was commenced in Lli; ^-c-i-ir portioas of the line. As a presentation 

the summer or &11 of 1850, and the road was com- of the views and arguments of the proprietors in 

pleted from Howell to Lansing in about two years. fevor of the continuance of the toll-gates, this re- 

ilany of the planks for this as well as for the De- "7 ~ -t the expression of am- 

troit and HoweK road were furnished from the r case. Mr. Trowbridge 

steam-mill of Chandler &: Kneeland in HowelL says : " Certain parties who live near the city, but 

This r 1?-- "the toll-gates, are : " ' iine the 

txoit t; _ - ;r- _ noved, so that they ; : .. .:-:. All 

came prosperous at once, and for some years was persons living^ between gates hare hitherto nude a 

one of •--■;- :ej 

being i...^ :. : _ -;_._:__;._ _;___. _: l^ ;... . ^ _: : , _. . ;,.:. :_ie 

length in the amount of business transacted upo- : jntents, who hav^e obtained some kgislacion 

it. A coa: : cession of teams an ^ Traich they think sofhctent to accomplish their 

passed over . : :. — end to end, and two i.,- _.--.,.-_ ^ - irhich would be the practical destructioa 

stages t with hequent extras) made daily trips eac-i . ro the proprietors of these roads. The 

way, each coach carrymg firom twelve to twenty ptank-raad cocporatioos are desirous to have the 

passengers. Thes'"r~r : - "er the Gr-ri : ' - ' ' ' : to 

Ri-4-er road, before :_ zg, was c - ;:.- _ ; j 

menced between Howell and Detroit, about 1838, the competent tribunal, and they will at once obey 

byAHen C '^" - ' • ' " ' ,, . . . " . . . . 

J.Spriaga_: ; _ _ ^ ^ . : _ _ --- , - 

business between Howell and Lansing were F. sot touching the lav of the case, shoold be stated 

Fowler, O-B-V " £ 

associates, wh- ___-._ „.. _. ; „^. __, _; .. .^ _ .le:s to e^ject to catch the ear of the 

over that part of the line in or about 184.2. as has oresent busy generation as to what transpired about 

been menticned. From these small b-; r roads thirtv odd years ago ; but the &ct is 

grew the heavy stage traSc which a.;., -^j^- - -^ ---- -- seasons of the vear, and 

passed over the plank-road. This great and coe- ty were almost impassa- 

tinually-increasing business ceased almost en: : 1 - ble, and that at soch periods noa-interconrse with 

irz:' ''' : ----- :fthe Detroit an : ^^-^ : ^ ; -' ; - ': _'_ - -:r«- was 

an- -g and Saginaw F. r a pro- 
cured the passa^ of the plaak-road act of 184S, 

i under its 

_ ^ rixmers acd 

the city land-holders to take op the capital stoc!:. 

: roads. 
- .. _. : _..-,.--. trs. bat 



since that time stage-coaching' between Detroit and 

Lansing is ': ' ' ;. 

After xhz ^ of the travel 

from the plank-roads, it became the policy of the 
ccv : '"e planking- as ir 

an_ -- Z-- : - . _ - : .ls made w"t!i s : 



INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. 



57 



the revenues soon fell off and the expenses of re- 
pair increased, so that for the last seventeen \-ears 
the Saline has paid only an average of one and one- 
seventeenth per cent, per annum ; the Lansing and 
Howell, for twenty-five years, one and one-eighth 
per cent. ; the Detroit and Howell, for si.\teen years, 
si.x and three-fifths per cent. ; and the Erin less than 
nine per cent., the whole average being less than 
five per cent.; while the yearly saving to our citi- 
zens in the cost of fuel and supplies, and the gen- 
eral effect upon the markets, has been equal to the 
total cost of the roads, and the lands along their 
lines have been quadrupled in value. Please note 
here that these and the succeeding dividends will 
be all that the shareholders will receive in return 
for three hundred thousand dollars which they ex- 
pended in building these roads. At the e.xpiration 
of their charters, now only twenty-eight years dis- 
tant, the roads revert to the vicinage and become 
town property, subject to taxation for repairs. In 
respect to one of them that period will probably 
be materially shortened, for it is already difficult, 
by the most economical use of the revenue, to keep 
it in passable condition. 

"Lender these circumstances the proprietors feel 
that they are equitably entitled to whatever the 
law allows ; and they ask their fellow-citizens to 
put themselves in their place, and not to condemn 
them as thieves for endeavoring to maintain their 
rights. It is obvious to all who have served as 
road-masters, that if left to the towns to keep the 
roads in repair the people would never submit to 
the necessary taxation. Up to 1879 the Howell 
road has expended for that purpose three hundred 
and three thousand three hundred and si.Kty-nine 
dollars and ninety-eight cents, or an average of 
eleven thousand six hundred and sixty-seven dol- 
lars and ten cents per annum ; the Erin, two hun- 
dred and seventy-six thousand eight hundred and 
ninety dollars and sixteen cents, or an average of 
ten thousand six hundred and forty-nine dollars 
and sixty cents ; the Lansing, ninety-eight thou- 
sand eight hundred and fifty-four dollars and 
seven cents, or an average of three thousand 
nine hundred and fifty-four dollars and eighteen 
cents; and the Saline, two hundred and sixty- 
one thousand six hundred and ten dollars and 
thirty-one cents, or an average of ten thousand 
four hundred and sixty-four dollars and forty- 
one cents, — a total sum of about one million of 
dollars." 

But there is little doubt that the toll-gates will 
be discontinued between Howell and Lansing, if 
not between Howell and Detroit, long before the 
e.Kpiration of the charters. 
8 



R.\1LR0.\DS. 

THE DETROIT AND SHIAWWSSEE RAILROAD 
PROJECT. 

The first company proposing to construct a line 
of railway through the present territory of Liv- 
ingston County was incorporated by an act of 
Legislature, appro%'ed March 22, 1837, which pro- 
vided " that Marshall J. Bacon, Silas Titus, Elijah 
F. Cook, Thomas Curtis, Alfred A. Dwight, Robert 
Warden, Jr., and Ely Barnard be, and they are 
hereby, appointed commissioners, under direction 
of a majority of whom subscrip'ions may be re- 
ceived to the capital stock of the Detroit and Shi- 
awassee Railroad Company hereby incorporated. 
. . . Said corporation shall have power to construct 
a railroad with single or double track from Detroit, 
in the county of Wayne, through Farmington, in 
the county of Oakland, Kensington, in the town- 
ship of Lyon, the county-seat in the county of 
Livingston, Byron, in the county of Shiawassee, 
to Shiawassee village, in said county of Shiawassee, 
with power to transport, take, and carry persons 
and property upon the same by the power and force 
of steam and animals, or of any mechanical or 
other power, or combination of them." The cap- 
ital stock of the company was authorized to the 
amount of five hundred thousand dollars. The 
road was to be commenced within one year from 
the date of incorporation, — twenty five miles of it 
to be finished in two and a half years, and the 
whole to be completed in si.\ years, on penalty 
of forfeiture of charter for such parts as were un- 
finished at that time. By act of April 6, 1S3S, the 
charter was amended by the repeal of so much of 
the act of incorporation as called for the construc- 
tion of the road through Byron to Shiawassee vil- 
lage, and by the granting to the company of the 
power " to continue the construction of said rail- 
road from the county-seat of Livingston County 
to Biddle City, in Ingham County." 

Some of the principal promoters of this project 
were the master-spirits in the old " wild cat" Bank 
of Kensington, which is still clearly but unfavorably 
remembered by many people of Livingston Count}'. 
It may have been the design of these men to hon- 
estly carry out the objects set forth in the charter 
which they obtained, but it is hardly likely tiiat 
such was the case. There is, however, no doubt 
of the good faith of such men as Ely Barnard and 
some others of the corporators. The road was 
never commenced, nor the company organized 
under the charter. 

OTHER PROPOSED RAILROADS. 

Several other unsuccessful railroad projects, pro- 
posing to build roads through the territory of 



58 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Livingston County, have been started at different 
times, among these having been the Michigan Air- 
Line road, to pass through tlie southern part of the 
county, and on which some grading work was 
done, and the Toledo, Ann Arbor and Northern 
Railroad hne, which proposed to run its route 
through the centre of Livingston, passing over the 
farm of Alexander McPherson, within the corpora- 
tion limits of Howell, and thence northward by way 
of Oak Grove to Owosso. An organization of this 
company was effected at Ann Arbor, October 28, 
1869, and subscriptions to the capital stock to 
the amount of some twenty thousand dollars were 
secured in this county, of which subscriptions about 
five per cent, has been paid in, but beyond this no 
progress has been made as regards that part of the 
line north of Ann Arbor. 

A proposed line of road, to pass through Howell 
village, is mentioned in the newspapers of 1857, 
as also the fact that at a pubh'c meeting held in the 
spring of that year George W. Lee and L. K. 
Hewett, of Howell, E. F. Burt, of Marion, Hon. 
S. M. Holmes, of Detroit, A. S. Lapham, of North- 
ville, Hon. Whitney Jones and H. H. .Smith, of 
Lansing, James B. Lee, of Brighton, and H. Craw- 
ford, of Milford, were appointed a " Central Busi- 
ness Committee," who were authorized to procure 
pledges to a capital stock, grants of right of way, 
and pledges for sums to purchase the right of way, 
as well as the appointment of sub-committeemen, 
calling of primary meetings, and finally a general 
meeting for the organization of a company. But 
although it was announced that the efforts of the 
committee had met with encouraging success in 
Livingston County, this railway project faded and 
went the way that hundreds of similar enterprises 
have gone before and since that time. 

DETROIT, LANSING AND NORTHERN RAILROAD. 

That part of the Detroit, Lansing and Northern 
Railroad which traverses the county of Livingston 
is composed of the roads originally projected and 
commenced by the Detroit and Howell and the 
Howell and Lansing Railroad Companies. Of 
these, the Detroit and Howell was the earliest 
incorporated ; the articles of association being filed 
in the office of the Secretary of State, under the 
general railroad law, on the twenty-first of Septem- 
ber, 1864. The meeting at which the organization 
was effected, however, had been held on the seven- 
teenth of June preceding, at New Hudson. The 
first officers of the company were : 

Directors. 
Theodatus T. L}-on, President. 
G. A- Starkweather, 



William Taft. 
S. Hardenbergh. 
O. C. Abell. 
J. M. Swift. 
John H. Galloway. 
E. F. Burt. 
E. F. Albright. 
Lyman Judson. 
R. C. Rumsey. 
Joseph H. Wilcox. 
Ely Barnard. 
William McPherson, Treasurer. 
E. F. Burt, Secretary. 
Marcus B. Wilcox, Attorney. 
The commissioners to procure and receive sub- 
scriptions to the capital stock (which was placed 
at four hundred thousand dollars, in shares of fifty 
dollars each) were : 

Hiram Newman. 
Isaac W. Bush. 
P. B. Holdridge. 
Giles Tucker. 
J. M. Swift. 

The subscription books of the company were 
opened at Howell in November, 1864, and at sev- 
eral other points along the line soon after. Stock 
was taken at first with considerable rapidity, but 
it was not until September of the year 1865 that 
the announcement was made that two hundred and 
fifty thousand dollars had been secured in sub- 
scriptions and pledges of aid from towns on the 
route. 

In September, 1866, President Lyon reported 
that " On the portion of our line between Ply- 
mouth and Howell, the sum of three hundred 
thousand dollars has now been secured, which 
sum was designated in our Articles of Association 
as the amount necessary to warrant the commence- 
ment of the work of construction." 

Preliminary surve)'s had been made, but beyond 
this little or nothing had been done, and the work 
of construction was not earnestly commenced until 
1867. In that year and 1868 (but principally in 
the latter), most of the work ever done on the line 
by the original company was performed ; the total 
amount expended on the road by that company 
being about two hundred and forty thousand dol- 
lars, after which, for lack of further funds, the 
work languished and was suspended entirely; the 
road finally passing into other hands in an uncom- 
pleted state. 

Though the Detroit and Howell Railroad failed 
of completion by the company which was incor- 
porated for its construction, yet in the prosecution 
of the enterprise as far as it was carried by them, 



INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. 



59 



in the procui-ing of individual subscriptions and 
votes of township aid to so considerable an 
amount, in the delicate ami difficult liiattcr of 
securing the right of way, aiul in the vigorous 
pushing of the work, until the exhaustion of funds 
rendered suspension unavoidable, a remarkable 
amount of business ability, as well as of energy 
and perseverance, was displayed by the officers 
of the company, several 'of whom were men of 
Livingston County. And to none of these in 
greater degree than to William McPherson was 
due the credit of the results attained. Mr. Mc- 
Pherson was perhaps the most active among the 
]3rincipal promoters of the enterprise from its very 
inception, and was the treasurer of the company 
from its organization until the time when it ceased 
to e.xist by reason of the sale — or rather the gift 
— of its road to other parties. That transfer and 
the final completion of the road will be noticed 
below. 

The Howell and Lansing Railroad Company — 
formed for the purpose of constructing a railway 
between the places indicated in its title — was in- 
corporated under the general railroad law, in 1868, 
tlie articles of association being filed in the office 
of the Secretary of State, on the twenty-third of 
June in that year. The first officers of the company 
were ; 

Directors. 

Thcodatus T. Lyon, President. 

Alvin N. Hart. 

James F. Smiley. 

George N. Walker. 

James W. Waldo. 

James M. Williams. 

Egbert Grattan. 

Joseph Dennis. 

James Sullivan. 

Alexander H. Benedict. 

George W. Palmerston. 

Joseph H. Wilco.x. 

Joshua K. Kirkland. 

J. B. Waldo, Treasurer. 
The company was organized in the interest of 
the Detroit and Howell Company, with which it 
was intended to act in concert for the purpose of 
completing a through line from Detroit to Lansing. 
In 1870 the two were consolidated as the Detroit, 
Howell and Lansing Railroad Company; the arti- 
cles of consolidation being filed in the office of the 
Secretary of State, on the eleventh of April, in 
that year. 

Between llouelland Lansing the work of con- 
struction had not been commenced, and little had 
been done by that company beyond taking steps 
to secure votes of aid from townships along the 



line. In September, following the consolidation, 
the franchises were conveyed to James F. Joy and 
other capitalists, forming the Detroit, Lansing and 
Lake Michigan Railroad Company; to which line 
the Lansing and Ionia Railroad was soon after- 
wards added by consolidation, thus securing a con- 
tinuous line from Detroit to Ionia. The transfer 
of the franchises of the Detroit and Howell Com- 
pany to Mr. Joy and his associates was without 
consideration, being in fact a gift by that company 
of the work which they had done (amounting to 
nearl)- a quarter of a million of dollars), on condi- 
tion that the road should be S[)cedily completed 
and opened for travel and traffic. 

The new company commenced work in earnest, 
at both ends of the line, pushing the construction 
from Detroit and from Lansing towards Howell ; 
and it was prosecuted with so much of vigor, that 
it was finished in less time than could reasonably 
have been expected. On the eastern end, the road 
was completed and opened to Plymouth on the six- 
teenth of May, 1 87 1, and to Brighton, Livingston 
County, on or about the fourth of July following. 
From the west the completed track entered Liv- 
ingston Count}' in the same month, and on the 
third of August, 1 871, there was a great gathering 
of people at Fowlerville to celebrate the formal 
opening of the road to that point from Lansing. 
On that occasion an address was pronounced by 
Dennis Shields, Elsq., of Howell, and the general 
rejoicing was unbounded. 

The tracks from the east and the west were 
joined, and the road was thus completed, a few 
days after the celebration at Fowlerville. The line 
was formally opened August 22, 1871, by an e.x- 
amination-trip from Detroit, over its entire length, 
to Kaywood station (five miles beyond Greenville), 
which was then the northern terminus. A repre- 
sentative of the Detroit Tribune, who accompanied 
the e.xcursion-party upon this occasion, wrote of its 
progress through Livingston County as follows: 
"Small delegations joined the train at Plymouth 
and Brighton, but these points, having been out of 
the woods for some time, manifested less interest 
than other points between Brighton and Lansing. 
At Howell, the people were especially jubilant, 
turning out en masse, and some enterprising How- 
ellian impressed an anvil into the service, and fired 
a salute. It is certainly a day of jubilee for 
Howell, to which she has been looking forward 
with patience for many years. The people of Lan- 
sing are scarcely less appreciative of the advan- 
tages of the road, shortening the distance, as it 
does, over thirty miles between Lansing and De- 
troit." 

The Detroit Post was also represented in the ex- 



6o 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



cursion party, and this paper in its issue of the 
following day said, — 

"At Howell the train was received with some- 
thing of an ovation. A six-pound cannon had 
been brought into service and fired a salute as the 
train moved up to the depot, where were assembled 
an immense concourse of people, who testified 
their gratification at the arrival of the party by 
cheers and waving of handkerchiefs. Ladies dis- 
tributed bouquets. The people are enthusiastic over 
the advent of the iron horse to their town, and 
though the assemblage was impromptu, it clearly 
indicated the joy which they feci over the comple- 
tion of the railroad for which they have worked 
and waited for so many long years. Their enthu- 
siasm is pardonable. The town has a population 
of over two thousand, is one of the handsomest in 
the State, and, next to Lansing, probably the most 
important on the line of the road. Just as the 
train was moving away the people called on Mr. 
Joy for a speech, but he did not see fit to respond." 

Railroad communication with Detroit, for which 
the people of Livingston County had waited so 
long and anxiously, was now an accomplished fact. 
Regular trains commenced running at once, and 
the total receipts of the Detroit, Lansing and Lake 
Michigan Railroad during its first business week 
were as follows : 

For freight $8, 204. 87 

For passengers 3.242.33 



>ii,447.2o 

Which was very encouraging, though small when 
compared with present weekly exhibits. A week 
or two after the opening, the A/i/i Arbor Courier 
mentioned the event, and its significance to the 
people of this county, as follows : 

"The three Howell papers come to us rejoicing 
over the completion of the Detroit and Lansing 
Railroad to that place. They may well rejoice, 
for every acre of land in Livingston County north 
of the railroad is worth ten dollars per acre more 
than it would be without the road, and every acre 
on the south side within five miles is worth five 
dollars more than before. The men benefited the 
least are the merchants in the little towns along 
the line, and they are the men who pay the most 
for the road. We do not consider the road of any 
benefit to the mercantile interests of Howell, and 
their merchants will say the same thing one year 
from this date." 

Without commenting on the last part of the 
Courier's prediction, it is safe to say that the first 
part has been more than verified. And it is not 
alone the farmers of Livingston who have been 
benefited by the road, but the three principal 



villages of the county and their people have also 
derived great advantage from it, as must be ap- 
parent to all observers. 

The Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad 
(which name has recently been substituted for that 
of Detroit, Lansing and Lake Michigan) traverses 
Livingston diagonally from southeast to north- 
west, entering the county near the centre of the 
east line of Green Oak township, passing thence 
through the southwest corner of Brighton town- 
ship, through Brighton village, Genoa, the north- 
east corner of Marion, Howell village, Howell 
township, and Handy, touching the village of 
Fowlerville, and running from that point due west 
to Ingham County. The principal stations in 
Livingston are at the villages of Brighton, Howell, 

o 00'' 

and Fowlerville; and there are less important 
stations at Green Oak, Genoa, and Fleming, — the 
last named being in Howell township. The road 
was completed in the fiiU of 1871 to Howard City, 
which is still its northern terminus, and where it 
forms a junction with the Grand Rapids and In- 
diana Railroad. An extension is, however, in 
process of construction to Big Rapids, and the 
road will be opened to that point in the near 
future. 



CHAPTER VI. 

MILITARY RECORD OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 

Draft for llie "Toledo War" — The Old Mililia System and the 
Eleventh Militia Regiment — Mexican War Volunteers — Liv- 
ingston in the Enrly Days of the Great Rebellion — The Fourth 
Michigan Infantry — Its Organization and Departure for the 
Front — The Fourth at Bull Run — Campaign of the Peninsula 
— The Seven Days' Fight — Campaign under Gen. Pope — An- 
tietam and Shepherdstown Ford — Fredericksburg and Chancel- 
lorsville — Gettysburg — Winter Quarters at Bealtou — Campaign 
of the Wilderness — In Front ot Petersburg — Expiration of Ser- 
vice and Muster Out — The Reorganized Fourth — Service in 
Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas — Muster Out and Disband- 
menl — List of Members of the Old and New Fourth from Liv- 
ingston County. 

The first deinand made upon the inhabitants of 
what is now Livingston County, to perform mili- 
tary service in a public exigency, was by the 
proclaination of Governor S. T. Mason, ordering a 
draft from the militia, of men to serve under Gen- 
eral Brown, in the famous " Toledo War" of 1835. 
Under this authority, several men were drafted 
from townships now of this county; a half-dozen 
being taken from the militia of Green Oak. They 
were not called on to perform any very dangerous 
or protracted services, and their farms or other 
business did not suffer serious detriment from 



MILITARY RECORD OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



6i 



their being suniiuonecl to the field. The " war" 
was, of course, but a force, but for a time it caused 
serious apprehensions in the minds of drafted men 
and otliers ; and it was, at all events, the first ex- 
perience of the people of this region in furnishing 
soldiers for a service which threatened actual hos- 
tilities. 

Under the militia system of a period somewhat 
later than the Toledo war, many of the townships 
contained so-called militar)' companies, which were 
ordered out at stated times for battalion or regi- 
mental " training" or general muster, as the case 
might be. In 1843 the Sixth Brigade of the Third 
Militia Division was commanded by Brigadier- 
General Isaac Brown, whose brigade major and 
inspector was Edward H. Thomson ; Brigade 
Judge Advocate, James W. Stan.sbury, of Pinck- 
ncy; Brigade Quartermaster, Samuel C. Fair- 
child; and Aid -de -Camp, Furman G. Rose. 
The Eleventh Regiment seems to have been 
distinctively of Livingston County, and its first 
commanding officer was Colonel Timothy R. 
Allison, of Pinckncy. A regimental order of the 
colonel's, issued in the year above named, has 
been found, of which the following is a copy: 

"COMr.VXV BE.\TS, REGI.MENT.\L ORDER No. i. 

" Colonel's Office, Pinckney, February 7, 1843. 
"Elf.ventii Rkgimf.n't, Sixth Brigadk, Third Division 
" Michigan Militia. 

" I do hereby cause this regiment to be divided into 
ten company beats, numbered and bounded as follows : 
First company beat to comprise the township of Green 
Oak; the second, to comprise the township of Ham- 
burg; tliird, the township of Putnam; fourth, the 
township of Unadilla; fifth, the townships of Iosco 
and Marion ; sixth, the townships of Genoa and 
Brighton ; seventh, the townships of Hartland and 
Oceola; eighth, the townships of Howell and Handy; 
ninth, tiie townships of Conway and Tuscola; tenth, 
the townships of Deerfield and Tyrone. 

"Given under my hand at I'inckney, this seventh 
day of February, a.d. 1843. 

"Timothy R. Allison, 
"Colonel Eleventh Regiment, Sixth Brigade, Third 

Division, Michigan Militia. ' ' 

The successor of Colonel Allison in the com- 
mand of the Eleventh Regiment was Colonel 
George Bennett. Washington Wing was the 
Lieutenant-Colonel. A cavalry company exi.sted 
in the county, commanded by Colonel Ives, of 
Unadilla. 

The general " trainings" were usually held at 
Howell or at Provost's Plains. These occasions 
were invested with as much of pomp and parade 
as was practicable, and were looked forward to 



with much of pleasure by the people. A pioneer, 
in mentioning them, says, " Ostensibly the object 
was to keep up a military organization, but really 
to have a jolly good time. Colonel Allison always 
thought it a part of his military duty to furnish 
the boys all the stimulant they wanted before the 
training, so that they might show proper enthusi- 
asm." This is unquestionably a correct statement. 
The old militia system was doubtless originated 
in the idea of keeping up a military organization 
and to foster a military spirit, but it never made 
soldiers, and the organization which it kept alive 
was of no value. A few years later the State 
ceased to require this kind of military duty, and 
the system, with its trainings, drunkenness, and 
general burlesque of military spirit and discipline, 
happily became a thing of the past. 

At the breaking out of the Mexican war, in 
1846, the population of Livingston County was 
comparatively small, and there were few among its 
people who were in a condition to make it possible 
for them to leave their families and farms to become 
soldiers. Still there were a few from the county 
who followed their country's flag to the fields of 
Mexico. Among these were John A. Tanner, of 
Handy, who enlisted in Captain I. S. Rowland's 
company of the First Michigan Regiment, John 
Moran, of Oceola, and some others whose names 
have not been ascertained (mostly from Hartland 
antl other eastern towns), who served in that and 
Captain Hanscom's company of the same regiment. 
The First was commanded by Colonel T. B. W. 
Stockton, of Flint, and was raised in the fall of 
1846, was rendezvoused at Detroit, and as soon as 
organized, and before its ranks were full, left for the 
seat of war by way of Cincinnati and New Or- 
leans, arriving at Vera Cruz in January% 1847. 
From Vera Cruz it moved with other forces, 
amounting in all to two thousand men, under 
General Bankhead, to Cordova and Orizaba. A 
second detachment, under Lieutenant-Colonel 
(afterwards General) Williams, left Detroit after 
the main body of the regiment and joinetl it at 
Cordova. The colonel of the regiment was made 
military governor of Cordova, and remained there 
in that capacity to the close of the war. The 
regiment suffered very severely by sickness during 
its term of service, and a great number of its sol- 
diers left their bones in Mexico. Besides those 
w ho entered the P'irst Regiment, there were a few 
from Livingston who enlisted in the Fifteenth 
United States Infantry, which was in the division 
of General Gideon J. Pillow, of Tennessee. Those 
who were with this command participated in some 
of the principal battles of the Mexican war. 



62 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



All the matters above referred to, however, were 
but trivial, and hardly worthy of mention, in com- 
parison with the events of that later struggle, — the 
tremendous war of the Rebellion, with the opening 
of whicli, commences the real military history of 
Livingston, a record which, to the county and to 
its people, is a most creditable one. When the 
thrilling news from Charleston Harbor first rang 
through the country, and President Lincoln called 
on the loyal States for an army of seventy-five thous- 
and men to sustain the authority of the government 
in an unexpected crisis, the young men, the middle- 
aged and the old men, as well as the women of 
Livingston, responded most patriotically, and at 
once took measures to furnish the county's full 
quota of soldiers to fill the ranks of the Union 
army. The first step taken here, as everywhere in 
the North, was the holding of public meetings to 
promote enlistments. Fifteei) days after the Pres- 
ident's call was issued, an extremely large and en- 
thusiastic " Union mass-meeting" was held (April 
30, 1861) at the court-house in Howell, at which 
James B. Lee, Esq., of Brighton, presided, and B. 
Howard Lawson was made secretary, and which 
was addressed by the president, by Henry H. 
Harmon, William A. Clark, E. F. Burt, George 
W. Lee, and others, in a most eloquent and effect- 
ive manner. " At noon a magnificent star-spangled 
banner, made expressly for the occasion by the pa- 
triotic ladies, was unfurled from the liberty-pole in 
front of the court- house amid the wildest enthusiasm 
of the assembled multitude. The thrillin"- song of 
the 'Star-Spangled Banner' was sung and listened 
to by the audience with intense emotion and vo- 
ciferous cheers . . . The court-room was literally 
jammed full of men and women, but by this time 
the people from all parts of the county had as- 
sembled by many hundreds in the court-house 
square, with two bands of music, and they evinced 
their desire to participate in the patriotic proceed- 
ings in so unmistakable a manner that the meeting 
adjourned to the square, where the speeches were 
received with an enthusiasm exceeding anything 
of the kind ever witnessed. All party-ties seemed 
broken, all partisan prejudices obliterated, and but 
one desire and determination manifested by the 
speakers and the people, — to sustain the Federal 
government in the legitimate e.xercise of its power 
to preserve the Union. William A. Clark, Henry 
H. Harmon, Ira Knight, Mylo L. Gay, and Andrew 
D. Waddell were constituted a committee on res- 
olutions, and they, by their chairman, Mr. Clark, 
reported a preamble and a series of six patriotic 
resolutions, which were adopted by acclamation, 
and of which the following was the concludin<f 
one : 



" 'Resolved, That we devote as an oblation and will- 
ing sacrifice upon the altar of our common country 
all political party prejudices and animosities, and by 
obliterating all party distinctions to unite as patriotic 
American citizens in defense of the perpetuity and 
prosperity of the American Union ; and to such a line 
of conduct we dedicate ourselves, and pledge our 
lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor to the cause 
of our country, and to the maintenance of the Consti- 
tution and Union bequeathed to us as a precious her- 
itage of freedom by our heroic ancestors.' " 

At the same time the sum of eight hundred dol- 
lars was pledged by citizens, in addition to amounts 
voted the Board of Supervisors, for the relief, if 
needed, of the families of volunteers from Living- 
ston County who should enter the service of the 
United States. 

Meetings of the same kind were held in other 
parts of the county, and by the enthusiasm thus 
awakened, enlistments were promoted, and pro- 
gressed with such rapidity that early in May it was 
announced that one company (raised by Cai)tain 
John GiUuly) was full, and that Mr. James Mulloy 
had also made good progress in procuring enlist- 
ments for a second company, — twenty-two names 
being enrolled by him on the first day. It was 
not at that time known in what regiments these 
volunteers would be placed. The company of 
Captain Gillidy being afterwards assigned to the 
Fifth Infantry, entered the field with that command, 
and fought most gallantly in its campaigns; but 
in the mean time other volunteers from Livingston 
joined the Fourth, which was soon ordered to the 
front. These regiments, with others most notice- 
able for the number of Livingston County men 
serving in their ranks, are specially mentioned 
below in historical sketches of their organization 
and services in the great war for the Union. 

THE FOURTH INFANTRY. 

This regiment, which was one of the most dis- 
tinguished for e.xcellent discipline arid unflinch- 
ing bravery of all those which the State of Michi- 
gan sent to the war, had in its ranks a number of 
Livingston County volunteers, equal to about half 
of a full company; these being principally made 
up of the men above mentioned as having been 
recruited by Mr. James Mulloy. This detach- 
ment left Howell on the twenty-first of May, 1861, 
amid scenes of (then) unparalleled excitement, en- 
thusiasm, and sorrow, and proceeded to Dexter for 
the purpose of joining a company which was form- 
ing at that place for the F"ourth Regiment. They 
had previously expected to be attached to the Fifth 
Infantry, to which Captain Gilluly's company (con- 
taining man\^ of their friends and acquaintances) 



MILITARY RECORD OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



63 



liad been assigned ; but, upon the receipt of an appa- 
rent!)' authentic announcement that the Fifth would 
not be called to the field, they decided to make sure 
of acceptance, and a chance to see service, in the 
I'ourth. The rendezvous of this regiment had 
been established at Adrian, and to that place the 
" Howell volunteers" proceeded from Dexter, and 
were incorporated with " K" company, of which 
James Mulloy was commissioned second lieuten- 
ant, dating from June 20th. 

The regiment was mustered into the L^nited 
States service, one thousand and twenty-four 
strong, on the twentieth of June, i86i,by Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Backus, United States Army. Its 
field officers were : 

Colonel, Dwight A. Woodbury. 
Lieutenant-Colonel, William W. Duffield. 
Major, Jonathan Childs. 

On the twenty- fifth of June the Fourth left 
Adrian, and proceeded by way of Toledo to 
Cleveland, which was reached at about dark, and 
from thence by Erie, Pennsj-lvania, and the Erie 
Railroad to Eimira, where the men changed to 
the cars of the Northern Central Road, and moved 
to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. There they pitched 
their tents and remained in quiet until the first of 
July, when, at seven a.m., thev moved on through 
Baltimore to Washington, which was reached at 
three o'clock in the morning of the second. The 
names of the members of the regiment belonging 
in Livingston County were reported on their ar- 
rival at Washington as follows: 

Lieutenant James Mujloy. Edmund Bliss. 

Sergeant J. S. Sharp. H. A. Wilson. 

Sergeant J. B. McLean. Fred Silsby. 

Wm. H. Gould. Edgar Noble. 

E. G. Carpenter. M. \V. Baker. 

Henry Boothby. R. W. Kelley. 

John J. Dorn. H. Lampman. 

Theodore Hodges. L. Bore^an. 

Riley E. Vanzile. Austin Smith. 

D. M. Haviland. G. G. Donley. 

Barney Roney. Ira Holt. 

Stephen G. Fishbeck. Calvin Wilcox. 

John M. Tucker. Wm. Bennett. 

Brainard T. Ide. Wells Vanzile. 

Charles H. Barlow. Peter Cook. 

L. C. Griswold. D. F. Poyer. 

L. A. Haviland. J. H. Aldrich. 

B. O. Demming. D. A. Wilson. 

L. W. Lampman. Jas. P. Silsby. 

Harlo S. Mann. Americus Totten. 

Julius D. Smith. 

Having received a visit from President Lincoln, 
and from the Hon. Kinsley .S. Bingham, of Living- 
ston County, then United States .Senator from Michi- 



gan, and also having been marched to the arsenal, 
and there armed with indifferent Springfield mus- 
kets, the regiment was soon after moved across the 
Long Bridge to the sacred soil which forms the right 
bank of the Potomac. Arriving in Virginia, the 
Fourth took an active part in the movements con- 
nected with the first battle of Bull Run, and after 
that disastrous conflict it was one of the few regi- 
ments which retired in good order, covering the 
rear of the demoralized army. The regiment also 
aided largely in the construction of the works 
around Washington. 

During the winter of 1861-62 it was encamped 
at Miner's Hill, Virginia. In the spring of the 
latter year it went with McClcllan's army to York- 
town, and thence up the Peninsula. On the 
twcnt)--fourth of May it was on the north side of 
the Chickahominy, at New Bridge. An order 
came to make a reconnoissance in force. Five 
companies of the Fourth were directed to cross 
the river. They plunged in under a heavy fire, 
and made their way steadily across. In many 
places the water was up to the men's necks, and 
they could only keep their cartridges dry by hang- 
ing the boxes on their bayonets and liolding their 
rifles above their heads. Once on the other side, 
the battalion quickly formed and engaged in a 
desperate conflict with the celebrated Louisiana 
Tigers, driving them back with heavy loss. They 
were highly complimented by General McClellan 
for their gallantry, and at once took rank among 
the best regiments in the service. 

On the twenty-sixth of June the Fourth took 
part in the battle of Mechanicsville, and in that 
of Gaines' Mills on the following day. Still re- 
tiring with the shattered Army of the Potomac, 
on the first of July it leached the hills of Malvern, 
where the Union forces stood at bay. The Fourth 
Michigan was on the extreme left of the Union 
lines. One of the divisions of Stonewall Jackson's 
corps formed on its left, with the evident intention 
of turning its flank. The brigade to which the 
Fourth belonged, changed front, so as to face the 
enemy, and poured a deadl)' fire upon them. 
Meanwhile the gunboats in the James River, 
which lay so as to cover the Union flank, also 
opened fire on the foe with their big guns, throw- 
ing, as our informant expressed it, " shells as big 
as nail-kegs." As their terrible missiles, which 
cut off trees like pipe-stems, joined their destruc- 
tive powers to the thick-flying bullets of the 
Fourth Michigan and their comrade regiments, 
the rebels were very glad to retire in all haste 
from the position, and did not again attempt to 
occupy it. 

During the fierce battle which followed, Colonel 



64 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Woodbury, the commandant of the Fourth, was 
killed. Captain George W. Lombard was pro- 
moted to lieutenant-colonel of the regiment for 
gallant conduct at Malvern Hill, his commission 
dating from July 1st, — the day of the battle. The 
total of casualties in the Fourth during the battles 
of June and July was fifty-three killed, a hundred 
and forty-four wounded, and fifty-two missing; in 
all two hundred and thirty-one. 

The regiment soon after went North with the 
Army of the Potomac, being present in the battles 
of Gainesville, Second Bull Run, and Antietam, 
but without suffering verj' serious loss. Three 
days after the latter battle, on the twentieth of 
September, 1862, the Fourth was stationed on the 
east side of the Potomac, at Shepherdstown Ford. 
On the western side of the river was a rebel bat- 
tery of five guns, which kept up a most annoying 
fire on the troops on the eastern side. General 
Griffin, the commander of the brigade, rode up to 
the commander of the Fourth, saying, — 

" Can't you take your regiment quietly into the 
river after dark, march across, and capture that 
battery ?" 

" I can try, sir," promptly replied the officer ad- 
dressed. 

" That's all that any one can do," said the gen- 
eral ; " go ahead and try it." 

Accordingly, about nine o'clock at night, the 
Fourth, alone, moved quietly down and took post 
in the bed of the Baltimore and Ohio Canal, which 
ran close to the bank of the river, and from which 
the water had been drained by the breaking of the 
locks. All orders were passed in a whisper, and 
the utmost care was taken to prevent any untimely 
noise from disclosing the enterprise to the enemy. 
The men looked with considerable distrust on 
the undertaking ; it seemed like a big job to ford a 
river a third of a mile wide, in face of a hostile 
battery, and capture it. However, the order was 
imperative, and few or none were disposed to flinch. 
When all was ready, the requisite orders, still in 
whispers, were passed along the line, and the men 
silently arose and passed over the bank into the 
river. The night was dark, and although the 
enemy's pickets were close to the water on the 
other side, they could see nothing of the move- 
ment which was in progress. 

In some places the water was only ankle-deep, 
in others knee-deep, and in others waist-deep. In 
complete silence the line moved steadily forward 
until the middle of the stream was nearly reached. 
Then some of the men stumbled on the slippery 
rocks, and in saving themselves from falling made 
considerable splashing in the water. The attention 
of the rebel pickets was aroused, and on peering 



eagerly into the darkness, they could discern the 
dim line of the silent Fourth making its way across 
the river. The next instant a dozen rifles flashed 
their angry welcome. Their leaden messengers 
whistled among the ranks of the advancing 
" Yankees," and the sharp reports re-echoed along 
the rocky banks of the Potomac. 
No more need of silence now. 
" Forward !" shouted the colonel ; " forward ! 
forward !" repeated the line-officers, and forward 
went the gallant regiment, all striving to see how 
quickly they could reach the shore. 

On the other hand, the rebels, who seem to have 
been without much infantry support, got their guns 
ready for action as speedily as possible, and began 
a tremendous cannonade. But the battery was on 
high ground, and by the time it opened fire the 
Fourth was so close that the rebel balls went harm- 
lessly over their heads. With a thundering cheer, 
the Union line charged up the steep, rushed with 
fixed bayonets upon the artillerists, and captured 
about twenty of them, while the rest fled at the top 
of their speed into the darkness, leaving their five 
cannon the prize of the conquerors. So well had 
the plan been arranged and carried out that only 
two or three men were killed in what had at first 
appeared to be an undertaking of extreme danger. 
Its very audacity largely assisted its success. 

Four of the guns thus taken had been captured 
by the rebels at the first Bull Run battle from the 
batter}- then commanded by Captain Griffin, of 
the regular army, who in 1862 was the brigadier- 
general that ordered the assault just described, 
and who was intensely gratified at the unexpected 
recapture of his former pets. 

After this exploit, the regiment engaged in the 
usual marches through the mud and snow of Vir- 
ginia, until the battle of Fredericksburg, on the 
thirteenth and fourteenth of December, 1862, in 
which it took an active part, having nine men 
killed and forty-one wounded. It remained in the 
vicinity of Fredericksburg until the first of May, 
1863, when it became engaged in the battle of 
Chancellorsville, though not in the hottest part of 
the field. The total of casualties there — killed, 
wounded, and missing — was thirty. 

Then followed the long march northward under 
a blazing sun, till on the first of July they reached 
the field of Gettysburg. On the second they were 
in the thick of the fight, being then in the Fifth 
Corps. Here they met the Louisiana Tigers, their 
old enemies of the Chickahominy, with other regi- 
ments, in one of the k\v hand-to-hand conflicts of 
the war. For a time the conflict was of the most 
deadly description. Colonel Jeff"ords, the com- 
mander of the regiment, fell dead pierced by half a 



MILITARY RECORD OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY 



65 



dozen bayonets. Several other officers were killed 
and wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Lombard as- 
sumed command and gallantly continued the fight, 
but the loss of the regiment was very serious. 
When, on the fourth of July, after the glorious vic- 
tory of the Union arms was assured, the rolls of 
the Fourth Michigan were called, it was found that 
twenty-eight men had been killed, eighty were 
wounded, and seventy-nine were missing. 

After Gettysburg the Fourth participated in the 
pursuit of the enemy and other movements of the 
Army of the Potomac, and was encamped during 
the winter of 1863-64 at Bealton, on the Orange 
and Alexandria Railroad. Lieutenant-Colonel 
Lombard was promoted to colonel, dating from 
the third of July, 1863. 

On the thirtieth of April, 1864, the Fourth 
broke camp, and set out on the great campaign 
which was only to close with the overthrow of the 
Rebellion. On the fifth, si.xth, and seventh of 
May the regiment was engaged in the battle of 
the Wilderness. Though not in the thickest of 
the fight, it suffered a severe loss on the first-men- 
tioned day, the gallant and genial Colonel Lom- 
bard being mortally wounded by a rebel bullet. 

On the morning of the eighth of May, the 
Fourth, with the rest of Griffin's Division, arrived 
at Laurel Hill, between the Wilderness and Spott- 
sylvania Court-House. They remained here during 
the eighth and ninth, exchanging frequent shots 
with the enemy, but without a heavy battle. On 
the morning of the tenth of Maj-, while the Fourth 
was supporting a battery, the enemy made a charge 
on the guns. The supports remained in the rear, 
and the first charge was repulsed by the battery 
alone. 

It was seen, however, that another and more de- 
termined charge was about to be made, and pretty 
soon the gray lines came rushing forward, sound- 
ing the well-known rebel yell. The brigade to 
which the Fourth belonged was ordered to keep 
quiet till the enemy was within about ten rods. 
Then, at the sound of the bugle, the Union line ad- 
vanced rapidly to the battery and delivered a well- 
directed volley among the advancing Confederates. 
Scores of the latter fell, killed or wounded, before 
the deadly blast, but, with redoubled yells, the sur- 
vivors rushed forward towards the coveted cannon. 
The Fourth and tlieir comrades .stood their ground, 
and for a (cw moments a fierce hantl-to-hand con- 
flict raged among the guns and caissons. In some 
instances, when bajonets were knocked off the 
rifles were clubbed and shattered on the heads of 
foemen. 

A brief experience of this kind of fighting was 
sufficient to satisfy the assailants, and very soon 
9 



the gray-conts were seen streaming back to the 
shelter of their rifle-pits. Then a counter-charge 
was ordered, and with a cheer the Union brigade 
rushed forward, capturing a large number of pris- 
oners and taking and holding the first line of the 
rebel works. This was the signal for a general 
advance along the Union lines, by which several 
thousand prisoners were captured. In the brief 
conflict of the morning the Fourth had twenty men 
killed and wounded, which was nearly ten per cent, 
of the number engaged. 

The Fourth was in the advanced lines of the Fifth 
Corps throughout the eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, 
and fourteenth days of May, a large part of the 
time being actively engaged as skirmishers. It 
also participated in a brisk conflict near Jericho 
Mills, on the North Anna River. In fact it was at 
this period engaged in fighting nearly every day 
and almost all day. On the twenty-ninth, thirtieth, 
and thirty-first days of Ma)-, and the first day of 
June it was skirmishing south of the Pamunkey 
River, and on the third of the latter month it took 
part in the capture of the enemj-'s works at Beth- 
esda Church. 

Crossing the James River, the regiment arrived 
in front of Petersburg on the si.xtecnth of June, 
and the next day was engaged in a skirmish. Its 
time expired on the nineteenth of June, and on that 
ver\' day it took part in a sharp engagement, having 
eight men killed and wounded. That evening it 
was relieved from duty and the next day embarked 
for Washington. It arrived in Detroit on the 
twenty-sixth of June, and on the thirtieth was 
mustered out of service. 

A hundred and twenty-nine of the men, how- 
ever, had re-enlisted as veterans, which, with re- 
cruits who joined after the organization, brought 
up the number of those whose time had not ex- 
pired to two hundred and eighty soldiers and three 
officers. These were assigned to duty with the 
First Michigan Infantry when the Fourth left the 
seat of war. 

Of the ten hundred and eighty-five gallant offi- 
cers and men who left Adrian in the Fourth Infantry 
for the front in June, 1 86 1, there were only two 
hundred and twenty-three on the rolls at the time 
of muster out, in addition to the one hundred and 
twenty-nine re-enlisted veterans. Of those who 
had been dropped from the rolls nearly two hun- 
dred had been killed in action or died of wounds. 
Only about fifty hail died of disease during the 
whole time, but about two hundred and fifty were 
discharged for disability. The report for 1862 is 
defective, so that we cannot give the e.xact numbers. 
During the last eight months of service onK- twelve 
had died of disease, while forty had been killed in 



66 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



action, showing that the men had become pretty 
well seasoned to the hardships of camp-Hfe. 

THE REORGANIZED FOURTH INFANTRY. 

The one hundred and twenty-nine veterans of 
the old Fourth formed but a small basis for a new 
regiment, but a determined effort was made to or- 
ganize one. The veterans were consolidated into 
two companies, and an order was issued for the 
enlistment of eight more. A camp was established 
at Adrian on the twenty-sixth of July, and Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Hall, of the old Fourth, was made 
colonel of the new organization. The work was 
completed in about two months and a half, and on 
the fourteenth of October, 1S64, the new regiment 
was mustered into service. A few men fiom this 
county were included in the reorganized Fourth. 

On the twenty-second of October the regiment 
left Adrian, proceeding to Decatur, Alabama, which 
they reached on the twenty-eighth, where their 
career was at once inaugurated by a battle with 
the forces of the rebel general Hood, who had al- 
ready attacked that town. The assailants were re- 
pulsed, the Fourth having only one man killed and 
four wounded. It was afterwards sent to Murfrees- 
boro', where it was kept on picket and guard duty 
until the middle of January, 1865. It then went to 
Huntsville, Alabama, where it was assigned to the 
Third Division, Third Brigade, Fourth Army Corps. 

In the latter part of March it was ordered to 
East Tennessee. It remained there, constantly on 
the march, about a month, when it returned to 
Nashville. It stayed at that point until the middle 
of June, when, with its corps, it was sent to New 
Orleans. It was then joined by the detachment of 
the old Fourth Infantry which had previously been 
on duty with the First. The regiment proceeded 
to Texas in July. 

The fighting was over but the service was severe; 
owing to the heat, and the scarcity and badness of 
the water, many died. The regiment was on duty 
at various points in Texas, mostly at San Antonio 
and vicinity, until May 26, 1866, when it was 
mustered out of service at Houston, in that State. 
On the tenth of June it arrived at Detroit, where 
it was paid off and disbanded. 

OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN OF THE OLD AND 
NEW FOURTH INFANTRY, FROM LIVINGSTON 

COUNTY.* 

Old Fourth — Company A'. 
Second Lieutenant James MuUoy, enlisted June 20, 1S61; resigned 
July 29, 1861. 

* Great care has been taken in transcribing tliese military lists, 
for this and other regiments, from the rolls in the Adjutant-Gen- 
eral's office, and in verifying them, when practicable, by surviving 
members of the regiment to which ihey have refeience. If, not- 



Sergeant Jon.athan S. Sharp, enlisted June 20, 1S61 ; veteran De- 
cember 29, 1S63; on detached service. 

Corporal Julius D. Smith, enlisted June 20, 1S61 ; discharged for 
disability, July 27, 1861. 

Corporal Edgar Noble, enli^ted June 20, 1861 ; veteran December 
25, 1S63; transferred to Company I new 4lh Infanti-y; dis- 
charged for dis:>bility, June 20, 1S65. 

Corporal Calvin Wilcox, enlisted June 20, 1S61; discharged for 
disability, September 20, 1861. 

Privuies. 
Lorenzo Baryan, enlisted June 20, 1S61 ; discharged for disability, 

March 3, 1862. 
Moses \V. Becker, enlisted June 20, 1861 ; mustered out at end of 

service, June 28, 1864. 
William Bennett, enlisted June 20, 1861 ; transferred to Battery 

D, 5th United States Artillery, October 5, 1862. 
Henry Boothby, enlisted June 20, 1S61 ; discharged for disabilily, 

November 14, 1S61. 
Charles H. Barlow, enlisted June 20, 1S61 ; discharged July 21, 

1863. 
Eastman G. Carpenter, enlisted June 20, 1861 ; veteran December 

25, 1863; transferred to Company C, new 4th Infantry; 

mustered out at San Antonio, Texas, February 26, 1866. 
Harrison P. Cook, enlisted June 20, 1S61 ; di--charged for dis.ability, 

July 25, 1862. 
Benjamin O. Deniing, enlisted June 20, 1861; discharged for dis- 
ability, January 6, 1S62. 
John J. Dorn, enlisted June 20, 1 861 ; died of disease, New York, 

May, 1862. 
Giles G. Doneley, enlisted June 20, 1861 ; transferred to Inv.nlid 

Corps, January 15, 1864. 
William H. Gould, enlisted June 20, 1861; mustered out at end 

of service, June 25, 1864. 
Lewis C. Giiswold, enlisted June 20, 1861 ; transferred to Battery 

D, 5ih United States Artillery, October 5, 1S62. 
Delos M. Havilnnd, enlisted June 20, 1861 ; killed in battle of 

Gaines' Mill, June 27, 1862. 
Lewis \. Ilaviland, enlisted June 20, 1S61; discharged for dis- 
abilily, January 15, 1863. 
Theodore Hodges, enlisted June 20, 1861 ; died of disease at 

Miner's Hill, Virginia, December i, 1861. 
Ira E. Holt, enlisted June 20, 1861; discharged for wounds, Feb- 
ruary II, 1863. 
Brainard T. Ide, enlisted June 20, 1861; died of disease at 

Georgetown, District of Columbia, August 23, 1S61. 
Amasa Lnmpnian, enlisted June 20, 1S61 ; discharged for disabilily, 

December 14, 1S61. 
Lawson W. Lampman, enlisted June 20, 1861 ; killed in battle at 

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1863. 
Harlow S. Mann, enlisted June 20, 1861 ; discharged for disabilily, 

June 18, 1862. 
Barney Rooney, enlisted June 20, l85l ; discharged for dis.ability, 

August 18, 1862. 
Austin T. Smith, enlisted June 20. 1861 ; died of disease, March 

9, 1863. 
John Tucker, enli>ted June 20, iS6l ; discharged for disabilily, 

August 28, 1862. 
Wells Vanzile, enlisted June 26, 1861; transferred to Invalid 

Corps, July I, 1863. 
Willis E. Waterman, Putnam; enlisted October 22, 1863; killed 

in battle of Wilderness, Virginia, May 5, 1864. 

Company D. 
Charles E. Grisson, Hamburg; enlisted June 20, 1S61 ; discharged 
at Washington, District of Columbia, October 3, 1862, to 

withstanding this, they are found (as they doubtless will be, to 
some extent) incomplete, it should be remembered that it is on 
account of the neglect of officers whose duty it was to return full 
and complete rosters to the Adjutant-General's office. 



FIFTH INFANTRY. 



67 



accept commission as second lieutenant Company E, 26th 
Michigan Infaiury. 

Company /. 
Francis M. I.umlianl, Green Oak; enlisted March 31, 1864; trans- 
ferred to Company I, new 4lh; sergeant (second lieulcnantj ; 
mustered out as sergeant, October 11, 1865. 

Company //. 
Henry Dougherty, Putnam; enlisted September 12, 1S64; died 

of disease at San Antonio, Texas, November 30, 1865. 
Daniel Hoyt, Conway ; enlisted September 7, 1S64; discharged 

for disability. May 30, 1S65. 
James Meehan, Unadilla; enlisted September 7, 1861 ; transfened 

to 3d Michigan Infantry. 
Ailam Smith, Iosco; enlisted Seplemlier 23, 1S64; discliarged for 

disability. May 18, 1S65. 
Benjamin E. Smith, Unadilla; enlisted August 16, 1S64 ; mustered 

out at Houston, Texas, May 26, 1866. 
Albert Ward, Unadilla; enlisted September 17, 1S64; corporal; 

mustered out at Houston, Texas, May 26, 1866. 
Daniel D. While, Cohoctah ; enlisted September 19, 1S64; must- 
ered out at Houston, Texas, May 26, 1S66. 



CHAPTER VII. 

FIFTH INFANTRY. 

Organization of the Fifth at Fort Wayne — The Livingston Volun- 
teers — Flag Presentation and Departure of the Regiment — 
Arrival at Washington and Advance into Virginia — Winter 
Quarters at Camp Michigan — Peninsular Campaign — Battles 
of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, and Charles City Cross-Roads — • 
Second Bull Run — Fredericksburg — Death of Lieutenant- 
Colonel Gilluly — Chancellors ville — Gelty.-.burg — Transfer of 
the Fifth to New York — Return to the Army of the Potomac — 
Mine Run — Veteran Re-enlistment and Furlough — Recruits 
from Livingston County — Return to the Front — The Wilder- 
ness Campaign — Consolidation of the Third with the Fifth — 
Spring Campaign of 1865 — Close of the War — Muster Out and 
Return Home. 

The rendezvous of the Fifth Regiment of Michi- 
gan Infanti)^ duiinij its organization was at Fort 
Wayne, Detroit, where it lay during the summer 
of 1 86 1, engaged in drill and the perfection of its 
discipline, its departure for the theatre of war being 
delayed on account of the belief which e.Kisted 
until after the disaster at Bull Run that its services 
would not be required in the field. It then became 
apparent that more forces would be needed, and 
the organization of the Fifth was hurried to com- 
pletion. It was mustered into the United States 
service for three years by Lieutenant-Colonel E. 
Backus, United States Army, on the twenty-seventh 
of August, its strength at that time being about 
nine hundred officers and enlisted men. The field 
officers of the regiment were, Colonel, Henry D. 
Terry; Lieutenant-Colonel, Samuel E. Beach; 
Major, John D. Fairbanks. 

Livingston County was represented in the Fifth 
Regiment bj' one company, distinctively known 



and mentioned as the " Livingston Company," and 
by a number of men in several of the other com- 
panies. Two years and a half later, at the time of 
its " vetcranization," it received large accessions of 
recruits from this county. 

The Livingston company, designated in the 
organization as " I" company, was mustered under 
the following-named commissioned officers, viz. : 
Captain, John Gilluly ; First Lieutenant, Hudson 
B. Blackinan ; Second Lieutenant, Charles H. 
Dennison. This was the company which has 
already been mentioned as having been recruited 
by Captain Gilluly in the last part of April and 
first part of May. It had, however, experienced 
some changes in the mean time, some of its early 
members withdrawing to join other organizations, 
and their places being supplied by other recruits. 
The following is the list of non-commissioned 
officers and privates of this company as appearing 
on the twentieth of August: 

First Sergeant, George W. Rose. 
Second Sergeant, F. W. Kimberk. 
Third Sergeant, Jabez A. Pond. 
Fourth Sergeant, Cyrenus H. Saddler. 
Fifth Sergeant, George Dudley. 
First Corporal, John Monroe. 
Second Corporal, William H. Ptillen. 
Third Corporal, William H. Bigham. 
Fourth Corporal, John Gilbert. 
Fifth Corporal, Willis H. Pratt. 
Sixth Corporal, Samuel B. Curtis. 
Seventh Corporal, William Silverwood. 
Eighth Corporal, John Stevens. 



Privates. 



Charles McNaughton. 
Stuart A. Boyd. 
Henry S. Preston. 
Henry Butler. 
Augustus R. Sewell. 
George N. Bashford. 
Albert Packins. 
William Murphy. 
Clark S. Beal. 
Bernard W. Beal. 
Edward G. Bursal. 
George S. Wincgar. 
Henry R. Goodrich. 
Milton Hitchcock. 
Volney Miller. 
Samuel Sutton. 
James L. Pettibone. 
W. H. Bab. 
Henry P. Wright. 
Paul C. G. Itscll. 



William Tenn)-. 
Charles Wendall. 
Daniel W. Morse. 
Joseph Countryman. 
William H. Babcock. 
Boyce P. Owen. 
Edgar Muir. 
ICdward Bird. 
Adolphtis Winters. 
Hiram Pcntlen. 
Conrad Srim. 
Thomas Fitzgerald. 
Warren Hunt. 
Patrick McCabe. 
James Boylan. 
George L. Placeway. 
Clinton Russell. 
Charles Abrams. 
Emerson Sowlc. 
Albertus D. Berry. 



68 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Reuben Hodge. 
Luke Woods. 
Phillip W. Hacker. 
Walter R. Ferguson. 
Lewis F. Partlon. 
John A. Grogg. 
Alfred Johnson. 
William Cole. 
William G. Knapp. 
Levi Townsend. 
George D. Sidvvay. 
George W. Pentlen. 
George W. Wells. 
Charles Graham. 
Alonzo Gushing. 
William S. Norris. 
Andrew J. Yerenton. 
Mortimer Smith. 
John S. Bennett. 
William Brown. 
George Sawyer. 
Hannibal Sawyer. 
John Sawyer. 
Lyman H. Willson. 
Gains B. xA.lsaver. 
Andrew J. Fuller. 



George H. Heille. 
Frederick Baetcke. 
Abraham P. Ackerman. 
Sylvester Smith. 
Samuel Wilco.x. 
Robert McKinley. 
Jones Hay. 
Wilson A. Fletcher. 
Wesley Van Duyn. 
John Jones. 
James S. Lane. 
John Gannon. 
Harmon Curtis. 
Philo Chubb. 
John Gardner. 
Orson A. Chandler. 
Lyman Gate. 
Alva W. Scofield. 
Charles Bosenbark. 
John Pickard. 
James McGinn. 
Henry W. Knaggs. 
Adelbert Foot. 
Henry Thompson. 
E. A. Bullard. 
John Gallatian. 



This, however, was before the muster of the 
regiment, and it is probable that a few of these 
were omitted in the muster. The list, however, 
shows who were the volunteers composing the 
company at that time. 

At an early hour in the morning of Wednesday, 
September ii, 1861, the men of the Fifth Regi- 
ment broke camp at the Fort Wayne rendezvous, 
packed their knapsacks, and prepared for depart- 
ure, which was fi.xed for the evening of that day. 
At a little before four o'clock in the afternoon the 
several companies were marched to the parade- 
ground of the fort, and there formed in line for 
the reception of a flag, — the gift of Messrs. F. 
Buhl, Newland & Co., of Detroit, — which was 
about to be presented to the regiment. Hundreds 
of spectators were there, consisting of citizens of 
Detroit and friends and relatives of the departing 
soldiers, who had come to say good-by and God- 
speed. The crowd was kept back by the unceasing 
labor of guards stationed along the line. As soon 
as the swaying to and fro of the people in the vain 
effort of each one to stand in front of the others 
had ceased. Marshal Whiting, with Mr. Frederick 
Ikihl on one side and Alderman Backus on the 
other, stepped forward, bearing the flag. Ap- 
proaching to within a few paces of Colonel Terry, 
Mr. Backus made a few well-timed remarks on 
behalf of Mr. Buhl, which were responded to by 



Colonel Terry in an appropriate manner. The 
flag, which was of heavy silk, fringed with gold, 
and surmounted by a gilded eagle, was handed to 
Sergeant Asa A. Rouse, of Company E, who had 
been designated as the color-bearer of the regi- 
ment. At the conclusion of the ceremony the 
companies were marched back to their camping- 
ground for supper, a few final preparations were 
made, and between seven and eight o'clock the 
command was marched to the river and embarked 
for Cleveland, en route for the national capital. A 
member of Captain Gilluly's company wrote back 
a descriptive account of the journey of the regi- 
ment from Detroit to Washington ; from which 
account the following extracts are given: 

" We embarked Wednesday evening, September 
I ith, on the steamer ' Ocean' for Cleveland. Our 
journey was pleasant, but rapid. As the shrill 
whistle of the steamer gave the signal for our 
departure the most intense excitement prevailed, 
and when she swung around from her moorings 
cheer after cheer arose from every deck. To the 
credit or demerit of Company I, that portion where 
they were situated came dovvnheavy on the chorus 
for our country and her flag, our homes and the 
dear ones left behind us, and was returned with 
the same spirit and enthusiasm by the numerous 
crowd that thronged the wharves to witness our 
departure. We arrived at Cleveland about three 
o'clock in the morning, where we were detained 
till nine o'clock, when we took the cars for Pitts- 
burgh. It would naturally be supposed that from 
the numerous bodies of troops that have passed 
over this road they would have stilled the ardor 
of the people along the line, but such is not the 
case. Their feelings are too deeply enlisted in 
the present cause to admit of any reaction. As 
the bell rang to warn us of our departure crowds 
of people gathered around the cars to bid the 
W'olverine boys good-by. Nor was Cleveland 
behind in giving us a warm reception. The whole 
line, as far as Pittsburgh, was lined with people of 
all grades, from the aged grandparent to the lisp- 
ing child, to see us pass. At Atwater we stopped 
to eat a few hard crackers and some tough beef 
Of course, we had whetted our teeth for the task, 
but imagine our surprise, when the train stopped, 
to behold the sidewalks lined with barrels, bo.xes, 
bags, and baskets filled to overflowing with fruits, 
pies, cakes, meats, eggs, and, in fact, all that the 
most delicate palate could crave, waiting for us. 
Yet the beauty of the whole affair was the manner 
in which those lu.xuries were distributed among 
us. It was not by the brawny hands of a slouch- 
ing cook, whose presence we had already learned 
to loathe, but by the soft, white hands of the fair 



FIFTH INFANTRY. 



69 



maidens of the village, whose generosity we shall 
ever remember till tough beef and hard crackers 
are no more. Our repast was soon over, however, 
and with three hearty cheers for the ladies of At- 
water, we arrived in Pittsburgh at nine o'clock that 
evening, where we took supper, changed cars, and 
resumed our journey for Washington by the way 
of Harrisburg. We arrived in the latter place 
between two and three o'clock the ne.xt morning. 
There we were numbered off and stowed away in 
cattle-cars of the most old and dilapidated kind ; 
in this wretched way we proceeded to Baltimore, 
where we were again furnished with good coaches. 
We arrived in Washington on Sunday morning, 
somewhat fatigued from our long journey. W^e 
remained there till night, when we received orders 
to march, — to what place we did not know. We 
were soon prepared for the journey, and after a 
march of some three or four miles we arrived at 
Meridian Hill, where we learned we were to take 
up our quarters." 

Meridian Hill is in the northwest part of the 
city of Washington, and at this place the Fifth re- 
mained until the morning of Wednesday, Septem- 
ber i8th, just one week from the day of departure 
from Detroit, when it broke camp and marched 
down through the city to the arsenal, where the 
men were furnished with indifferent Springfield 
muskets. Then the regiment moved across the 
Long Bridge into Virginia, and out to Arlington, 
where it bivouacked for the night, and on the fol- 
lowing day marched about two miles from the river 
to Hunter's Chapel, where it halted and pitched a 
camp, which was named Camp Richardson, in 
honor of Colonel Richardson, to whose brigade (of 
Heintzelman's division) it had been assigned for 
duty. On the twentj'-second, a part of the regi- 
ment, including Company I, was placed on picket, 
some two miles farther to the front. This was 
their first duty in front of the enemy, and here for 
the first time the men of the Fifth heard the crack 
of hostile rifles, and the dread whisperings of pass- 



ing bullets. 



On Saturday, September 28th, six companies of 
the regiment moved to Munson's Hill, Virginia. 
The remainder of the regiment immediately after- 
wards came up and occupied the same position, 
and to Colonel Terry's command is due the credit 
of first occup)-ing this position in the front, where 
an attack was hourly looked for, though none was 
made. At this place the regiment was without 
tents, and was engaged constantly on fatigue duty, 
felling timber, and, with the Thjrty-seventh New 
York, constructing substantial earthworks on the 
Hill. On the twelfth of October the Fifth moved 
to Hunter's Creek, two miles south of /Me.xandria, 



and the men were put on similar duty in the con- 
struction of Fort Lyon. 

The regiment remained at Fort Lyon for about 
two months, and in the early part of December 
moved about three miles farther down the Poto- 
mac, to " Camp Michigan," where the men were 
supplied with Sibley tents, and set about preparing 
themselves for comparative comfort in winter 
quarters. The enemy was immediately in front, 
though not in much force. On the first of Janu- 
ary, 1862, First Lieutenant Dennison, of Com- 
pany I, while out in command of a few men on a 
scouting expedition towards Pohick Church, fell 
into an ambush, from which a volley was fired, 
wounding the lieutenant in the face, the ball com- 
ing out just below and in front of the ear, missing 
the main artery by only the fraction of an inch. 
This was one of the first casualties of the kind in 
the experience of the regiment, but it saw blood- 
letting enough afterwards. No other member of 
the party was wounded on this occasion by the 
enemy's fire. 

The regiment was very comfortably quartered 
during the winter of 1801-62, until the general 
movement of the Army of the Potomac in ALirch. 
First came the feint of the army in the direction 
of Manassas, which was followed immediately by 
the transportation of the immense host down the 
Potomac to Fortress Monroe. The Fifth embarked 
at Alexandria, and moved with the army to the 
Peninsula, where, on the fourth of April, 1S62, it 
marched with its division towards Yorktown, ar- 
riving in front of that stronghold on the following 
day. There it remained through the four weeks' 
siege of the place, and until Sunday, the fourth of 
May, when the Union army was electrified by the 
announcement that the hostile works had been 
evacuated during the previous night, and that the 
enemy was retiring towards Richmond. The 
forces of General McClellan were at once put in 
motion to pursue, and the Fifth Michigan with its 
brigade moved from camp, on through the evacu- 
ated intrenchments at about three o'clock p.m., 
taking the road towards Williamsburg, but biv- 
ouacking for the night a short distance beyond 
Yorktown. At two o'clock in the morning of 
Monday, the fifth, the men were turned out in the 
pouring rain to prepare for marching, but the regi- 
ment did not move until about ten .\m. Then 
forward over the almost bottomless roads, which 
were clogged and blockaded by artillery, cavalry, 
and army wagons, the men of the Fifth pressed on 
towards the field where the battle had been in 
progress since the early morning. For hours they 
struggled on through the mud and rain, and as 
they approached Williamsburg the thunder of ar- 



■JO 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



tillery and the continuous roar of volleys told too 
plainly of the work on which they were about to 
enter. Order after order came from the front to 
hurry up the brigade, and about the middle of the 
afternoon the Fifth stood in line of battle, about 
five hundred strong, in front of the enemy's posi- 
tion ; the Thirty-seventh New York joining its 
line, the Third Michigan being in support of a 
battery, and the Second Michigan being held in 
reserve. 

It was not until between three and four o'clock 
that the Fifth delivered its first fire, but from that 
time it was kept up without intermission till nearly 
dark. The ammunition was then nearly exhausted, 
and the order was given to charge. It was obeyed 
with alacrity. The Fifth charged and carried the 
rifle-pits in its front, and occupied them through 
the night. The rain ceased and the sky cleared 
during the night, and the morning of the si.xth of 
May opened bright and beautiful, but the enemy 
had retreated, and was then some miles away on 
the road to Richmond. 

The Fifth Michigan at Williamsburg was in 
General Berry's Third Brigade, of Kearney's Di- 
vision. This was the regiment's first battle, and 
a wild initiation it was. It went in with about five 
hundred men, and out of this force its loss was one 
hundred and fifty-three in killed and wounded. 
The regimental list of killed, wounded, and miss- 
ing, forwarded immediately after the battle, by 
Colonel Terry, to the Detroit Tribune, embraced 
the following names of members of the Livingston 
Company, commanded by Captain Gilluly, viz. : 

Killed. 
Sergeant J. Ashley Pond, of Howell. 
Albert Peckens, of Howell. 
Samuel Sutton, of Howell. 
John Sawyer, of Green Oak. 
Merritt F. Pullen, of Howell. 

Wounded. 
Sergeant John N. Monroe, of Brighton. 
Corporal James S. Lane, of South Lyon. 

John W. Gilbert, of Howell. 
Private Wm. Johnson, of Green Oak. 
" Levi Townsend, of Kensington. 
" James McGinn, of Brighton. 

S. A. Boyd, of Marion. 
" Luke Woods, of Green Oak. 

Philo P. Chubb, of Marion. 
" Gager D. Ross, of Marion.* 
" Augustus R. Sewell, of Marion. 
" L}'man A. WiUson, of Brighton. 
" Walter R. Ferguson, of Brighton. 

* Died of wounds. 



Private Joseph Countryman, of Marion. 
" George S. Winegar, of Marion. 

Missing. 

Private Samuel Pennell. 
" John G. Gallatian. 

A. Winters. 
" Warren Hunt. 
" Charles Thayer. 
" J. McCarren. 

The list, being an official one, is doubtless cor- 
rect, though it is possible that it may not be en- 
tirely so, as it was made amid the excitement and 
turmoil of the battle-field. 

The heroism of the Fifth, and its companion 
regiments of the brigade, at Williamsburg, is at- 
tested by the following order of the brigade com- 
mander, General Berry, as follows : 

"SPECIAL ORDER. 

" Heaikjuarters Third Brigade, Kearney Division. 

"Williamsburg Battle-Field, May 8, 1S62. 

"The commander of the brigade takes great pleasure 
in making this official communication to his command: 
That they, by heroic fortitude, on Monday last, by 
making a forced march through mud and rain, each 
vying with the other to see who could most cheerfully 
stand the hardships the time called for, making thereby 
a march that others shrank from, coming into a fight at 
double-quick, made doubtful to our side by the over- 
whelming mass of the enemy poured upon our centre, 
by a rapid deploy and quick formation, and by cool- 
ness, precision, and energy, beat back the enemy, re- 
capturing our lost position and artillery, and also by a 
heroic charge took a stronghold of the enemy, and 
thereby dislodged him, and drove him on the plain 
beyond his well-chosen position, have done themselves 
great honor, have honored the States of Michigan and 
New York, and have won a name in history that the 
most ambitious might be proud of. 

"R. G. Berry, 
^^ Brigadier- General Com. Third Brigade.^' 

In the advance from Williamsburg, the P'ifth 
moved with its brigade up to and across the 
Chickahominy, and took its place in the lines con- 
fronting Richmond. Again, on the thirty-first of 
May, it fought in the battle of Fair Oaks, and 
again it suffered terribly ; its loss in killed and 
wounded being one hundred and forty-nine, out of 
about three hundred men who entered the fight, — 
this being proportionately much greater than its 
loss at Williamsburg. 

During the Seven Days' battles which accom- 
panied the " change of base," or, more properly, 
the retreat of the army from the Chickahominy to 
the James, the Fifth Michigan fought bravely 



FIFTH INFANTRY. 



71 



at Charles City Cross-Roads, losing thirty-three 
killed and wounded, and eighteen missing. It was 
also engaged at Malvern Hill, July 1st, with slight 
loss. After the evacuation of Harrison's Landing, 
the regiment was moved with its command and 
other troops up the Potomac, and thence to the 
succor of the sorely-pressed Army of Virginia, 
under General Pope. In this duty it was engaged, 
but without severe loss, at Manassas, August 30th, 
and at Chantilly (where the gallant Kearney lost 
his life), on the second of September. 

Later in the fall, when the Arm)' of the Potomac, 
under its new commander (General Burnside), 
marched towards Fredericksburg, the Fifth Michi- 
gan, as a part of the force, marched from Lees- 
burg, Virginia, on the first of November, moved 
down the Rappahannock, and encamped on the 
left bank of that stream, near Falmouth, on the 
twenty-fifth. When the operations were com- 
menced against the strong position of the enemy 
on the heights of Fredericksburg, and the attack- 
ing column crossed the river on the twelfth of 
December, the regiment went over with its brigade 
and the other commands of the army, and took 
gallant part in the disastrous battle of the thir- 
teenth, in which it lost its brave commanding offi- 
cer, Lieutenant-Colonel John Gilluly, of Livingston 
County, the original captain of Company I. The 
story of how the regiment fought on that bloody 
day is briefly told in the following report, made by 
Major Sherlock, who assumed command when 
Colonel Gilluly fell : 

"Headquarters Fifth Michigan Volunteers. 

"Bivouac on the Battle- Field, Decemlier 15th. 

" Captain Wilson, A. A. A. General,- 

" Sir, — In accordance with a circular from head- 
quarters, I have the honor to submit the following re- 
port of the part which this regiment sustained in the 
action of the tliirteenth instant. The regiment, under 
command of Lieutenant-Colonel John Gilluly, came 
upon the field at lialf-past one o'clock, and, after shift- 
ing from place to place, occupying different positions, 
constantly exposed to a furious fire of shot and shell, 
was at lengtli detailed to support Randolph's battery, 
whicli was in rather a precarious situation, on accouut 
of the failing back of some regiments thrown out in 
front of it. At this juncture the regiment was ordered 
forward, and opened an effective fire upon the enemy, 
who were sheltered by a brusli fence, and after a brisk 
conflict drove them back into the woods. 

"Lieutenant-Colonel Gilluly fell mortally wounded 
while cheering on the men, and I assumed command. 
The regiment remained upon the scene of action till 
evening, wlien the First New York relieved us, and we 
retired in perfect order, carrying with us our dead and 
wounded. The regiment numbered two hundred and 



seventy-two rank and file, and our loss is nine killed 
and seventy-four wounded. 

"The officers and men behaved nobly throughout 
the short but sharp conflict, and it would be an act of 
injustice to particularize where all demeaned themselves 
so well ; yet I cannot forbear mentioning Color-Ser- 
geant Bergher, who stood up bravely, waving the colors 
defiantly in the face of the foe. 

" I am, very respectfully, 

" Your obedient servant, 

" R. T. Sherlock, 
"Major Commanding Fifth Michigan Infantry.'" 

The regiment recrossed the river from the battle- 
field, and returned to its old camp, on the fifteenth 
of December. In January it took part in the his- 
torical " mud march" up the Rappahannock to 
Banks' Ford, and, on the abandonment of that ex- 
pedition, returned again to its camp at Falmouth, 
where it remained through the remainder of the 
winter. 

When the spring campaign opened under the new 
commander of the army, General Hooker, the Fifth 
moved up the Rappahannock, crossed the river on 
the first of May, was engaged at the Cedars on 
the second, and took part in the great battle of 
Chancellorsville on the third, where it again lost 
its commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Sher- 
lock, killed in action. The loss of the regiment 
in the engagements of the second and third was 
seven killed, forty -three wounded, and thirt\'-one 
missing. On the si.xth of May it recrossed the 
river to the north bank, and, marching twenty- 
eight miles in twelve hours, reoccupied its winter 
quarters at Falmouth. 

Early in June it became known that the enemy 
under General Lee was marching to the invasion 
of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and the Arm)- of 
the Potomac was put in motion to intercept him. 
On the eleventh of that month the Fifth Michigan 
moved northward with the column, and in that 
day marched eighteen miles in seven hours. On 
the following day the same distance was made 
through intolerable heat and dust in si.K hours. 
The march was exceedingly rapid and laborious 
through all the distance. On the twenty-fifth of 
June the regiment marched twenty-eight miles in 
eleven hours, though the day was excessively 
sultry ; and on the second of July, when approach- 
ing Gettysburg, being pressed to its utmost, it 
moved ten miles in three hours, and arrived on 
the battle-field at four o'clock I'.M. It immediately 
became engaged, and in one hour's fight lost one 
hundred and five men. During the succeeding 
two days it was on picket and other duty, and 
only slightly engaged. Its total loss at Getty-s- 
burg was nineteen killed, ninety woumlcd, and five 



72 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



missing. It moved from Gettysburg with other 
troops, in pursuit of tlie retiring enemy, to Wil- 
Hamsport, on the upper Potomac, and afterwards 
— the pursuit liaving been abandoned — marched 
down the river to Berlin, crossed from tliat point 
to Virginia, and moved by way of Manassas Gap 
to a beautiful camp at Fauquier White Sulphur 
Springs, where, and in that vicinity, it remained 
until the sixteenth of August, when orders were 
received for the Fifth and Third Michigan Regi- 
ments to report at Ale.xandria, Virginia. The 
movement ordered was a mysterious one, and all 
kinds of surmises were indulged in by officers and 
men as to their probable ultimate destination. 

Moving, in accordance with this order, to Alex- 
andria, the Fifth embarked at that place, on the 
twenty-second of August, on board the ocean 
steamer " Baltic," which had also on board four 
other regiments of the Ohio Brigade, to which the 
Fifth Michigan was at that time temporarily at- 
tached. The ship moved down the Potomac early 
in the morning of the twenty-third, but had only 
proceeded as far as Matthias' Point when she 
grounded on a sand-bar, and remained fast in 
that position for four days. By removing the 
anchor, three hundred tons of coal, and two regi- 
ments, and with the assistance of five tug-boats, 
she at last got afloat, and moved down the river 
through Chesapeake Bay to the ocean, and turned 
northward towards her destination (which was the 
city of New York) and arrived there on the thirtieth. 
The troops, which had been sent here to assist in 
quelling the draft riots, if necessary, were disem- 
barked on Governor's Island. The Third Michigan 
Regiment had preceded the Fifth by another vessel, 
and these two regiments were immediately ordered 
to proceed up the Hudson River to Troy. They 
embarked at once on a river steamer, reaching 
Troy the next morning. They were first quar- 
tered at the armor)', a day or two later at the 
court-house, and finally, on the fifth of September, 
were removed to the Fair-Grounds. The Trojans 
were very much surprised at seeing two Michigan 
regiments on their streets, but they received them 
most hospitably, so that the men of the Fifth 
counted their stay at Troy among the most pleas- 
ant of all their war e.xperiences. No duty beyond 
that of the camp- and drill-ground was required of 
the regiment during its sojourn at Troy, and, the 
necessity for its presence there having passed, it 
left on Sunday evening, September 13th, for New 
York by steamer, and, arriving there in the fol- 
lowing morning, left immediately by railroad for 
Washington, under orders to rejoin the Army of 
the Potomac. It arrived in Washington in the 
night of September 15th, and three days later 



proceeded to Ale.xandria, whence, after a stop of 
one day, it was moved to Culpeper Station, and 
from there marched to the camp of its old brigade, 
which was located near by. The brigade was the 
Third, of the First Division, Third Corps, Army 
of the Potomac. 

The Fifth moved on the seventh of November 
to the Rappahannock River, crossed at Kelly's 
Ford, and soon after moved to near Brandy Sta- 
tion, occupying a deserted camp of the enemy. 
On the twenty-sixth it crossed the Rapidan with 
the forces which were moving to Mine Run. 
Taking part in that e.xpedition, it was engaged at 
Locust Grove on the twenty-seventh, and there 
lost several killed and wounded. It reached the 
front of the enemy's works at Mine Run, where 
for thirty-si.x hours it remained in support of a 
battery. From Mine Run the Fifth fell back with 
the army, and again occupied its camp at Brandy 
Station, which became its winter quarters until the 
twenty-eighth, when (the requisite number of re- 
enlistments having been obtained) it left for Michi- 
gan, on veteran furlough. It arrived on the fourth 
of January at Detroit, which was designated as 
the rendezvous, and then the members entered 
upon a brief period of freedom and enjoyment 
with their families and friends. 

During its stay in Michigan, the regiment was 
considerably augmented by accessions of recruits, 
among whom were a large number from Living- 
ston County. In December, 1863, in anticipation 
of its return on veteran furlough, Mr. Andrew D. 
Waddell and Fred. E. Angel, of Howell, and S. T. 
Lyon, of Marion, commenced the raising of men 
in Howell and vicinity, for the purpose of joining 
the famous Fifth on its return to the field. Enlist- 
ments at that time were hard to obtain, and Mr. 
Waddell was assured by several that his efforts 
would be vain, but they persevered, and long be- 
fore the regiment was ready to return, these gen- 
tlemen had obtained more than enough men for a 
full company. On account of the decimated con- 
dition of the regiment, however, it was considered 
most expedient to distribute these new men among 
•the several companies, rather than to keep them 
together, and this course was accordingly pursued, 
although it had been the expectation of most of 
the men to be placed in the Livingston company 
(I), formerly commanded by Captain Gilluly. The 
recruits raised by Mr. Waddell were taken to Pon- 
tiac, where they were examined and accepted, and 
they joined the regiment about the first of Feb- 
ruary, 1864. The names of the men raised by 
Messrs. Waddell and Angel, and mustered into 
the service for the Fifth Regiment, were the fol- 
loAvincr : 



FIFTH INFANTRY. 



73 



William Cooper. 
James Canficld. 
Philo Curtis. 
Cliarles Culver. 
Amos Smith. 
W. H. Curtis. 
David Robinson. 
Thomas Marr. 
Noah Boothby. 
Frederick Zeitz. 
Chester Albright. 
George Newton. 
Charles H. Smith. 
A. J. Carl. 
W. L. Whited. 
Isaac Felter. 
H. E. Glover. 
Ezra Whitaker. 
Frank Jordan. 
Ed. Ware. 
Andrew Wall. 
George Pennell. 
William Brooks. 
E. H. Smith. 
Asa Wilson. 
C. L. Carpenter. 
A. J. Allen. 
J. Cummings. 
W. J. Barrett. 
George Barnard. 
W. S. Sharp. 
A. Gundling. 
H. Phelps. 



Charles Neely. 

W. Cooper, Jr. 

H. Carl. 

John Hildebrant. 

M. Hart. 

H. Pate. 

J. Root. 

S. P. Lord. 

John Wehnes. 

C. B. Whitaker. 
J. M. Ross. 

D. H. Smith. 
G. H. Cooper. 
O. S. Bentley. 

C. Haines. 
R. Waldron. 
J. Sawyer. 

E. H. Hart. 

D. Lord. 
H. Boen. 

E. R. Brockway. 
A. J. Whitaker. 
George Young. 
W. G. Clayton. 
A. J. Wells. 

J. G. Phillips. 
E. Lansing. 
G. W. Axtell. 
Sydney Carpenter. 
Peter Woll. 
Charles Hildebrant. 
George Bronnar. 



Mr. Waddcll was commissioned first lieutenant 
of Company I, and remained with that company 
until mustered out in June, 1864, by reason of the 
consolidation of the Third and Fifth Regiments. 
After the war he was a member of the Fifth Mich- 
igan Veteran Volunteer Infantry Association, and 
was president of that association in 1877 and 1878. 
Mr. Angel was commissioned second lieutenant of 
Company I, and remained with it until mustered 
out on account of the consolidation. Mr. S. T. 
Lyon was commissioned second lieutenant in the 
Fifth, promoted to first lieutenant June 10, 1864, 
and to captain September 15th, in the same year. 
He remained with the regiment through the cam- 
paigns of 1864 and 1865, and until the time of its 
muster out and disbandment. 

On the tenth of February the Fifth Regiment, 
composed of veterans and recruits, left Detroit on 
its return to the Army of the Potomac. An ac- 
count of its return, and of events following, until 
the opening of the campaign of the Wilderness in 
May, 1864, is given by a member of the regiment, 
10 



— Mr. A. K. Sweet, of Detroit, — in the following 
words : 

"We arrived in Washington on the thirteenth, 
and remained until the seventeenth, when we left 
for the front. Arrived at Brandy Station in the 
afternoon of the same day, and at once proceeded 
to camp, a distance some four miles northwest 
from the town. The day was bitter cold, and the 
wind, as it blew full in our faces from off the snow- 
covered peaks of the Blue Ridge, seemed to chill 
us to the very marrow in our bones. It was nearly 
sunset when we reached the spot selected for our 
camp. The prospect was anything but cheerful. 
No comfortable huts, such as we had occupied 
before leaving for home ; only the frozen ground 
for a bed, and on this, with only our blankets for 
a protection against the chilling blast, we passed 
the night, — a night as cold as any February night 
in Michigan. 

" This first taste of soldiering was rather rough 
on our new recruits, fully two-thirds of whom were 
without blankets or overcoats, having been unable 
to obtain a complete outfit before leaving De- 
troit. . . . 

" The next day, towards evening, the First 
United States Sharpshooters sent over and re- 
moved our sick to their camp, where they could 
have proper hospital accommodation, and on the 
following morning they supplemented this act of 
kindness by sending us fifteen axes with which to 
assist us in the construction of our huts. The 
axes were very opportune, as we did not have a 
dozen in the entire regiment. 

" Favors like these, though they may not appear 
large when recited, yet coming at a time when 
sorely needed, they made a warm spot, which 
never quite grew cold in our hearts for the gallant 
Boys in Green. 

"In a few days we had our huts constructed, 
and were in tolerably comfortable winter quarters. 

" On the first and second of March the regi- 
ment participated in a reconnoissance by the First 
Division of the corps on the left of the rebel posi- 
tion, to create a diversion in favor of Kilpatrick, 
who was just starting on his famous raid, passing 
around the rear of the rebel army, and up to the 
very gates of Richmond. The weather was ex- 
tremely disagreeable. A heavy rain falling most 
of the time, and freezing as it came, covered every- 
thing with a glaze of ice, and rendered the march 
heavy and difficult, and bivouac cheerless and 
cold. The movement being merely a feint to 
divert the enemy's attention, no fighting occurred, 
and little of incident happened worthy of record. 
On the third, about noon, the regiment returned 
to camp, wet, tired, and hungry. They had barely 



74 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



iinslung their knapsacks, when an order came call- 
ing for a detail of one hundred and eighty men 
and seven officers, for picket duty. The luckless 
ones whose fortune it was to be detailed, had just 
time to cook their coffee and draw an extra supply 
of rations, before they had to sling knapsacks and 
light out again. The recruits by this time came 
to the conclusion that soldiering meant business, 
and a plenty of it. The detail, however, was re- 
lieved the ne.xt morning, and returned to camp. 

" Towards the last of March a general order was 
issued dissolving the First and Third Corps, and 
consolidating the troops with those of the Second, 
Fifth, and Si.xth Corps. The First and Second 
Divisions of the Third Corps were transferred to 
the Second Corps, and consolidated and constituted 
the Third Division. The Third Division of the 
corps was transferred to the Sixth Corps. Thus 
was wiped out of existence the gallant old Third 
Corps, with which our fortunes had so long been 
associated, and of which we formed a part. Its 
glorious name, which we in some small degree 
had helped to make illustrious, and in which we 
justly felt a soldier's pride, became one of the 
things that were. The corps had long been a 
mere skeleton of its former self The old Third 
Division had been consolidated with the First and 
Second, immediately after the battle of Gettysburg, 
and a new division of ten thousand fresh troops, 
under command of General French, added. The 
old commanders of heroic fame, whom the men 
had learned to love and respect, had gone, and a 
stranger filled the place of command made glorious 
by Heintzelman and Hooker. Still the glorious 
associations that clustered around the name gave 
it a tender place in our hearts, and when at last its 
death-knell struck, and the men so long associated 
in a common history of the toil and triumph sepa- 
rated to their various destinations, many a brave 
fellow felt a twinge of sorrow and pain like that 
which pierces the heart as we stand at the grave 
of a friend, and the cold clods of the valley close 
over the dear face and shut it from our sight for- 
ever. . . . 

" On the thirty-first of March we broke camp 
and marched to the south side of the railroad in 
the vicinity of Brandy Station, and took up our 
new quarters in the Second Brigade, Third Division, 
and Second Corps. The men were allowed to 
retain the diamond badge, — a deference to their 
feelings which was thankfully appreciated. The 
sense of pain and disgrace slowly passed away as 
we became better acquainted with our new com- 
panions in arms, for they were as fine a corps of 
men as the Army of the Potomac or any other in 
the world coyld boast, and we were now under 



command of a general of brilliant abilities and 
most intrepid bravery. General W. S. Hancock. 
General D. B. Birney, our old brigade and division 
commander, was in command of the division. We 
soon began to feel at home in our new relations, 
and with the old red diamond to remind us of the 
glorious past, we were soon ready as ever to do 
and dare for the honor of the old flag and the suc- 
cess of the common cause. 

"... Towards the last of April nature had 
begun to spread her rich garniture of green over 
hill and plain, and soft gales from Southland fanned 
us with the first delicious breath of spring. The 
warm sunshine, as May approached, soon dried up 
the mud from the spring rains, and the roads were 
once more in a condition for the movement of 
army trains. On every hand the sure indications 
of an early opening of field operations were appa- 
rent. A few days of bustle and preparation and 
the last finishing touches are complete. A week 
of comparative quiet followed, like the lull that 
precedes the bursting of the storm, and then, on 
the evening of the 3d of May, the first move in 
what will go down to history as the great cam- 
paign of the war commenced. No drum-beat or 
bugle-note sounds a warning, but silently as spec- 
tres in a dream, regiments, brigades, and divisions 
leave their camps and fall into line. Already the 
vanguard is on the march, and the dull tramp, 
tramp, comes from out the darkness mingled with 
the low rumbling of the artillery and baggage 
trains. Tiie camp-fires, as they light up the scene 
with their fitful glare, reveal the faces of the men 
as they stand leaning on their guns awaiting their 
turn to fall into the line of march. They have 
little time to wait, for everything moves with clock- 
like precision, and the long lines follow each other 
in quick succession and disappear in the darkness, 
until at last what was a few hours before a vast 
city of snowy tents, with streets thronging with 
busy life, is now one vast tenantless expanse of 
smouldering camp-fires, over which broods the 
midnight stillness, unbroken save by the echoes 
that come fainter and fainter from the distant foot- 
steps of the receding hosts. 

" Tlie morning finds us still on the march and 
ncaring the Rapidan, which we cross without op- 
position at Ely's Ford, about nine a.m. We rest half 
an hour on the heights beyond, from which we 
enjoy a fine view of the surrounding country, — a 
picturesque succession of hill and plain, with its 
distant background of mountains against the 
western horizon. 

" The men, having marched all night with only a 
short respite at sunrise for coffee and " hard tack," 
begin to feel the need of rest and sleep. But the 



FIFTH INFANTRY. 



75 



march is soon resumed and piislied forward at a 
rapid pace. The weather was uncommonl}' hot 
for the time of year, and the narrow forest-roads, 
walled in on either side by a dense undergrowth, 
afforded scarce a breath of cooling air. It was the 
first march of the season, and the men had not 
become hardened to fatigue by exposure. But 
tired, sleepy, and footsore, we hobbled on as best 
we could until about two p.m., when wo arrived on 
the okl battle-ground of ChancellorsviUeand halted 
for the rest of the day. 

"How familiar looks every object around I 
There is the old Chancellorsville House, where 
General Hooker had his headquarters. But only 
the roofless, blackened walls remain ; the rest was 
destroyed by fire during the battle. Farther on is 
the little country cemetery, with its white fence 
and the white farm-house standing near, around 
which raged the fiercest tide of battle on that 
lovely Sabbath morning in May. There is the 
field hard by where the regiment lay for two hours 
or more the target for a rebel battery. Just across 
that low swale, a little to the left, is the open field 
where that battery stood, and on which, the night 
before, Birney's division formed for the midnight 
charge; and there, too, is the thick liedge of 
cedars bordering the field, through which we tore 
our way to the charge, making night hideous with 
yell and whoop and wild uproar, as if Pandemo- 
nium had turned loose all its fiends at once. 

" There is the old rifle-pit along the edge of the 
swale still standing, and the narrow belt of open 
timber between it and the plank- road, where the 
regiment rallied after the uproar had subsided, and, 
in blissful ignorance of our imminent danger, 
passed the remainder of the night in sleep. And 
here on the same ground and almost the identical 
spot we again bivouac for the night." 

The men of the Fifth had started on the cam- 
paign each carrj'ing five days' rations, and si.xty 
rounds of ammunition. In tiic morning of the 
fifth of May the regiment left its bivouac at Chan- 
cellorsville, and moved on the road leading to 
Orange Court-House. The enemy was met, and 
a desperate battle ensued. On the morning of 
the si.xth the regiment was again engaged, making 
a successful charge on the rebel works, and suffer- 
ing, in this as in the fight of the previous day, a 
heavy loss in killed and wounded. An idea of the 
work done then by the- Fifth may be had from the 
fact that of the twenty-six men of Company I who 
entered the fight on the fifth, seventeen were killed 
or wounded. A list of the killed and wounded of 
that coinpan\- on the fifth and morning of the 
si.\th was taken on the field by Lieutenant W'ad- 
dell, and is as follows: 



Philo Curtis. George W. Cooper. 

C. Hoynes. Henry Carl. 
Joseph Pruden, Jr. 

Wounded. 

William Cooper. A. J. Whitaker. 

William L. Whited. F. Zeitz. 

Noah Boothby. David Robinson. 

Julius H. Root. Charles B. Whitaker. 

Ezra Whitaker. Isaac Felter. 

Chester Albright.* O. S. Bentley. 

John M. Ross. George Barnard. 

Charles Culver. James Canfield. 

Alissi/ij;:. 
Richard Sharp. 

The Fifth was again engaged with the enemy 
on the eighth of May, and lay under a heavy artil- 
lery fire until noon of the tenth. It fought again 
on the eleventh, and (with the remnant of the 
Third Michigan, which was acting with it) took 
part in the charge on the enemy's works at Spott- 
sylvania Court-House on the twelfth. In this 
charge it captured two stands of the rebel colors. 

From Spottsylvania it moved forward by forced 
marches, and, on the twenty-third of May, took 
part in the assault of the works on the north bank 
of the North Anna River, at Jericho Bridge ; the 
regiment carried them, captured a number of pris- 
oners, and drove the rebel force across the river. 
In the afternoon of the twenty-fourth the regi- 
ment crossed the river under a very heavy artil- 
lery fire, and again drove the enemy from his 
position. On the twenty-seventh it recrossed 
the North Anna and marched to the Pamunkey 
River, which it crossed the same day. From the 
twenty-eighth to the thirt\--first of May the wearied 
and hungry men worked day and night throwing 
up fortifications, and, on the latter date, the regi- 
ment took part in a charge upf)n a line of works, 
which they gallantly carried. Marching from the 
Pamunkey, it reached Cold Harbor on the fifth of 
June, and immediately commenced the erection of 
earthworks. It remained here a week, and, du- 
ring that time, the Third Michigan Infantry (bav- 
ins become reduced to a mere skeleton, and the 
term of service of a large part of its men having 
e.xpired) was consolidated with the Fifth under the 
following field-order of the corps commander, viz. : 

" Hi:\i)QUARrKRS Shcond Akmy Corps, 
"June lo, i86.). 

' ' Sjyecid/ Orders. 

(Extract.) 

"The term of service of the Third Micliigan Volun- 
teers having expired, that regiment, with tlie exception 

*\Voiin(K<l severclv in neck. Missin' and never heard from. 



1(> 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



of re-enlisted men or such as have joined since date of 
original organization, and such officers as are hereafter 
designated to be retained, will at once proceed to 
Michigan, and report to the Superintendent of Re- 
cruiting for that State, for the purjjose of being dis- 
charged. Descriptive lists must accompany all men 
sent home. The remaining officers and men of the 
regiment will be formed into a battalion of four com- 
panies, to be attached to the Fifth Michigan Veteran 
Volunteers, which regiment will beat once consolidated 
into si.x companies, — and all officers not hereinafter 
designated to be retained will be mustered out of ser- 
vice. The following officers will be retained in the 
above organization : 

"Third Michigan Regiment. — Colonel B. R. Pierce, 
Captain Simon Brennan, Captain Daniel S. Root, 
Captain Thomas Tate, Lieutenant Daniel Converse, 
Lieutenant John F. McGinley, First Lieutenant Jerome 
B. Ten Eyck, First Lieutenant Charles A. Price. 

" Fifth Michigan Hegiment. — Major S. S. Matthews, 
Surgeon Henry F. Lyster, Assistant-Surgeon P. B. Ross, 
Adjutant George W. Waldron, Regimental Quarter- 
master Hudson B. Blackman, Captain William Waken- 
shaw, Captain Charles AL Gregory, Captain James W. 
Colville, Captain Amos A. Rouse, Captain Edgar H. 
Shook, Captain James O. Gunsally, First Lieutenant 
Walter Knox, First Lieutenant John Braden, First 
Lieutenant Andrew Hamlin, Second Lieutenant George 
B. Dudley, Second Lieutenant S. S. Lyon. 

"This order is subject to the approval of higher 
authority. 

"By command of Major-General Hancock. 

(Signed) " Franxis A. Walker, 

' ' Assistant Adjutant- General. ' ' 

The order was confirmed by the War Depart- 
ment on the thirteenth of June. By its operation 
some of the officers of the regiment, belonging to 
Livingston County, were necessarily mustered out 
of the service. 

The Fifth left Cold Harbor June I2th, crossed 
the Chickahominy at Long Bridge on the same 
day, reached and crossed the James River on the 
fourteenth, and arrived in front of Petersburg late 
in the night of the fifteenth. On the following day, 
towards evening, it was engaged with the enemy, 
and carried the assaulted line of works. 

During all the memorable but monotonous siege 
of Petersburg, from the time when the regiment 
reached the front of that stronghold until the close 
of the great drama of tlie Rebellion, the service of 
the Fifth Michigan embraced a series of move- 
ments, changes of position, labors on fortifications, 
picket and railroad duty, life in the trenches, march- 
ings, skirmishings, and battles, which it would be 
too tedious to follow or to enumerate. In its 
assaults upon the works in front of Petersburg, 
during the campaign of 1864, its loss was fifteen 



killed, fifty-two wounded, and nineteen missing, — 
total, eighty-si.K. It fought at Deep Bottom, July 
27th, 28th, with a loss of twelve wounded, and at 
Boydton Plank-Road, October 27th, losing nine 
killed, fifty-two wounded, and forty-three missing. 
It was also engaged at Strawberry Plains, August 
14th to 17th, and at Poplar Spring Church on the 
thirtieth of September. During the year follow- 
ing the commencement of the Mine Run expedi- 
tion, in November, 1863, the total loss of the regi- 
ment, in killed, wounded, and missing, was five 
hundred and forty-nine. 

From October, 1S64, to the middle of January, 
1865, the Fifth occupied Fort Davis, in tiie front 
line of works at Petersburg. On the fifteenth of 
January it formed a part of the force with which 
General Warren made his raid southward to the 
Weldon Railroad ; and after its return from that e.K- 
pedition, was posted for about two weeks at Hum- 
phrey's Station, and then moved back to the front 
of Petersburg, and remained there until the twenty- 
fifth of March, when it moved with other forces to 
Hatcher's Run, and took part in the assault on 
the works at that place, sustaining the weight of a 
heavy engagement for four hours. In the final as- 
sault on Petersburg the Fifth took part, and is said 
to have been the first to plant its colors on the 
captured works. On the si.xth of April, the regi- 
ment with its brigade attacked the retreatinrr 
enemy at Sailor's Creek, and captured a stand of 
colors and a large number of prisoners. The 
enemy being followed closely by the brigade on 
the seventh and eighth of April, the Fifth Regi- 
ment, acting as flankers and skirmishers, became 
engaged at New Store, but with slight loss. And 
finally, on the ninth, it was present in the front, in 
line of battle, at the surrender of the Confederate 
army by General Lee. It lay at Glover Hill, near 
the place of surrender, until the thirteenth, when it 
moved back to Burkeville, and on the first of May 
started on the march to Washington by way of 
Richmond. 

The regiment took its place in the great review 
of the Army of the Potomac, at Washington, May 
23d, and remained in the vicinity of the city until 
June loth, when it left for the West, proceeding 
by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to Park- 
ersburg, West Virginia, and thence by steamer on 
the Ohio to Louisville, which place it reached on 
the fourteenth. Moving to Jeffersonville, on the 
north side of the Ohio, it remained there until July 
4th, when it was mustered out of the service as a 
regiment, and on the sixth left by railroad for De- 
troit, where it arrived on the eighth, and where, 
on the seventeenth of July, 1865, the men of the 
Fighting Fifth received their pay and discharge. 



FIFTH INFANTRY. 



11 



MEMBERS OF THE FIFTH REGIMENT, FROM LIV- 
INGSTON COUNTY. 

Field and Staff. 

Lieutennnl-Colonel John GiUiily, liris^liton, captain, August 28, 
1861 ; killed in action at Fredericksburg, Virginia, Decem- 
ber 13, 1862. 

Quartermaster Hudson B. Blackman, Howell, lieutenant, August 
28, 1861 ; mustered out at end of service, August 28, 1864; 
appointed captain and assistant quartermaster, United States 
Army. 

Sergeant-Major George P. Dudley, Brighton, promoted to second 
lieutenant, Company A, November 17, 1S62. 

Cofiipaiiy A. 
Second Lieutenant George P. Dudley, Brighton, November 17, 
1862; promoted to tirst lieutenant, July 4, 1S63. 

Company F. 
Corporal James Darling, enlisted August 28, 1861 ; December 12, 

1863, sergeant; transferred to Company D, June 10, 1S64; 

veteran. 

Company I. 
Captain John Gilluly, Brighton, commissioned August 27, 1861 ; 

promoted to lieutenant-colonel, July 18, 1S62. 
First Lieutenant Hudson B. Blackman, Howell, commissioned 

August 27, 1861 ; a|ipointed first lieutenant and regimental 

quartermaster, June 19, 1861. 
First Lieutenant Charles H. Dennison, Brighton, commissioned 

.September 4, 1861 ; resigned March 6, 1862; was second 

lieutenant August 27, 1861 ; promoted to first lieutenant. 
First Lieutenant Andrew D. Waddell, Howell, February i, 1864 ; 

mustered out June 9, 1864, by consolidation of the 5lh and 

3d Regiments. 
Second Lieutenant Fred. W. Kimberk, Brighton, resigned May 

27, 1862. 
Second Lieutenant George W. Rose, Brighton, May 28, 1862; 

promoted to first lieutenant. Company 15, July 22, 1862. 
Second Lieutenant John H. Stevens, Hartland, June 22, 1862; 

promoted to first lieutenant. Company K, January 25, 1863. 
Second Lieutenant Fred. E. Angel, Howell, enlisted February i, 

1864; mustered out June 9, 1864. 
Sergeant George \V. Rose, Brighton, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; 

promoted to second lieutenant. May 28, 1862. 
Sergeant Fred. W. Kimberk, Brighton, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; 

promoted to second lieutenant, June 19, 1S61. 
Sergeant J. Ashley Pond, Howell, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; killed 

in action at Williamsburg, Virginia, May 5, 1S62. 
Sergeant Cyrenus II. Saddler, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; dis- 
charged for disability, November 3, 1862. 
Sergeant George P. Dudley, Brighton, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; 

promoted to sergeant-major, September 17, 1862. 
Corporal John Monroe, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; died of wounds, 

at p'ortress Monroe, May 27, 1862. 
Corporal William H. Pullen, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; transferred 

to Company B. 
Corporal William II. Bingham, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; dis- 
charged for disability, September 24, 1862. 
Corporal John V. Gilbert, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; discharged 

for disability. 
Corporal John H. Stevens, Hartland, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; 

promoted to second lieutenant, June 22, 1862. 

Privates. 
Charles Abrams, Brighton, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; veteran, 

December 15, 1863; corporal; transferred to Company C; 

mustered out at Detroit, July 10, 1865. 
Abraham P. Ackerman, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; transferred to 

Company C ; killed in action at New Market, Virginia, June 

I, 1864. 



Gains B. Ollsaver, Hamburg, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; discharged 
for disability, January 6, 1863. 

Andrew J. Allen, Marion, enlisted December 14, 1S63; trans- 
ferred to Company C ; mustere<l out at Jeffersonville, Indiana, 
July 5, 1865. 

Charles Busenbark, Hamburg, enlisted August 27, 1863; veteran, 
December 15, 1863; transferred to Company C ; absent, sick; 
not mustered out with company. 

James Boylan, Genoa, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; veteran, Febru- 
ary 27, 1864; transferred to Company B and Company C; 
mustered out July 5, 1865 ; sergeant. 

Barnard W. Beal, enlisted August 27, :86i ; discharged for dis- 
ability, .September 28, 1 86 1. 

Oren S. Benlley, Marion, enlisted December 25, 1S63 ; died in 
rebel prison, date unknown. 

Fred. Baetcke, Brighton, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; killed in ac- 
tion at Glendale, Virginia, June 30, 1862. 

Edward Bird, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; discharged for disability, 
September 24, 1S62. 

Stewart A. Boyd, Marion, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; transferred 
to Company C; promoted to second lieutenant; killed at 
Boydton Plank-Road. 

Edward A. BuUard, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; discharged for dis- 
ability, Januaiy 6, 1863. 

George Barnard, Genoa, enlisted December 24, 1863 ; transferred 
to Company B, June 9, 1864. 

James Canficld, Howell, enlisted December 22, 1863 ; transferred 
to Company C; died June 9, 1864, at Alexandria, Virginia, 
from typhoid fever and anqiutation of left arm. 

Andrew J. Carl, Howell, enlisted December 14, 1863; trans- 
ferred to Company C; died August 24, 1S64, of wounds re- 
ceived in action at Petersburg, Virginia. 

Henry Carl, Hartland, enlisted December 16, 1863; discharged 
for wounds, November 8, 1864. 

Cyrus L. Carpenter, Howell, enlisted December 19, 1863 ; mus- 
tered out June 6, 1865. 

William Carr, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; died at Alexandria, Vir- 
ginia, February 27, 1862. 

Lyman Gate, Green Oak, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; discharged 
for disability. May i, 1S62. 

George W. Cooper, Marion, enlisted December 23, 1863; killed 
in action at Wilderness, May 5, 1864. 

Joseph Countryman, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; died of disease at 
Camp Curtin, May 20, 1863. 

Charles Culver, Howell, enlisted December 23. 1S63; transferred 
to Company B ; absent, sick ; not mustered out with company. 

Jonathan Cummings, Genoa, enlisted December 19, 1S63; died 
in rebel prison, date unknown. 

Walter Ferguson, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; veteran, February 22, 
1864; discharged for wounds, April 13, 1865. 

Thomas Fitzgerald, Brighton, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; veteran, 
December 15, 1863 ; sergeant ; mustered out July 5, 1865. 

Adelbert Foote, Brighton, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; died of 
wounds at Washington, January 31, 1863. 

Andrew J. Fuller, Bright<m, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; discharged 
by order, Februaiy 26, 1 864. 

John Gallatian, Hamburg, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; transferred to 
Invalid Corps. 

John Gannon, Hamburg, enlisted August 27, l86l ; died of dis- 
ease in Virginia, September 10, 1862. 

Howard E. Glover, Howell, enlisted December 17, 1863; mus- 
tered out M.ay 29, 1865. 

John A. Gregg, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; discharged. for disabil- 
ity, December 4, 1862. 

Charles Graham, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; transferred to Invalid 
Corps. 

Philip Hacker, enlisted August 27, 1861; died of wounds at 
Washington, February 23, 1863. 

Merrill Harrington, enlisted September 6, 1861 ; mustered out at 
end of service, August 28, 1864. 



78 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



James Hay, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; transferred to Invalid Corps, 
November 15, 1S63. 

Thomas Haywood, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; discharged for dis- 
ability, September 11, 1862. 

John Hildebrant, enlisted Decemlier 24, 1863; died of disease 
at Alexandria, Virginia, January 5, 1865. 

Charles Hildebrant, enlisted January 28, 1864; mustered out July 
5. '865. 

George H. Hiller, enlisted August 27, l85i ; killed in action at 
Gellysl:)urg, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1S63. 

Milton Hitchcock, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; died of disease at 
Alexandria, Virginia, March 2, 1862. 

John T. Hodgeman, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; discharged for 
disability, February, 1863. 

Samuel Hodgeman, enlisted February 24, 1S62; died of wounds, 
September 10, 1862. 

Warren Hunt, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; mustered out at end of 
service, August 27, 1864. 

Frank Jordan, enlisted December 19, 1863; transferred to Com- 
pany C; mustered out July 5, 1865. 

John Jones, Urighton, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; veteran, February 
22, 1S64; mustered out July 5, 1865. 

Alfred Johnson, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; mustered out at end of 
service, August 27, 1864. 

William Johnson, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; discharged for dis- 
ability, August 7, 1S62. 

Henry W. Knaggs, enlisted August 27, 1S61; mustered out at 
end of service, August 27, 1864. 

William G. Knapp, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; transferred to 
United States Signal Corps, August 14, 1863. 

Patrick McCabe, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; died of disease at 
Alexandria, Virginia, March 8, 1862. 

James McCarren, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; died of wounds at 
Alexandria, Virginia, January 6, 1863. 

Charles McNaughton, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; discharged for 
disability, December II, 1S63. 

William S. Morris, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; discharged for dis- 
ability, September II, 1862. 

Daniel W. Morse, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; died of wounds, 
September 10, 1862. 

Edgar Muir, enlisted August 27, iS5i ; veteran, December 15, 
1863; sergeant; mustered out July 5, 1S65. 

Aaron A. Newman, enlisted September 6, 1861 ; wagoner; mus- 
tered out at end of service, September 6, 1S64. 

George Newton, Howell, enlisted December 22, 1863; died of 
disease at Baltimore, November 21, 1864. 

Boyce P. Owen, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; discharged for disabil- 
ity, December 15, 1862. 

Lewis F. Partlow, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; died of disease at 
Annapolis, Maryland, April 12, 1S62. 

Albert Pcckins, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; killed in action at Wil- 
liamsburg, Virginia, May 5, 1862. 

Edward G. Pearce, enlisted August 27, 1861; veteran, December 
15, 1863; corporal; mustered out July 7, 1S65. 

Samuel Pennell, enliste<l September 6, 1861 ; discharged for dis- 
ability, Augusts, 1862. 

George Pentland, Brighton, enlisted November I, 1862; absent, 
sick; not mustered out with comj^any. 

George W. Penllin, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; discharged for dis- 
ability, September II, 1862. 

Hiram Pentlin, enlisted August 27, 1861; veteran, December 15, 
1863; killed in action at Wilderness, Virginia, May 5, 1864. 

John Pickard, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; discharged for disability, 
August 10, 1862. 

George L. Placeway, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; died of disease 
at Alexandria, Virginia, March 10, 1862. 

Merrilt F. Pullen, enlisted September 6, 1861; killed in action at 
Williamsburg, Virginia, May 5, 1862. 

David RoliinsoTi, enlisted December ig, 1863; mustered out July 
5, 1865. 



Clinton Russell, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; died of disease at 
Washington, December 4, 1861. 

George Sawyer, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; veteran, December 15, 
1S63; corporal; mustered out July 5, 1865. 

Hannibal Sawyer, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; veteran, December 
15, 1S63; killed in action at Wilderness, Virginia, May 5, 
1864. 

John Sawyer, enlisted August 7, 1861 ; discharged May 21, 1862. 

David E. Sawyer, enlisted January 30, 1864; mustered out July 5, 
1865. 

Alva W. Schotield, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; veteran, December 
15, 1863; musician; mustered out July 5, 1865. 

Augustus R. Sewell, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; discharged for dis- 
ability, June 20, 1S62. 

William S. Sharp, Genoa; enlisted December 24, 1863; mustered 
out July 5, 1865. 

Conrad Siam, enlisted August 27, 1861; veteran, February 22, 
1864; killed in action near Petersburg, Virginia, October 27, 
1864. 

Mortimer Smith, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; transferred to Com- 
pany C; transferred to Invalid Corps. 

Amos Smith, enlisted December 31, 1863; mustered out July 5, 
1865. 

Charles A. Smith, enlisted December 17, 1863; missing in action 
near Southside Railroad, Virginia, October 27, 1S64. 

Emerson Soule, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; discharged for disability, 
April 30, 1862. 

Nathaniel Stoddard, enli>ted August 27, 1861 ; killed in action at 
Fredericksburg, Virginia, December 13, 1862. 

Samuel Sutton, enlisted August 10, 1861 ; killed in action at Wil- 
liamsburg, Virginia, May 5, 1862. 

Samuel C. Taylor, enlisted December 24, 1863; veteran, corporal, 
from Company I, 3d Infantry; mustered out July 5, 1865. 

Chauncey B. Taylor, enlisted December 24, 1863; veteran, musi- 
cian, from Company 1, 3d Infantry ; mustered out July 5, 1865. 

Charles Thayer, Howell; enlisted September 6, 1861; killed in 
action at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1863. 

Levi Townsend, enlisted August 27, 1861; discharged for dis- 
ability, March 23, 1S63. 

Lewis C. Tupper, enlisted February 24, 1862; veteran, February 
22, 1864; prisoner, April 19, 1865 ; mustered out July 5, 1865. 

Andrew J. Whitaker, enlisted December 24, 1863; absent, sick; 
not mustered out with company. 

Daniel Wilcox, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; discharged for dis- 
ability, June 4, 1862. 

Alexander C. Wilcox, enlisted September 4, 1861 ; discharged for 
disability, December, 1862. 

George S. Winegar, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; veteran, December 
15, 1863, corporal; died of disease, October 29, 1864. 

John B. Wood, enlisted September 6, 1861; veteran, February 22, 
1864; mustered out July 5, 1865. 

Luke Wood, enlisted August 27, 1S61 ; mustered out at end of 
service, August 27, 1864. 

Heniy P. Wright, enlisted August 27, 1861; discharged for dis- 
ability, July 23, 1862. 

Adolphus II. Winters, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; transferred to 
Invalid Corps, May 15, 1864. 

Andrew J. Verrington, enlisted August 27, 1861 ; died of wounds 
at Washington, January 8, 1S63. 

Frederick Zeits, enlisted December 17, 1S63; mustered out July 

5, 1865. 

Company A. 

Ch.arles Corey, Hamburg, enlisted December 23, 1863; veteran; 

mustered out July 22, 1865. 
Luther H. Frink, Howell, enlisted Februaiy 18, 1862; mustered 

out March 2, 1865. 
Thomas G. Marr, Howell, enlisted December 19, 1863; died in 

Andcrsonville prison, July 7, 1864. 
Romaine Waldron, Oceola, enlisted January 12, 1864; diel of 

disease, March 20, 1S64. 



NINTH AND FIFTEENTH INFANTRY. 



79 



Company B. 
Elias R. BrocUway, Iosco, enlisted Deccmlier 30, 1863; nnistevcd 

out June 6, 1865. 
Noah r.i)othl>y, Howell, enlisted December 15, 1863; mustered 

out July 20, 1S65. 
Howard E. Glover, Howell, enlisted December 17, 1S63; mustered 

out May 29, 1865. 
Emile Glenellinj;, Genoa, enlisted December 30, 1S63; died of 

disease at Washington, May I, 1S64. 
Merritt S. Havens, Marion, enlisted December 21, 1863; mustered 

out July 5, 1865. 
Merrill Harrington, Brighton, enlisted August 9, 1861 ; discharged 

at end of service, August 28, 1864. 
Samuel P. Lord, Handy, enlisted December 24, 1863; mustered 

out July 5, 1S65. 
David Lord, Handy, enlisted December 24, 1863; mustered out 

July 5, 1865. 
Henry Pate, Howell, enlisted December 19, 1863; mustered out 

July 5, 1865. 
David Robinson, Howell, enlisted December 19, 1863; mustered 

out July 5, 1865. 
William S. Sharp, Genoa, enlisted December 24, 1S63; mustered 

out July 5, 1865. 

Company D. 
George W. Axtell, Howell, enlisted December 22, 1863 ; mustered 

out May 13, 1865. 
Edwin H. Smith, Howell, enlisted December 22, 1863; supposed 

to have died in Richmond prison. 
George Young, Iosco, enlisted December 21, 1S63; supposed to 

have died in Richmond prison. 

Company G. 

Captain George W. Rose, promoted from first lieutenant. Company 
B; mortally wounded at the Wilderness; died at Washington, 
District of Columbia. 

.Solomon T. Lyon, M.^rion, captain .September 15, 1864; first 
lieutenant June 10, 1864; second lieutenant February I, 
1S64; mustered out with the regiment. 

Chester Albright, Howell, enlisted December, 1863; promoted to 
corporal; killed at the Wilderness, May 6, 1864. 

Benjamin Bashford, Marion, enlisted December 11, 1863; mus- 
tered out July 19, 1865. 

William Bock, Howell, enlisted December 22, 1863; mustered 
out July 5, 1865. 

William H. Curtis, Howell, enlisted December 21, 1863; died of 
disease at Washington, April, 1864. 

Philo Curtis, Howell, enlisted December 31, 1863 ; died in action 
May 5, 1864, Wilderness. 

Hiram Deunison, Brighton, enlisted January 26, 1864; died in 
Andersonville prison, June 30, 1864. 

Edward Hart, Howell, enlisted December 21, 1863; died of dis- 
e.-ise, April t6, 1865. 

David Hoyt, Iosco, enlisted Februaiy 24, 1S64; mustered out 
June 24, 1865. 

John Lawyer, enlisted January 12, 1864; mustered out July 5, 
1865. 

Simon B. Merrill, Iosco, enlisted December 26, 1863; died in An- 
dersonville prison, August 30, 1864. 

Jos. Preston, Howell, enlisted February 22, 1864; mustered out 
July 14, 1865. 

Jos. I'rudden, Jr., Howell, enlisted Februaiy 27, 1864; died in 
battle May 6, 1864, Wilderness. 

George Pennell, Howell, enlisted December 21, 1863; died in 
York, Pennsylvania, .Vugu^t 9, 1864. 

William M. Saunders, Howell, enlisted December 10, 1863; dis- 
charged for disability, February 6, 1 865. 

D.aniel H. Smith, Iosco, enlisted December 16, 1863; mustered 
out June 7, 1865. 

William Scrive, Marion, enli.-,ted January 20, 1864; died of dis- 
ease at Brandy Station, March 24, 1S64. 



Noah S. Van Gorder, Iosco, enlisted December 5, 1863; mustered 

out June 7, 1865. 
George Westmoreland, Marion, enlisted December 29, 1863; died 

of wounds at Petersburg, Virginia, October 28, 1864. 
Elisha C. Wright, Iosco, enlisted December 28, 1863; mustered 

out June 7, 1865. 

Company H. 
Willi.am Cooper, Sr., Howell, enlisted December 23, 1863; mus- 
tered out July 5, 1865. 
Isaac Felter, Howell, enlisted December 30, 1863; died in battle 

May 6, 1864, Wilderness. 
Marvin Gould, Marion, enlisted December 29, 1863; mustered 

out July 5, 1865. 
Marion Hart, Howell, enlisted December 26, 1863; mustered out 

July 5, 1865. 
Christopher Haynes, Howell, enlisted January 4, 1864; died in 

battle M.ay 6, 1864, Wilderness. 
Henry Phelps, Genoa, enlisted December 26, 1863 ; died in battle 

South Side Railroad, October 27, 1864. 
William W. Roberts, Handy, enlisted January 4, 1864; mustered 

out July 5, 1865. 
Andrew Wall, Handy, enlisted December 28, 1863; mustered out 

July 5, 1865. 
Peter Wall, Howell, enlisted December, 1863; killed June 16, 

1S64, at Petersburg. 

Edwin Ware, Handy, enlisted December 23, 1863 ; mustered out 

July 5, 1865. 

Company A. 

Abram Neely, Genoa, enlisted March 30, 1864; killed in action 

at Petersburg, June 16, 1864. 
Charles L. Neely, Genoa, enlisted December 31, 1863; mustered 

out July 6, 1865. 
Alva W. Scofield, enlisted December 15, 1863; mustered out 

July 5, 1S65. 
Charles Whitaker, Oceola, enlisted December 14, 1863; died at 

Washington, June 21, 1864, of wounds. 
Ezra Whitaker, Howell, enlisted December 22, 1863; mustered 

out July 5, 1S65. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

NINTH AND FIFTEENTH INFANTRY. 

Organization of the Xinth — Volunteers from Livingston — Depar- 
ture of the Regiment — .Service in Kentucky — Battle and Dis- 
aster at Murfreesboro" — Engagements at Tyree .Springs, Tennes- 
see, and Mumfordsville, Kentucky — High Opinion of the Ninth 
expressed by General Thomas — Assignment of the Regiment to 
Duty at Army Headi^uarters — Veteran Re-enlistment and Fur- 
lough — Return to Duty in the Army of the Cumberland — The 
Regiment on Duly at Atlanta, Chattanooga, and Nashville — 
Muster Out — Members of the Ninth from Livingston County — 
The Fifteenth Infantry — Representation of Livingston County 
in the Regiment — Organization and Departure of the Fifteenth 
— Battles of Pittsburg Landing and Corinth — Siege and Surren- 
der of Vicksburg — Transfer of the Fifteenth to the .\rniy of the 
Cumberland — Veteran Reenlislmcnt and Furlough^Campaign 
of .\tlani.a — Operations in Nurth .\labam.i — The March to the 
Sea, and through the Carolinas — Transfer to Arkansas — Return 
to Michigan, and Final Discharge and Disbandment. 

NINTH INFANTRY. 

The Ninth Infantry Regiment of Michigan was 
raised during the latter part of the summer, and in 
the early autumn of the year 1861. Its rendez- 
vous was at Fort Wayne, Detroit, where its organi- 



8o 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



zation was perfected, under the following officers : 
William W. Duffield, Colonel ; John G. Parkhurst, 
Lieutenant-Colonel; Dorus M. Fox, Major ; Ennis 
Church, Surgeon ; Cyrus Smith, Assistant Sur- 
geon ; James G. Portman, Chaplain ; Henry M. 
Duffield, Adjutant; Charles H. Irwin, Quarter- 
master. 

In the ranks of the Ninth, during its term of 
service, were nearly two hundred men from Liv- 
ingston ; the county being most numerously rep- 
resented in Company K, but to a less extent in A, 
D, H, and I, and having a few men in four of the 
other five companies. The company which was 
distinctively composed of Livingston County men 
was recruited by Captain John A. Tanner, and 
having been sufficiently filled for muster, left the 
county on the ninth of October, 1861, and pro- 
ceeded to the regimental rendezvous at Fort 
Wayne. Following is a list of the members of the 
company at that time. It does not exactly corre- 
spond with the roster of the company as mustered, 
but is given here as showing who were the volun- 
teers who accompanied Captain Tanner to the ren- 
dezvous, with the expectation of joining and serv- 
ing with the regiment. 

Captain, John A. Tanner. 

First Lieutenant, Thomas J. Conely. 

Second Lieutenant, L. V. Curry. 

First Sergeant, Josiaii Hayner. 

Second Sergeant, John Gould. 

Third Sergeant, Charles Tanner. 

Fourth Sergeant, Albert Benjamin. 

Fifth Sergeant, George G. Smith. 

First Corporal, G. L. Fisher. 

Second Corporal, Melvin Munson. 

Third Corporal, George Fowler. 

Fourth Corporal, Jerome G. Buckland. 

Fifth Corporal, Charles Brink. 

Sixth Corporal, George Stafford. 

Seventh Corporal, Aaron Sherman. 

Eighth Corporal, Zenas Palmerton. 

Drummer, Henry Tanner. 

Bass Drummer, Homer Handy. 

Fifer, William J. Taylor. 

Wagoner, Samuel Pardee. 



Charles Avis. 
Peter Butler. 
Jerome Bussey. 
VV. E. Bennett. 
James Butcher. 
Marvin Benjamin. 
Eli Bo wen. 
Orrin Bowen. 
John Baumann. 



Privates. 

Charles Brink. 
Winton B. Brooks. 
V. M. Curry. 
James Culiton. 
Urial Comstock. 
Daniel Countryman. 
John Copland. 
James B. Cole. 
Wardwell Chase. 



Lyman Carl. 
Ira Campbell. 
Abraham Comstock. 
Edgar Durfee. 
Joseph De Witt. 
Joseph Duffie. 
G. W. Dunlap. 
Jacob Dingman. 
John De Forest. 
E. D. Fuller. 
William Fowler. 
H. E. Gibson. 
John R. Hubbell. 
George W. Hoyt. 
John Hogg. 
Charles Harrington. 
George Harrington. 
Richard H. Jones. 
William Knowles. 
J. M. Logan. 
Henry Musson. 
John H. Mills. 
Calvin Moon. 
Edwin Metcalf 
George Newbery. 
William Otto. 
William H. Ostrom. 



George H. Phillips. 
Samuel Rust. 
William Renn. 
W\ H. Renn. 
George Schaffer. 
Milo Sawyer. 
Allen Slayter. 
W. E. Swinie. 
John Swinie. 
Francis Smith. 
Samuel W. Smith. 
Gardiner Smith. 
V. C. Smith. 
R. C. Smith. 
James Stage. 
Alvin Stage. 
Chauncey Spearer. 
Everett Sargent. 
John Tackle. 
Alphonzo Tenney. 
Gardiner Vanzile. 
Calvin Wilson. 
Henry Wort. 
Jesse Wilcox. 
Charles Welcher. 
Ezra Whitaker. 
Amos Weller. 



The regiment having been armed with weapons 
of an inferior class, was mustered into the United 
States service for three years, by Captain H. R. 
Mizner, United States Army, at the rendezvous, 
October 23d and 25th, 1861, and on the last-named 
day left Detroit for the seat of war in the South- 
west, being the first regiment from Michigan which 
entered the field in the Western departments. It 
reached Jeffersonville, Indiana, on the twenty-sev- 
enth, and on the following day was moved by 
steamboat to Salt River, Kentucky. It was soon 
after engaged in the construction of a defensive 
work on Muldraugh's Hill, and made its winter 
quarters in that vicinity. During their stay at 
that place the men of the Ninth were terribly 
afflicted with measles and other disorders, as many 
as four hundred having been on the sick list atone 
time. 

Immediately after the fall of Fort Donelson, the 
regiment was moved by transports from Salt River 
to Nashville, Tennessee, where it remained for 
some weeks; then moved to Murfreesboro', and 
was posted there from April to July, as one of 
the chain of detachments which were placed to 
guard the rear and communications of General O. 
M. Mitchell, in his advance on Huntsville, Ala- 
bama. During that time it formed part of the 
force with which General Negley made a demon- 



NINTH AND FIFTEENTH INFANTRY. 



8i 



stration against Chattanooga, reaching the noitli 
bank of the Tennessee River, opposite the town. 
After that expedition it was again stationed at 
Murfreesboro' and vicinity, and on the thirteenth 
of Jul)- the six companies wiiicii were at that place 
(the other four, under command of Major Fo.x, 
being at TuUahoma) were attacked by a body of 
the enemy's cavalry, three thousand five hundred 
strong, under General N. B. Forrest. Of this bat- 
talion of the Ninth at Murfreesboro' one company 
was quartered in the court-house, and five com- 
panies were camped in a body in the northeastern 
outskirts of the village, — all under command of 
Lieutenant-Colonel Parkhurst. Colonel Duffield 
was present but not on duty; he having arrived 
in the evening of the eleventh, in company with 
General Crittenden, on business connected with 
the formation of a new brigade, of which Colonel 
Duffield was to have the command. The Third 
Minnesota Infantry Regiment was encamped on 
the bank of Stone River, less than two miles to the 
northwest of the town, and with it was Hewett's 
(First Kentucky) Battery. 

Forrest's attack on the camp of Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Parkhurst's battalion was made at four o'clock 
in the morning of Sunday the thirteenth of July. 
He had evidently expected that it would be a sur- 
prise, but such did not prove to be the case, for 
Colonel Parkhurst had suspected, or had by some 
means been warned of, their approach, and prepared 
to give them a very warm reception. The result 
was that the first attack was successfully repelled, 
with considerable loss to the enemy, who then 
withdrew, and proceeded to attack the company 
occupying the court-house. Upon the withdrawal 
of the enemy from his front, Colonel Parkhurst at 
once dispatched a messenger to the colonel of the 
Third Minnesota, at Stone River, informing him 
of the situation, and asking him to come to his 
(Parkhurst's) assistance. With this request the 
officer in question, for what doubtless seemed to 
him good reasons, declined to comply. It was 
believed that he might have done so with good 
prospects of success, he having a comparatively 
large force, including an efficient battery. Cer- 
tainly any attempt of Colonel Parkhurst — with 
his little force of less than three hundred men, 
and no artillery — to effect a junction with the 
Minnesotians, in the face of such an overwhelming 
body of the enemy, would have been almost fool- 
hard}'. 

At the court-house the attacking party met a 
very warm reception from the defending garrison, 
who held them at bay for two long hours, and only 
surrendered when they found such a course inev- 
itable. Immediately after their capture they were 
1 1 



sent to the rear, in the direction of McMinnville, 
without an hour's delay, for the rebel commander 
believed that his work might at any moment be 
interrupted by Union reinforcements from either 
or all of the several detachments posted at differ- 
ent points in the vicinity; a very natural supposi- 
tion, which might very easily have been verified. 

From the siege of the court-house the enemy 
returned to the attack of Colonel Parkhurst's po- 
sition, which during the brief cessation of hostili- 
ties had been strengthened by such slight defenses 
as the men had been able to construct in the short 
time, and with the insufficient means and materials 
at their command. Slight as they were they af- 
forded some shelter to the defending force, who 
though outnumbered more than ten to one by 
their assailants, fought with the most determined 
and persistent bravery till past noon, when, as it 
became evident that they need look no longer for 
succor, and that further resistance was useless, 
their leader submitted to the inevitable, and sur- 
rendered. During the eight hours through which 
they had stood at bay their loss had been thirteen 
killed and eighty-seven wounded. The enemy 
admitted that his own loss in killed alone had 
been thirty-five, and there is little doubt that it 
was much beyond this figure. Among the cap- 
tured officers were -Lieutenant-Colonel Parkhurst 
and Captain Mansfield. The first was marched 
away by the victorious rebels. Captain Mansfield 
being unable to endure the march was left behind, 
paroled, as was also Colonel Duffield, who had 
been badly wounded during the fight. His com- 
panion in his unfortunate visit to the post — Gen- 
eral Crittenden — had also been captured at the 
hotel in the village, and was taken away with the 
other prisoners, to whose numbers was also added 
the Minnesota regiment before mentioned, and 
the men and officers of Hewett's Battery. 

At McMinnville, Forrest paroled the enlisted 
men whom he had captured, and they returned to 
Nashville, whence they were sent to Camp Chase. 
He, however, retained the officers and took them 
to Knoxville. From there they were sent to At- 
lanta, then to Madison, Georgia, where they re- 
mained for a considerable time, then to Columbia, 
South Carolina, to Salisbury, North Carolina, and 
finally to Libby prison, at Richmond, where they 
were eventually paroled. Colonel Parkhurst was 
exchanged in December, 1862. In the mean time 
the portion of the regiment which had escapee 
capture at Murfreesboro' had been engaged against 
the enemy at Tyree Springs, Tennessee, and at 
Munfordsvillc, Kentucky, about the time of Gen- 
eral Buell's advance from Louisville to Perryville 
and Bowling Green. 



82 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.' 



On the twenty-fourth of December, 1862, Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Parkhurst, then in command of the 
Ninth (Colonel Duffield was permanently disabled 
by the wounds received at Murfreesboro', and re- 
signed less than two months after that time), re- 
ported for duty at the headquarters of General 
Thomas, near Nashville, and was assigned to duty 
as provost-marshal ; his regiment (reorganized and 
with ranks refilled by the exchanged prisoners) 
being detailed as provost-guard of the Fourteenth 
Corps. The remark was made by Gen. Thomas, 
on the issuance of the order assigning it to that 
duty, that he had fully acquainted himself with the 
history of the part taken by the regiment in its de- 
fense of the post of Murfreesboro' against Forrest, 
and that just such a regiment was what he needed 
at his headquarters. 

The duty to which the Ninth was thus assigned 
was performed by the regiment from that time 
until the expiration of its term of service. For 
the manner in which it performed the duties de- 
volving on it at the battles of Stone River and 
Chickamauga (particularly the former). Colonel 
Parkhurst and the regiment were warmly compli- 
mented by General Thomas. When that general 
assumed the chief command of the Army of the 
Cumberland, after Chickamauga, Colonel Park- 
hurst (who received his promotion to the colonelcy 
February 6, 1863) was made provost-marshal gen- 
eral of the department, and the Ninth became pro- 
vost-guard at army headquarters. In December, 
1863, the regiment, to the number of two hundred 
and twenty-nine, re-enlisted as a veteran organiza- 
tion, received a veteran furlough, and returned to 
Michigan iii a bod\', arriving at Coldwater in Jan- 
uary, 1864. At the expiration of its furlough, re- 
assembling at the same place, it left on the twen- 
tieth of February for the front, with its ranks filled 
to about five hundred men. At Chattanooga it 
returned to duty at headquarters, and in the sum- 
mer and fall of 1864 participated in all the opera- 
tions of the Army of the Cumberland in Georgia 
and Tennessee. It entered Atlanta on its evacua- 
tion by the enemy, and was there engaged in pro- 
vost duty till that city was abandoned by the 
Union forces, when it returned to Chattanooga. 
During October, sixty-nine members were dis- 
charged by expiration of their term of service, but 
as a large number of recruits had been received 
during the year, the regiment, on the first of No- 
vember, 1864, numbered eight hundred and ninety- 
seven enlisted men. It remained in Chattanooga 
until the twenty-seventh of March, 1865, when it 
was moved to Nashville. There it stayed on duty 
at headquarters and as guard at the military prison 
until the fifteenth of September, when it was mus- 



tered out of the service, and on the following day 
left for Michigan. It arrived at Jackson on the 
nineteenth of September, and one week later the 
men were paid off and disbanded, when they re- 
turned to their homes and to the avocations of 
peace. 

MEMBERS OF THE NINTH INFANTRY FROM LIV- 

ING.STON COUNTY. 

Non- Commissioned Staff. 

Sergecint-Maior Chavles D. Coleman, Pinckney, promoted to 
second lieutenant, Company C. 

Sergeant-Major Cliarles A. Kelly, Brighton, promoted to second 
lieutenant, Company I. 

(Juartermaster-Sergeant Charles Tanner, Handy, died of disease 
at Fowlerville, Michigan, December 23, 1863. 

Principal Musician Henry C. Tanner, Handy, mustereil out Sep- 
tember 15, 1S65; veteran. 

Company A — Frivates. 

John J. Bush, Handy, enlisted March 15, 1865; mustered out 
September 15, 1S65. 

Myron Balch, Conway, enlisted January 5, 1864; died at Chat- 
tanooga, Tennessee, April 16, 1864. 

Charles A. Cunningham, Hamburg, enlisted September 2, 1864; 
mustered out by order, June 20, 1865. 

Ira A. Cutler, Hamburg, enlisted September 2, 1864; mustered 
out by order, June 20, 1865. 

Charles W. Crippen, Handy, enlisted September 10, 1864; mus- 
tered out by order, June 20, 1865. 

Albert M. Drumm, Conway, enlisted September 6, 1864; mus- 
tered out by order, June 20, 1865. 

Purson W. Day, Handy, enlisted September 11, 1S64; mustered 
out by order, June 20, 1S65. 

M.Trcellus Dickinson, Handy, enlisted September 10, 1S64 ; 
mustered out by order, June 20, 1S65. 

Charles Fillmore, Hamburg, enlisted Septemljer 3, 1S64; mus- 
tered out by order, June 20, 1865, 

Ransom N. Fillmore, Hamburg, enlisted September 3, 1864; 
mustered out by order, June 20, 1865. 

Charles W. Graham, Handy, enlisted March 15, 1865; mustered 
out September 15, 1865. 

Henry R. Goodrich, Putnam, enlisted December 26, 1863; 
mustered out September 15, 1865. 

Wesley Mathews, Handy, enlisted March 15, 1S65 ; died of dis- 
ease at Nashville, Tennessee, July 5, 1865. 

Company B. 
Second Lieutenant Everett D. Sargent, Howell, November 3, 
1864; mustered out September 15, 1865. 

Privates. 

George M. Black, Putnam, enlisted December 28, 1863; mus- 
tered out Septemiier 15, 1865. 

John M. Craig, Handy, enlisted January 2, 1864 ; mustered out 
September 15, 1865. 

Alanson B. Northrup, Handy, enlisted January 5, 1S64; mustered 
out September 15, 1865. 

William P. Stowe, Handy, enlisted January 2, 1864; corporal; 
musiered out September 15, 1865. 

Company C. 
Second Lieutenant Charles D. Coleman, Pinckney, promoted to 

first lieutenant. Company D. 
Second Lieutenant John G. Gould, Fowlerville, .'Vugust 17, 1863; 

promoted to first lieutenant, November 14, 1864. 

Privates. 
(Jeorge Haviland, Handy, enlisted March 15, 1865; mustered out 
August iS, 1S65. 



NINTH AND FIFTEENTH INFANTRY. 



83 



George P. Day, Handy, enlisted March 15, 1865; died of disease 
at Louisville, Kentucky, July 21, 1S65. 

Compnuy D. 
Caiitaiii C. 1). Coleman, Pinckney, promoted from fust lieutenant; 
mustered out September 16, 1865. 

Privates. 
Lewis Menilt, Putnam, enlisted January 5, 1864; discharged for 

disability, June 22, 1865. 
William W. Coats, Cohoctab, enlisted August 25, 1862 ; transferred 

to Company \\; died at Murfreesboro', February 18, 1863. 
Henry Wells, Cim way, enlisted August 27, 1862; transferred to 

Comjiany H ; discharged by order, October 4, 1865. 
Joseph Murtagb, Putnam, enlisted January 4, 1S64; discharged 

for disability, September 20, 1864. 
Georjie D. Converse, Conway, enlisted September 10, 1S64; 

mustered out by order, June 20, 1S65. 
Homer A. Handy, Handy, enlisted September 10, 1864; mustered 

out by order, June 20, 1S65. 
Peter Buckley, Handy, enlisted M.-'rch 15, 1865; mustered out by 

order, August lo, 1865. 
Dell N. Lum, Conway, enlisted September r, 1S64; mustered out 

by order, June 20, 1865. 
Edwin A. Metcalf, Handy, enlisted September 10, 1S64; mus- 
tered out by order, June 20, 1865. 
Joseph D. Bowers, Handy, enlisted March 15, 1S65; mustered 

out September 15, 1865. 
John Q. Park, Handy, enlisted September 11, 1S64; mustered 

out by order, June 20, 1865. 
Oscar Rathburn, Handy, enlisted March 15, 1865; mustered out 

September 29, 1S65. 
Daniel Sabin, Conway, enlisted September lo, 1S64; mustered 

out by order, June 20, 1865. 

Company E. 
Simon S. Munn, Putnam, enlisted December 27, 1863; mustered 

out Septendjer 15, 1S65. 
William A. Benjamin, Conway, enlisted September 10, 1864; 

muaered out by order, June 20, 1865. 

Company F. 
Justus Coburn, enlisted August 14, i86t ; veteran, December 7, 

1863; mustered out September 15, 1S65. 
James A. Worthington, Handy, enlisted September 16, 1864; 

discharged by order, June 20, 1S65. 

Company //. 

Allan Beebe, Tyrone, enlisted January 27, 1S64; discharged by 
order, September 7, 1865. 

George F. Burgess, Putnam, enlisted August 16, 1S61 ; discharged 
for disability, July 13, 1863. 

Elmore S. Filkins, Deerfield, enlisted August 16, 1861 ; norecoril. 

David Minnick, enlisted August 16, 1861 ; mustered out Septem- 
ber 15, 1865. 

Daniel Thayer, enlisted August l6, 1861 ; died of wounds at Nash- 
ville, November 30, 1862. 

Thomas Sharp, Oceola, enlisted August 16, 1861 ; no record. 

Arminus Springstein, Deerfield, enlisted August 16, 1861 ; dis- 
charged. 

Gordon Snell, Oceola, enlisted .\ugust 16, 1861 ; died at West 
Point, Kentucky. 

William Hendricks, enlisted March 29, 1862 ; veteran, March 26, 
1864; corporal; mustered out September 15, 1S65. 

James Hendricks, enlisted March 29,1862; veteran, March 26, 
1864; mustered out Septemlier 15, 1865. 

Patrick (J'Brien, died at Nashville, Tennessee, March 27, 1862. 

Oren M. Corey, Tyrone, enlisted January 25, 1S64; mustered out 
September 15, 1865. 

Asa Cornell, Tyrone, enlisted January 8, 1864 ; died of disease at 
Nashville, May 13, 1864. 



George H. Fletcher, Tyrone, enlisted March 17, 1865; died of 

disease at Nashville, June 29, 1865. 
Frank Cranston, Tyrone, enlisted January 25, 1864; mustered out 

Scjitember 15, 1S65. 
John Damon, Putnam, enlisted January 5, 1864; mustered out 

September 15, 1865. 
Harrison Love, Tyrone, enlisted January 27, 1864 ; mustered out 

September 15, 1865. 
George H. Pliilli|)s, Putnam, enlisted December23, 1864; mustered 

out September 15, 1865. 
John B. Taylor, Putnam, enlisted December 28, 1864; mustered 

out September 15. 1865. 
Newell L. Tallmadge, Tyrone, enlisted January 29, 1S64; died 

at Tyrone, August 15, 1864. 
Eugene Slayton, Tyrone, enlisted March 15, 1865; mustered out 

September 15, 1865. 

Company I. 

P'rancis A. Clark, Brighton, enlisted August 15, 1861 ; discharged 
for disability, April 19, 1862. 

Hugh S. Anderson, mustered out September 15, 1865. 

Peter Ackerman, Brighton, enlisted August 15, 1861 ; mustered 
out at end of service, October 14, 1864. 

Sampson Carpenter, Brighton, enlisted August 15, 1861; mus- 
tered out at end of service, October 14, 1864. 

Finley Cliamberlin, Brighton, enlisted August 15,1861 ; veteran, 
December 7, 1863; sergeant; mustered out September 26, 
1865. 

Isaac Crippen, Brighton, enlisted August 15, 1861 ; veteran, De- 
cember 7, 1863; sergeant; mustered out September 15, 1865. 

Alonzo Gushing, Brighton, enlisted August 15, i86r; mustered 
out September 15, 1865. 

James Haywood, Oceola, enlisted August 15, 1861 ; died of dis- 
ease at Nashville, December, 1862. 

Eli Lewis, enlisted August 15, 1861 ; discharged at end of ser- 
vice, October 14, 1864. 

Alfred C. Moon, Hamburg, enlisted August 15, 1861 ; discharged 
at end of service, October 14, 1S64. 

Edwin R. Murray, Brighton, enlisted August 15, 1S61 ; prisoner 
at Muifreesboro', July 13, 1862. 

Nathan Piatt, lirigbton, enlisted August 15, 1861 ; prisoner at 
Murfi-eesboro', July 13, 1862. 

John Rossiter, Hartland, enlisted August 15, 1S61 ; discharged at 
end of service, October 14, 1864. 

Francis M. Stockwell, Brighton, enlisted August 15, 1861 ; died 
of disease at West Point, Kentucky, November 21, 1861. 

Lorenzo Youngs, Oceola, enlisted August 15, 1861 ; veteran, De- 
cember 7, 1863 ; died of disease at Nashville, Tennessee, 
September 15, 1865. 

Henry Crippen, enlisted August 15, 1861 ; veteran, December 7, 
1863; corporal; nlU^tere(l out September 15, 1S65. 

Charles A. Kelly, enlisted August 15^. 1861 ; sergeant; promoted 
to sergeant-major, January i, 1865. 

William L Morris, Hamburg, enlisted February 12, 1S64; mus- 
tered out September 15, 1865. 

Harrison Ciippen, enlisted August 15, 1861 ; discharged for disa- 
bility, November i, 1862. 

Francis D. Rogers, Brighton, enlisted January 26, 1864; mustered 
out September 15, 1863. 

William H. Spencer, Brighton, enlisted January 14, 1864; dis- 
charged by order. May 15, 1S65. 

David Stage, Conway, enlisted January 23, 1864; died of disease, 
August 16, 1S64, at Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. 

James Greer, Putnam, enlisted December 28, 1863; mustered out 
September 15, 1865. 

Ernest Crippen, Brighton, enlisted September 12, 1864; discharged 
by Older, April 29, 1865. 

Fillmore Crippen, Brighton, enlisted September 12, 1864; dis- 
charged by oriler, June 20, 1865. 



84 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



John Golt, Handy, enlisted Marcli 15, 1865; discharged by order, 

Sei)tember 23, 1S65, 
Samuel House, Handy, enlisted March 15, 1865; mustered out 

September 15, 1865. 

Company A'. 

John A. Tanner, captain, October 12, iS6l. 

Thomas J. Conely, first lieutenant, October 12, 1861 ; captain, July 
28, 1S62. 

Second Lieutenant Lewis V. Curry, Brighton, resigned December 
20, 1862. 

Sergeant Josiah Hayncr, Brighton, enlisted August 16, 1S61 ; 
transferred to Invalid Corps, April 10, 1864. 

Sergeant John G. Gould, Handy, enlisted August 30, 1861 ; vet- 
eran, Februaiy 20, 1864; promoted to second lieutenant. 
Company C. 

Sergeant Charles Tanner, Handy, enlisted September 23, i85i ; 
promoted to quartermaster-sergeant. 

Sergeant Albert Benjamin, Conway, enlisted September 24, 1861 ; 
discharged for disability at Detroit. 

Corporal George L. Fisher, Handy, enlisted September 20, 1861; 
sergeant; discharged at end of service, October 14, 1864. 

Corporal Melvin Munson, Handy, enlisted September 24, 1861 ; 
died at Elizabethtown, February 22, 1862. 

Corporal George Fowler, Brighton, enlisted August 16, 1S61 ; pro- 
moted in 1st Regiment, S. S., March 11, 1863. 

Corporal Jerome G. Buckland, Howell, enlisted September 25, 
1S61; died at Tullahoma, Tennessee, of disease, August 25, 
1862. 

Corporal George Stafford, Howell, enlisted September 27, 1861 ; 
veteran, December 7, 1863; sergeant; mustered out Septem- 
ber 15, 1S65. 

Corporal Aaron G. Sherman, Conway, enlisted October 3, 1861 ; 
died of disease at Murfreesboro', Tennessee, 1S62. 

Corporal Zenas Palmerton, Handy, enlisted September 14, 1S61 ; 
mustered out Septen\ber 15, 1865. 

Musician Henry C. Tanner, Handy, enlisted August 22, 1861 ; 
veteran, December 7, 1S63; appointed March 6, 1864. 

Musician William I. Taylor, Handy, enlisted October g, 1861; 
discharged at end of senice, October 14, 1864. 

Wagoner Samuel Pardee, Handy, enlisted September 21, 1861. 

/'nrtiUs. 

Charles Avis, Conway, enlisted September 24, 1861 ; died of 
wounds received in action at Murfreesboro*. 

Marvin Benjamin, Handy, enlisted September 14, 1S61 ; dis- 
charged for disability, March I, 1S63. 

William Emerson Bennett, Howell, enlisted October t, 1861 ; 
mustered out September 15, 1865; veteran, December 7, 
1863. 

Eli Bowen, Handy, enlisted October 4, 1861 ; corporal ; mustered 
out September 15, 1865; veteran, December 7, 1863. 

Oren Bowen, Handy, enlisted October 5, i86l ; corporal; dis- 
charged by order, September 2S, 1S65; veteran. 

Winten B.Brooks, Howell, enlisted October 9, 1 861 ; sergeant; 
mustered out .September 15, 1865; veteran, December 7, 
1S63. 

James Culiton, Brighton, enlisted September 21, 1S61 ; dischaiged 
for disability, March 6, 1S62. 

John G. Copeland, Conway, enlisted September 23, 1861 ; dis- 
charged at end of service, October 14, 1864. 

James W. Cole, Conway, enlisted September 26, 1861 ; discharged 
August 12, 1862. 

Wadwell Chase, Conway, enlisted October i, 1861 ; veteran, De- 
cember 7, 1S63; discharged by order, August 30, 1865. 

Lyman Carl, Handy, enlisted October i, 1861; died at Murfrees- 
boi-o', Tennessee, Januaiy 16, 1S63. 

Joseph Duffy, Howell, enlisted October i, 1S61; died at West 
Point, Kentucky, Octolier, 1861, 



John De Forest, Handy, enlisted September 20, 1861 ; veteran, 

December 7, 1863; mustered out September 15, 1S65. 
Jacob Dingman, Conway, enlisted September 20, 1861 ; discharged 

at end of service, October 14, 1864. 
George W. Hoyt, Handy, enlisted August 22, 1861 ; discharged 

for disability, November 5, 1862. 
Richard H. Jones, Handy, enlisted September 21, 1S61 ; dis- 
charged at end of service, October 14, 1864. 
William Knowles, ILandy, enlisted October 8, 1861 ; died of 

woiurds received at Murfreesboro', Tennessee. 
Henry Munson, Howell, enlisted September 26, 1861 ; discharged 

at end of service, October 14, 1864. 
John H. Mills, Howell, enlisted October 5, 1861 ; discharged at 

end of service, October 14, 1864. 
Calvin Moon, Handy, enlisted October 10, 1861 ; discharged in 

1861. 
George Newberry, Hartland, enlisted September 23. 1861 ; killed 

in action, July 13, 1862. 
William Otto, Brighton, enlisted September 11, iS5i ; died of 

disease at Louisville, Kentucky. 
William H. Ostrom, Conway, enlisted September 27, 1861; vet- 
eran, December 7, 1863; sergeant; mustered out September 

15,1865. 
George H. Phillips, Conway, enlisted October 7, l85l ; corporal; 

discharged at end of service, October 14, 1864. 
Samuel Rust, Conway, enlisted .September 24, 1861 ; killed in 

action, July 13, 1862, at Murfreesboro'. 
William H. Renn, Handy, enlisted August 22, 1861 ; veteran, 

December 7, 1863; mustered out September 15, 1865. 
George SchafTer, Marion, enlisted October 9, 1S61 ; died of 

wounds received in battle at Murfreesboro'. 
Milton S.rwyer, Cohoctah, enlisted September 26, 1861 ; died at 

Elizabethtown, Kentucky, February 22, 1S62. 
Allen Slayter, Handy, enlisted September 25, 1861 ; veteran, De- 
cember 7, 1863; discharged by order, August 28, 1865. 
Francis M. Smith, Conway, enlisted September 21, 1S61 ; veteran, 

December 7, 1863; mustered out September 15, 1865. 
Alvin Stage, Conway, enlisted September 23, 1861 ; discharged at 

end of service, October 14, 1864. 
James F. Stage, Conway, enlisted September 21, 1861 ; discharged 

at end of sen'ice, October 14, 1S64. 
Gardner S. Sinith, Howell, enlisted October 5, i86l ; died at 

Murfreesboro', Tennessee, June, 1862. 
Edmund L. Fuller, Conway, enlisted September 21, 1861 ; veteran, 

December 7, 1863; corporal; mustered out September 15, 

1865. 
Reuben C. Smith, Howell, enlisted October 7, 1861 ; died at 

■West Point, Kentucky. 
Everett Sargent, Howell, enlisted October 8, 1861; veteran, De- 
cember 7, 1863; December 31, 1864, promoted to second 

lieutenant. Company B. 
Gardner Vanzile, Handy, enlisted October 2, 1861. 
Henry Wirt, Handy, enlisted .September 23, 1S61. 
Jesse Wilcox, Conway, enlisted September 27, 1861. 
Amos Weller, Handy, enlisted October 8, 1861. 
Charles P. Lake, enlisted October 16, 1861 ; veteran, December 

7, 1863; mustered out .September 15, 1865. 
Heniy Lake, enlisted October 16, 1861 ; veteran, December 7, 

1863; discharged by order, September 28, 1865. 
Barnard Rider, enlisted October 16, 1861 ; veteran, December 7, 

1863. 
Willi.Tm R. Thompson, enlisted October 26, 1861. 
Daniel G. Olmstead, enlisted March 13, 1862. 

Henry B. Appleton, Cohoctah, enlisted February 16, 1864; mus- 
tered out .September 15, 1865. 

Richard Bristol, Handy, enlisted January 2, 1864; mustered out 
September 15. 1865. 



NINTH AND FIFTEENTH INFANTRY. 



85 



Elijah Dunn, Handy, enlisted January 5, 1864; discharged by 

order, Septenilicr 28, 1S65. 
Lewis Dickinson, Handy, enlisted January 5, 1864; mustered out 

September 15, 1S65. 
Gilbert Demarest, Handy, enlisted January 2, 1864; discharged 

by order, September 28, 1865. 
James F. Fuller, Cohoctah, enlisted January 28, 1S64; mustered 

out September 15, 1S65. 
Thomas Gilchrist, Handy, enlisted September 16, 1S64; discharged 

by order, September 28, 1S65. 
John E. Kenny, Handy, enlisted February 26, 1S64; mustered 

out September 15, 1S65. 
Inmes P. Larowe, Howell, enlisted February 27, 1S64; mustered 

out September 15, 1865. 
Isaac Morse, Handy, enlisted January 16, 1S64; mustered out 

September 15, 1865. 
James McGuire, Hamburg, enlisted April 22, 1S64; discharged 

by order, April 9, 18O5. 
Henry Ortner, Handy, enlisted January 2, 1S64; died at Nash- 
ville, February 10, 1864. 
Harvey D. Palmerton, Handy, enlisted February 2, 1S64; died 

at Fowlerville, January 19, 1S65. 
Cecil Parsons, Handy, enlisted Septcmlier 10, 1864; discharged 

by order, June 20, 1865. 
James Reed, Handy, enlisted February i, 1S64; mustered out 

September 15, 1865. 
William Renn, Handy, enlisted January 4, 1864; mustered out 

September 15, 1865. 
Derrick Slater, Handy, enlisted September 16, 1864; discharged 

by order, June 20, 1865. 
Nathan R. Scott, Handy, enlisted January 23, 1S64; mustered out 

September 15, 1865. 
James R. Weller, Putnam, enlisted February 6, 1S64; mustered 

out September 15, 1865. 

FIFTEENTH INFANTRY. 

The number of Livingston County men serving 
in the ranks of the Fifteenth was more than equal 
to a maximum company, but they were divided 
among at least eight companies of the regiment; 
the principal part, however, being found in " D" 
company, commanded by Captain Erastus A. Pratt. 

The reginient was raised and organized under 
Colonel J. M. Oliver, in the fell of 1861, and had 
its rendezvous at Monroe. It left its camp of in- 
struction for the front on the twenty-seventh of 
March, and was transferred directly from the peace- 
ful parade-ground at Monroe to the storm of battle 
at Pittsburg Landing. It arrived the evening of 
the fifth of April, 1862. The next day the battle 
opened, and the I'ifteenth was hurried to the front, 
taking an active and gallant part, and having 
thirty-three officers and men killed and si.xty-four 
wounded, while seven were reported missing. 

The regiment served through the siege of Co- 
rinth, and was on dut)^ in the vicinity until that 
place was attacked by the rebel generals Price and 
Van Dorn, on the first and second of October, 
1862. It was then on outpost duty, ten miles 
northwest of Corinth, and was assailed by the 
whole rebel force. It fell back, contesting the 
ground inch by inch, and with some other regi- 
ments held the enemy in check during the whole 



of that day, giving atnple time for General Rose- 
crans to prepare for the next day's conflict, in which 
he won a complete victory over the rebel army. 
The casualties of the Fifteenth were thirteen killed, 
thirty-two wounded, and five missing. 

The regiment served .in Northern Mississippi 
until June, 1863, when it was ordered to Vicksburg. 
Having been assigned to the Ninth Corps, it took 
part in the siege of that city, sharing the hardships 
and dangers, which were at length rewarded by 
the surrender of the place, with the whole army 
of General Pemberton, on the ever-memorable 
Fourth of July, 1863. The Fifteenth remained in 
Central Mississippi during the summer, and in 
October was sent with the Fifth Corps to reinforce 
the Army of the Cumberland. It was stationed 
in Northern Alabama until February, 1864, when 
a portion of the men re-enlisted, and the regiment 
was sent home on veteran furlough, returning, to 
take part in Sherman's Georgia campaign, in May. 

After unnutnbered wearisome marches and many 
skirmishes, the Fifteenth found itself in the Fifth 
Corps, in front of the enemy, near Decatur, Georgia. 
The rebels drove back the Seventeenth Corps, 
which was on the left of the Fifth. The Fifteenth 
Michigan was ordered to take possession of an ex- 
posed position some distance from the line of its 
corps. On the regiment's arriving near the point 
indicated, it was found to be in possession of the 
enemy. The men of Michigan did not hesitate, 
but moved gallantly forward, and after a brief but 
sharp conflict captured the position, with seventeen 
rebel officers, one hundred and sixty-seven men, 
and three stands of colors. The loss of the Fif- 
teenth was only four killed and six wounded. 

On the twenty-eighth of July the regiment won 
another victory over an assailing force of the enctny, 
which was driven off with heavy loss, leaving its 
dead and wounded on the field. Still another 
triumph was gained near Jonesboro' on the thirty- 
first of August, when the enemy attacked the for- 
tified camp of the Fifteenth, and was most deci- 
sively defeated. 

After the surrender of Atlanta the regiment went 
to Nortliern Alabama to operate against the rebel 
general Hood, but returned in time to " maich to 
the sea" with .Sherman. It also marched tiirough 
the Carolinas with that general; went from Wash- 
ington to Little Rock, Arkansas, in June and July, 
1865 ; returned to Detroit in August, and was dis- 
charged on the first of September. 

OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS FRO.M LIVINGSTON 
COUNTY. 
Company A. 
Orlando G. Crandall, Deerficld, enlisted December 29, 1864; mus- 
tered ou! .\ugust 13, 1S65. 



86 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Abram Eberhart, enlisted Fel>ruary 24, 1S62; discharged at end 

of service, April 9, 1865. 
Albert Frank, mustered out August 13, 1865. 
Charles Hamilton, enlisted February 21, 1S62; died of disease 

July 17, 1862. 
Benjamin Paulding, enlisted April 13, 1S64; died in Anderson- 

ville prison-pen. 
Abithene G. Randall, Handy, enlisted January 5, 1S62; died of 

disease July 12, 1862. 

Company B. 

William K. Bienner, Oceola, enlisted April 10, 1S65; mustered 
out August 13, 1865. 

Samuel Carpenter, Genoa, enlisted April 8, 1S65; mustered out 
August 13, 1865. 

Charles Cook, Genoa, enlisted April 10, 1S65 ; mustered out Au- 
gust 13, 1865. 

Glover Dorr, Deerfield, enlisted April 8, 1865 ; mustered out Au- 
gust 13, 1865. 

Daniel A. EUingwood, Howell, enlisted April i, 1865; mustered 
out August 13, 1865. 

George Heckler, Oceola, enlisted April to, 1865; mustered out 
August 13, 1S65. 

Preston Mills, Deerfield, enlisted April 11, 1865; mustered out 
August 13, 1S65. 

And. McVey, Deerfield, enlisteil April 10, iS55 ; mustered out 
August 13, 1S65. 

John Woods, mustered out August 13, 1865. 

David C. Young, mustered out August 13, 1865. 

Company C. 
John W. Andrews, mustered out August 13, 1865. 
Job Durfee, discharged for disability, June 12, 1862. 
William Woods, died of disease at Corinth, Mississippi. 

Company D. 

Captain Eiastus A. Pratt, Brighton, October i, 1862; first lieuten- 
ant October 22, 1S61 ; transferred to Company A; mus- 
tered out December 24, 1864. 

First Lieutenant Andrew J. Bishop, Howell, October i, 1862; 
second lieutenant Decembers, '861; promoted to captain; 
mustered out as first lieutenant January 28, 1865. 

Sergeant William L. Collins, Handy, enlisted November 9, 1861 ; 
discharged for disability, August 3, 1862. 

Corporal Jacob S. Burgess, Putnam, enlisted November 5, 1861 ; 
died of disease at St. Louis, Missouri, May 17, 1862. 

Corporal Charles Biockway, Howell, enlisted December 9, 1861 ; 
died of disease at St. Louis, Missouri, May 22, 1862. 

Corporal Martin Galvin, Putnam, enlisted November 5, 1S61 ; 
died of disease at Shiloh, Tennessee, April 28, 1862. 

Corporal James P. Jacoby, Putnam, enlisted November 9, 1861 ; 
discharged June 25, 1862. 

Corporal Peter Smith, Putnam, enlisted November 5, 1S61 ; dis- 
charged for disability, October 14, 1862. 

Corporal William Robertson, Putnam, enlisted November 5, 1861 ; 
service ended December 24, 1864; discharged. 

Corporal Thomas Moran, Putnam, enlisted November 5, iS5i. 

Musician Elias E. Brockway, Howell, enlisted December 9, 1861 ; 
veteran, February 15, 1864; mustered out with company, 
August 13, 1865. 

Edward Allen, Brighton, enlisted March 17, 1862; veteran, Feb- 
ruaiy 2, 1864; mustered out August 13, 1865. 

Patrick Burns, Brighton, enlisted March 17, 1862; veteran, Feb- 
ruary 2, 1864; killed by cars, April 30, 1S64. 

William Blackman, died of disease in Michigan, March, 1863. 

Thomas Barry, Howell, enlisted December 30, 1861 ; veteran, 
February 2, 1864; discharged by order, January 17, lS65. 

George F. Brockway, Howell, enlisted December 9, 1S61 ; vet- 
eran, Februaiy 15, 1S64; mustered out August 13, 1865. 



Jesse Bowers, Handy, enlisted November ig, 1861 ; died of disease 
at Corinth, Mississippi, May 31, 1S62. 

William H. Bentley, Brighton, enlisted November 30, 1S61 ; died 
of disease at Camp Monroe, February 6, 1862. 

John N. Bartholomew, Putnam, enlisted November 4, 1861 ; 
killed in action at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. 

Nelson Beardsley, Howell, enlisted December 19, 1S61 ; killed 
in action at Corinth, October 3, 1862. 

William P. Bi'iggs, died of disease in Plowell, July iS, 1S62. 

William E. Blackburn, missing in battle. 

Hiram Bristol, Handy, enlisted November Tp, 1861 ; discharged 
for disability, July I, 1862. 

Francis J. Clark, Hamburg, enlisted November 5, 1861; dis- 
charged at end of service. May 30, 1865. 

Erastus H. Carr, died of disease July 2, 1862. 

Isaac Countryman, Howell, enlisted November 6, iS6l; dis- 
charged for disability, August 19, 1862. 

Horace E. Barbour, Howell, enlisted December 9, 1S61 ; dis- 
charged for disability, January 19, 1863. 

John C. Coleman, Handy, enlisted December 5, 1861 ; discharged 
August 3, 1862. 

Henry Chalmers, mustered out August 13, 1865. 

John Daniels, Howell, enlisted November 19, 1861 ; veteran, 
February 2, 18645 mustered out August 13, 1865. 

William Denson, Handy, enlisted November 19, 1861 ; discharged 
August 3, 1862. 

Marsalus Dickinson, Handy, enlisted December 7, 1861 ; dis- 
charged for disability, June 12, 1S62. 

George Decker, Putnam, enlisted November 7, 1S61; killed in 
action at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. 

Franklin E. Fox, Handy, enlisted September 6, 1S64; discharged 
by order. May 30, 1865. 

George Fox, Howell, enlisted February 10, 1863; mustered out 
August 13, 1865. 

Schuyler E. Goodrich, Putnam, enlisted February 17, 1862; died 
October 14, 1S62, of wounds, at St. Louis, Missouri. 

Henry Gardener, Putnam, enlisted November 9, 1861 ; discharged 
at end of service, December 24, 1864. 

Cornelius C. Helms, Howell, enlisted December 9, 1861 ; dis- 
charged for disability, August 9, 1862. 

Henry C. Helms, Howell, enlisted F'ebruary 10, 1863; mustered 
out August 13, 1865. 

Jerome D. Helms, mustered out August 13, 1S65. 

Martin Galvin, died of disease at .Shiloh, April 28, 1862. 

William Herrick, Putnam, enlisted February I, 1S62; died of dis- 
e.ise at Corinth, Mississippi, July 7, 1862. 

Philander Hill, Putnam, enlisted November 19, 1861 ; discharged 
for disability, December 3, 1862. 

Ransom Kelsey, died of disease at Memphis, October 19, 1S63. 

George Kimball, Howell, enlisted February 10, 1863; mustered 
out August 13, 1865. 

Clark Lounsberry, enlisted Februarys, 1862; discharged for disa- 
bility, August 3, 1862. 

Michael Lyons, Putnam, enlisted November 5, 1861; veteran, 
February 2, 1864; mustered out August 13, 1865. 

John Lake, Howell, enlisted February 10, 1863; died of disease 
at Camp Sherman, September 2, 1863. 

Enon Love, mustered out August 13, 1865. 

Heuiy C. Norton, enlisted February 6, 1S62; died May 29, 1862. 

George Paddock, enlisted January 12, 1862; killed in action at 
Shiloh, April 6, 1862. 

Silas Placeway, Putnam, enlisted February i, 1862; mustered out 
August 13, 1865. 

Eli Shaver, discharged for wounds, March 2, 1865. 

Fred. Frowd, Putnam, enlisted November 19, 1S61 ; killed in ac- 
ton at Shiloh, April 6, 1S62. 

John D. Vaughn, Cohoctah, enlisted March 31, 1S64 ; died of dis- 
ease at Marietta, Georgia, September 16, 1864. 

William Vanorden, Putnam, enlisted November 5, 1S61 ; dis- 
charged for disability, August 9, 1862. 



TWENTY-SECOND INFANTRY. 



87 



James E. Wliiie, riiln.iin, enlisted November 5, 1S61 ; discharged 
for disability, June 30, 1S62. 

Bruce Welton, killed in action at Sliiloh, April 6, 1862. 

Theo. Washl)urn, Howell, enlisted March 31, 1864; Killed in ac- 
tion near Atlanta, Georgia, July 28, 1S64. 

Albert H. \V(irlbini;ton,Oceola, enlisted December 30, 1861; cor- 
poral ; dieil of disease August g, 1862. 

Jacob Zeely Howell, enlisted December 30, l86i ; died of disease 
May 8, 1S62. 

Company E. 

Albert G. Dorrance, mustered out August 13, 1S65. 

Nicholas G. Holt, Howell, enlisted April 4, 1865; mustered out 
August 13, 1S65. 

George Sliroepper, mustered out August 13, 1865. 
Company F. 

Samuel Axtell, Howell, enlisted December 30, 1861 ; died of dis- 
ease at Cincinnati, Ohio, April 23, 1862. 

George Bunting, mustered out August 13, 1865. 

La«Tence Cronan, Deertield, enlisted January iS, 1S62 ; discharged 
at end of service, January 29, 1S65. 

Alonzo Evans, enlisted January 12, 1862; discharged for disability. 

Almon Holcomb, mustered out August 13, 1865. 

Albert E. Newman, mustered out August 13, 1865. 

Hamilton W. Davis, Green Oak, enlisted March 31, 1864; killed 
in action at Atlanta, Georgia, July 20, 1864. 

Theodore R. Staley, Howell, enlisted April 4, 1865 ; discharged 
by order, July 3, 1865. 

Company G. 

Willi.am Dorrance, mustered out August 13, 1S65. 

John Porter, mustered out August 13, 1865. 

William Sprigg, enlisted March 29, 1865; discharged by order, 
August 15, 1865. 

William Watson, discharged by order, July 12, 1865. 

Company //. 

John Harding, Deerfield, enlisted December 29, 1864; mustered 
out August 13, 1865. 

Henry Holihan, mustered out August 13, 1865. 

Samuel Wallace, Hartland, enlisted March 29, 1S65; mustered 
out August 13, 1865. 

Solomon Ur.agg, Deerfreld, died of disease in iS()2 at Keokuk, 
Iowa. 

Isaac Felton, Deei field, enlisted January 3, 1862; died of disease 
about June I, 1862, at St. Louis. 

William Goodale, died of disease in 1862 at Mound City. 

J.ames Kempton, Deerfield, enlisted January 2, 1862; died of dis- 
ease in 1862, at Pittsburg Lantling. 



CHAPTER IX. 

TWENTY-SECOND INFANTRY. 

Livingston County Volunteers in the Twenty-second — Rendez- 
vous at Pontiac — Departure for the Theatre of War — Reception 
at Cincinnati — Campaigning in Kentucky — Capture of Prisoners 
— Long St.ay at Lexington — Sickness in the Regiment — Death 
of Colonel Wisner — March to N.ashville, and Long .Stay there 
— March to Bridgeport, Chattanooga, and Rossville, Georgia — 
Terrible Battle of Chickamauga — The Killed, Wounded, and 
Captured in that Fight — Return of the Remnant to Chattanooga 
— Under Artillery Fire at Moccasin Point — Arduous Duly on 
Short Rations — Moving Pontoon-Trains — Battles of Lookout 
and Mission Ridge — Recruiting the Regiment- — The Atlanta 
Campaign, and Occupation of that City — Return to Chattanooga 
— Seven Months of F.atigiie Duty at that Place — Muster Out 
and Discharge of the Regiment. 

A LAKfiE number of Livingston County volun- 
teers entered the Twenty-second Infantry duiing 



the war of tlie Rebellion, .serving in several of its 
companies, but principally in " H" company, which 
went into the service under command of Captain 
Henry S. Dean, of Green Oak, First Lieutenant 
William A. Smith, of Marion, and Second Lieu- 
tenant Lewis Brown, of Howell, as its original 
commissioned officers. 

Captain Dean, who was afterwards promoted 
successively to the grades of major and lieutenant- 
colonel of the Twenty-second, is now a resident 
of Ann Arbor. He is probably more fully ac- 
quainted with the history of the regiment than any 
other person now living, and he has kindly fur- 
nished the following narrative of its organization, 
and its honorable services in the great struggle. 

On the fifteenth of July, 1S62, the Governor of 
Michigan, as commander-in-chief of its forces, 
issued General Order No. 154, calling into service 
six regiments of infantrj', and designating the Fifth 
Congressional District as the one in which the 
Twenty-second Michigan Volunteer Infantry 
should be raised ; located the camp at Pontiac, 
and appointed ex-Governor Moses Wisner its 
commandant. 

On the eighth of August, 1862, Governor Wisner 
was commissioned colonel of the Twenty-second ; 
Heber Le Favour, Lieutenant-Colonel ; William 
Sanborn, Maj'or ; A. P. McConnell, Surgeon ; Ed- 
gar Weeks, Adj'utant; T. C. Boughton, Quarter- 
master ; Wells B. Fox, Assistant Surgeon ; and 
A. E. Mather, Chaplain. 

On the 3 1st of July following, commissions were 
issued to the line officers, and on the rgth of 
August, 1862, the regiment had its full quota of 
officers and men mustered into the United States 
service. Every member of the regiment remem- 
bers the many acts of courtesy and kindness ex- 
tended to them b\- the citizens of Pontiac during 
the time the regiment was encamped there. 

September 4, 1862, the regiment left its camj) 
on the Fair-Grounds and marched, one thousand 
strong, to the depot. At two p.m. the train on 
which the Twentj^-second was embarked left the 
depot, followed by the best wishes and prayers of 
thou.sands of loyal men and women, and sped on 
its way to the field of duty. Late tliat evening it 
took the boat for Cleveland, at which place it 
arrived on the morning of September sth. From 
that place to Cincinnati the regiment went by rail, 
arriving at midnight. It was marched (as seemed 
to the marchers) through nearly every street in 
Cincinnati. 

At two o'clock A.M., September 6th, the regi' 
ment was given a public breakfast by the city 
authorities at the Fifth Street Market-house, and, 
what will seem hardly credible to an old soldier, 



88 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



the men had to be told to fill their haversacks be- 
fore leaving the table. This, however, was an order 
that it was never necessary to repeat thereafter. 
After breakfast the regiment crossed the Ohio to 
Covington, Kentucky, and retired to rest upon the 
paved streets of that town. Hard as was the bed, 
sweet was the sleep of one thousand tired men 
unaccustomed to carrying arms and knapsacks. 
During the forenoon of that day the regiment 
marched to the front, and at noon formed line 
of battle on the well-remembered ground of the 
" Cabbage Hill Fight." "Skirmishers were thrown 
forward to feel of the enemy. After feeling some 
time they captured two prisoners of their own com- 
mand heavily laden with rebel turkeys. The bat- 
tle rased until midnight, resulting in fearful loss 
of Southern cabbage. At midnight the regiment 
retired in good order to the cover of a fort. Not 
having any ammunition, it did not fire a shot in this 



Sunday, September 7th, it remained at the fort 
until late in the evening, when it marched a mile 
to the front, pitched tents, and lay down until one 
A.M. At that hour the bugle sounded "strike 
tents," which it did, and marched back to Camp 
Wallace. Here it had its first experience in build- 
ing fortifications, and. was engaged in that work 
until September 1 8th, at which date it marched 
five miles to Florence, Kentucky, and went into 
camp on the Fair-Ground at that place. It was 
there that one of the line officers discovered a new 
use for tin plates. September 19th, it marched 
nine miles south of Florence, and encamped on 
the farm of one Poor, whose property received the 
protection of the regiment that night. On the 
twentieth of September it marched hi a southerly 
direction eight miles and camped for the night. 
September 21st it was marched back over the 
route it had come to within twelve miles of Cov- 
ington, and pitched its tents in what was called 
Camp Walton. 

It was supposed by some that this retrograde 
movement was made for the purpose of familiar- 
izing the regiment with the character. of the coun- 
try in which it was operating. From the twenty- 
first of September to October 9th, the regiment 
remained at Camp Walton^ forming line of battle 
from one to five times a night to meet the attacks 
of John Morgan's cavalry, which were never made. 
From Camp Walton it marched to Williamston 
and there pitched tents, naming its resting-place 
Camp Wells. There it remained until eleven 
o'clock P.M., October 14th, when all who were fit 
for duty marched for Cynthiana, arriving at that 
place on the fifteenth of October, at nine p.m. The 
detachment left at Camp Wells marched for Lex- 



ington, Kentucky, on the seventeenth of October, 
and arrived at that place on the twenty-first. At 
Georgetown, through which the detachment passed, 
the regiment had its first experience upon the sub- 
ject of returning slaves to their masters. This 
they were ordered to do by General Q. A. Gillmore, 
the only general (with one exception) who ever 
asked or ordered the Twenty-second Michigan In- 
fantry to act the part of slave-catchers. 

On the night of October i6th, one company of 
the regiment moved under orders from Cynthiana 
to Townsend Bridge, arriving there at daylight on 
October 17th. On the afternoon of that day this 
company was ordered to march for Paris, Ken- 
tucky, arriving there at four o'clock a.m., October 
1 8th. W^ith the aid of a detachment of the Tenth 
Kentucky Cavalry, one hundred prisoners of Hum- 
phrey Marshall's command were captured. At seven 
o'clock A.M. information was received from Lexing- 
ton that John Morgan was moving upon Paris 
with two thousand cavalry and one battery of 
light artillery. Three negroes were dispatched 
to Cynthiana by hand-car to notify Colonel Wis- 
ner of Morgan's movements. At two o'clock p.m. 
of that day Colonel Wisner left Cynthiana with 
the regiment, and arrived in Paris at seven p.m., 
making the march of eighteen miles in five hours. 
That march secured to the Twenty-second the title 
of the " marching regiment." John Morgan, as 
was usual with that general when he had i-eason 
to expect an equal force, did not make his appear- 
ance. From Paris the regiment marched in pur- 
suit of Humphrey Marshall, who was retreating 
from Kentucky into Virginia by way of Pound 
Gap. It passed through Lancaster to Athens, 
Kentucky, where it received orders to proceed 
to Lexington. It did so, and arrived at that 
place October 26, 1S62. 

Welcome to the regiment was the sight of its 
tents pitched by the detachment which had reached 
Lexington in advance of the main body. When it 
left Camp Walton, October 9th, it did so in " light 
marching order," the meaning of which every old 
soldier understands and will not soon forget, if the 
ground be covered with snow as it was in this 
instance. Tents were a luxury, and one that it had 
not enjoj'ed for seventeen days. 

From October 26, 1862, until February 21, 1863, 
the regiment remained in Camp Ella Bishop, at 
Lexington, Kentucky. Here it learned the terrible 
fact that the enemy's bullets were not the only 
dangers incident to the life of a soldier. The four 
months spent in Lexington were attended with a 
great deal of suffering, and but slight good to com- 
pensate therefor. The rigid performance of picket 
duty in open fields without the shadow of a shelter 



TWENTY-SECOND INFANTRY. 



89 



from the cold and storms of winter, without fires, 
sleeping on the damp ground, not permitted to use 
straw that through the generosity of citizens was 
offered to the regiment, brought sickness, suffering, 
and death upon it. Scores of noble men lie sleeping 
in the cemetery at Lexington, who died in conse- 
quence of exposure in picketing their own camps 
to prevent Union soldiers from entering the town 
of Lexington, for there was not an armed enemy 
within the State at that time. 

On the fifth of January, 1863, occurred the death 
of one whom the people of Michigan loved to 
lionor; one who, if he had been spared, would 
have added another to the roll of noble soldiers 
Michigan furnished in her country's dark hour of 
trial. Colonel Moses Wisner breathed his last at 
Lexington, Kentucky, on that day, after a lingering 
and painful illness. His last words were full of 
love for his country, and of sympathy and hopes 
for the well-being of his regiment. Lieutenant- 
Colonel Heber Le Favour was promoted to the 
colonelcy of the regiment upon the death of Col- 
onel Wisner, and Major William Sanborn was 
made lieutenant-colonel. A major* was taken 
fiom among the line officers. 

February 21, 1863, the regiment marched to 
Hickman Bridge, on the Kentucky River, camp- 
ing that night on what was called the Scott Farm 
upon ground covered with snow. Soon after the 
tents were pitched several hay-stacks in the vicin- 
ity melted away. From appearances the next 
morning part of the hay must have lodged be- 
neath the tents of the men. It was reported by 
a member of the regiment who called upon Mrs. 
Scott that her favorite chicken, Zolicoffer, was a 
room-mate of the old lady's on that stormy night. 
February 22d the regiment marched from Hick- 
man Bridge to Danville, and remained there until 
the afternoon of the twenty-third, when it marched 
back to Hickman Bridge, arriving there at mid- 
night nearly worn out. The men lay down in 
open air to sleep if they could. Scarcely had 
they done so when a dispatch was received from 
our general, Q. A. Gillmore, ordering the regiment 
to return to Lexington as soon as possible. At 
one o'clock a.m. it was moving in the direction of 
Lexington. The camp-equipage was unloaded 
from the wagons at the bridge, and as far as it was 
possible those who could not march farther were 
taken into the wagons. At daylight the Twenty- 
second reached Nicholasville and took the cars 
for Lexington. Upon its arrival at the latter place 
Companies B, E, G, and K were ordered to proceed 
to Cynthiana to guard that place again.st a threat- 

*Captnin Henry S. Dean. 



ened attack. The detachment reached Cynthiana 
in the afternoon of February 25th, tired and 
hungry, without rations, and with no government 
stores to draw upon. Through the kindness of a 
loyal man, the officer commanding the detachment 
was furnished with the names of six rich rebels, 
who were requested to furnish and cook rations 
for the men, which they did with as good a grace 
as could be e.xpected under the circumstances. 
To the credit of those parties be it said that for the 
two days that they kept boarding-house for Union 
soldiers they set a good table. In the absence of 
better fortifications the detachment occupied a 
couple of stone churches and a school-house which 
commanded the town and its approaches. 

As the vandalism of Northern soldiers is some- 
times spoken of, it is proper to mention here that 
the mark of pencil or knife or any other deface- 
ment was not left in any of the buildings re- 
ferred to, nor did a valuable set of astronomical 
instruments bear the slightest trace of injury re- 
ceived at the hands of the soldiers quartered in the 
room where they were kept. The detachment re- 
turned to Le.xington on the twenty-si.xth of Feb- 
ruary, where the rest of the regiment had remained 
since its return from Danville. On the twenty- 
first of March the regiment again moved to Dan- 
ville, to look after General Pegram's raiding-party. 
It accomplished the march from Lexington to 
Danville, forty miles, in eighteen hours. It was 
quartered in the churches of the latter place on the 
night of the twenty-third of March. Early the 
ne.xt day it was moved out a mile on the Stanford 
road and went into camp. At eleven o'clock a.m., 
March 25th, the enemy made his appearance and 
opened fire upon the regiment from his mountain- 
howitzers. Line of battle was formed, but it was 
soon apparent that the enemy had designs upon 
our baggage-train, which had been put in motion 
in the direction of Hickman Bridge. The bugle 
sounded "strike tents," and the regiment fell back 
through Danville to protect the rear of the train. 

The roads were in a terrible condition, ankle-deep 
with mud, and rain began to fall in torrents. The 
enemy made frequent attacks from among the tim- 
ber which skirted the road upon which the train 
and troops were moving. Under these trying 
circumstances the regiment was hurried back to 
Hickman Bridge. In this skirmish the regiment 
had two men wounded and one captured. Late at 
night, tired and hungry, the regiment reached the 
bridge, and lay down in the rain and mud to sleep. 
The ne.xt morning, upon the heights on the north 
side of the Kentucky River, the favorite war-steed 
of one of the line officers was found dead. 
Whether the wound in his side, tiirough which his 



90 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



life-blood flowed out, was inflicted by a bayo- 
net or bullet history does not record. For two 
days the regiment remained in the vicinity of the 
bridge, the enemy making occasional demonstra- 
tions on the picket-line. On the twenty-eighth of 
March it moved back to Nicholasville, and from 
there marched to Camp Dick Robinson and 
camped. The next day it marched to Lancaster, 
and on the thirtieth, marched to Crab Orchard. 

Here the regiment slept in buildings then lately 
occupied by the rebels, and on the morning fol- 
lowing some of the plainest and most unassuming 
men of the command were accompanied by body- 
guards, which for numbers were unsurpassed by 
those of any of the generals of the army. With 
the character of those guards few old soldiers are 
unacquainted. March 31st, the regiment moved 
towards Somerset, on the Cumberland River, in 
which direction Pegram was endeavoring to escape 
with his plunder. That night it encamped at Buck- 
horn Creek in the snow, without tents. Whoever 
had direction of affairs in that campaign appeared 
to be full in the faith that infantry could keep pace 
with cavalry, and the regiment was but eight miles 
in the rear of our cavalry when it overtook the 
enemy at Somerset and captured four hundred 
prisoners and the cattle he had stolen. 

Under orders to proceed to Tennessee the regi- 
ment took up its line of march for Lebanon, Ken- 
tucky, on the first of April, and arrived there on 
the ninth. At that place it saw and heard the last 
of the negro question. It was detained thirty-two 
hours by Brigadier-General Manson, because it 
refused to give up the colored servants who had 
been with it since its first arrival in Kentucky. 
This officer went so far as to order out troops to 
enforce his demand for the negroes with the regi- 
ment. Its commanding officer firmly refused to 
give them up, and the matter was referred to Gen- 
eral Burnside, who ordered the regiment to pro- 
ceed at once to Nashville, which it did, taking its 
servants along. To-day it hardly seems possible 
that a brigadier-general in the United States army 
could be found who would order Union soldiers 
to load their arms for the purpose of enforcing 
such a demand. There was such an one, how- 
ever, in command at Lebanon, Kentucky, on the 
tenth of April, 1863. 

From Lebanon, Kentucky, to Nashville, Ten- 
nessee, the regiment proceeded by rail, arriving at 
the latter place on the evening of April 13, 1S63. 
The survivors of the regiment who were with it 
on that occasion will not forget the cheers that 
went up when it crossed the line dividing loyal 
Kentucky from rebel Tennessee. At Nashville 
the regiment remained doing interior guard duty 



until September 5, 1863, at which date it was or- 
dered to Chattanooga. It went by rail as far as 
Bridgeport, Alabama, where it camped on Seven- 
Mile Island, in the Tennessee River, and remained 
there until September 13th, when it marched to 
Chattanooga, distant twenty-eight miles, leaving 
its camp and garrison equipage on the island. 
The country lying between Bridgeport and Chat- 
tanooga is the roughest probably over which the 
regiment ever marched. Early on the morning of 
September 14th it was on what has since become 
historic ground — Lookout Mountain — from which 
it could look down upon Chattanooga Valley with 
the town of that name twenty-two hundred feet 
below it. It passed to the right of Chattanooga 
and camped at Rossville, Georgia. The march of 
thirty miles was made on the thirteenth of Septem- 
ber and the night following, without halts, save 
such as are more fatiguing to a soldier than steady 
marching, viz. : halting for a baggage-train to 
move on, not knowing at what moment it will 
start, while the men are kept standing in readiness 
to march as soon as it does move. Every soldier 
that has marched in the rear of a train over rough 
roads fully understands how fatiguing is such a 
march. At Rossville, when the commands halt, 
front, stack arms, were given, every musket that 
left Bridgeport was placed in stack, and not a man 
was out of his place. 

On the seventeenth of September the forces 
under General Steadman, of which the Twenty- 
second was a part, were ordered to feel of the enemy 
gently in the vicinity of Ringgold, Georgia. At Pea- 
Vine Creek, near that place, the enemy was found 
in force, and artillery practice was indulged in on 
both sides. Having accomplished all that was in- 
tended by the movement, the forces fell back, and 
went into camp about five miles from Ringgold. 
Just as the regiment had rolled itself in its blankets 
for the night, it was aroused by the dropping of 
rebel shell into the camp. The pickets fell back 
upon the main body at double-quick, which cre- 
ated some confusion. The staff officer who estab- 
lished the picket-line ordered the picket to fall 
back in that manner if attacked, for which he was 
dismissed from the service, it being a direct viola- 
tion of the orders he had received from the general 
commanding. The pickets were sent out again, 
and the remainder of the night was passed in quiet, 
the enemy having withdrawn. On the eighteenth 
of September the regiment returned to Rossville, 
and from there it again marched in the direction of 
Ringgold. On the nineteenth of .September it had 
some skirmishing with the enemy near McAffee's 
Church, which, as some who were present remem- 
ber, was not confined to musketry alone. That 



TWENTY-SECOND INFANTRY. 



91 



night the regiment hiy on its arms near the 
cliurch. 

On Sunday morning, September 20, 1863, five 
hundred and one men of the Twenty-second Mich- 
igan Infantry drew rations and niarclied with the 
Reserve Corps, under General Gordon Granger, to 
the support of General Thomas, whose forces were 
heavily engaged with the enemy to the right of 
McAffee's Cliurch. At two o'clock p.m. the regi- 
ment made a charge upon the enemj', who was 
pressing round General Thomas' right wing, and 
for five hours held its position. Between four and 
five P.M. its ammunition was exiiausted. Informa- 
tion to that effect was sent to the general com- 
manding, who sent back tlie order, " Hold the 
ground with the bayonet." This was done by re- 
peated charges upon the enemy, when he made an 
effort to drive the regiment from its position. 
Under cover of the smoke of battle and the gath- 
ering darkness of night the rest of our forces weie 
withdrawn, leaving a devoted little band — consist- 
ing of the Twentj'-second Michigan and an Ohio 
regiment — to hold the battle-field of Chickamauga. 
Soon after dark fourteen officers and one hundred 
and seventy-eight enlisted men, all that were left of 
tiie regiment who went into the engagement, were 
surrounded by overwhelming numbers and made 
prisoners. Colonel Heber Le Favour commanded 
the brigade, of which the Twenty-second was a 
part, during the action. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Sanborn, commanding the 
regiment, was severely wounded in the early part 
of the engagement. Captain A. M. Keeler as- 
sumed command when brave Sanborn fell. Cap- 
tains Snell and Smith fell mortally wounded. The 
report made at the time was one officer killed, two 
wounded, and fourteen missing ; of enlisted men, 
thirty-seven killed, eighty-seven wounded, and two 
hundred and thirty-three missing in action. That 
short but appalling sentence, missing in action, in- 
cluded many who fell to rise no more. But for 
the fact that one company was ordered to remain 
as guard at General Granger's headquarters, there 
would have been but few left to tell the tale. 
What there was left of the regiment fit for duty 
camped at Rossville on the night of September 
20th, and the next day marched to Chattanooga 
and crossed to the north side of the Tennessee 
River. One hundred and ninety-three officers and 
men of the regiment went into rebel prisons. The 
seventeen months and eleven days that their cap- 
tivity lasted, carried a large proportion of their 
number down to nameless graves. If on the day 
they entered the rebel prison-pen a child had been 
born that should not die until it had lived the 
aggregate number of years spent in prison by 



the Twenty-second Michigan Infantry, that child 
would have been two hundred and seventy-three 
years, eight months, and seven days old on the day 
of its death. 

During the week following the battle of Chick- 
amauga the regiment was engaged in throwing up 
fortifications on Moccasin Point, where it went into 
camp September 27, 1863, numbering one hundred 
and eighty-seven officers and men fit for duty. 
This number was soon increased to three hundred 
by General Thomas' order, directing detailed men 
to be returned to the regiment. On the eighth of 
October the enemy opened a heavy fire upon the 
command, from his batteries at the base of Lookout 
Mountain. The Tenth Indiana Battery which the 
Twenty-second was sup[)orting, returned the fire 
with interest, and that night the enemy moved his 
batteries up the mountain. The ne.\t morning the 
enemy's artillery practice commenced from Point 
Lookout upon the camp, and was kept up from 
that day until the battles of Lookout Mountain and 
Mission Ridge drove him from his guns. For six 
weeks tliere was hardly an hour in the day or night 
that rebel shell did not screech over or into the 
camp. There were many narrow escapes, some 
dodging of heads and sudden reclinings at full 
length, but, what seemed almost miraculous, no 
one was hurt. 

From September 27th until after the battle of 
Mission Ridge the regiment knew what it was to 
be hungry. Three-fourths of one ration was issued 
to each man, and that had to last four days. It 
is hardly necessary to say that the fourth day after 
the issue of rations was a day of fasting to every 
man in the regiment. That small amount of food 
could not be made to last beyond the third da\-. 
The regiment was hungry, ragged, and bare-footed, 
but its Michigan grit failed not. 

On one occasion one-half the usual short ration 
was issued. Late in the evening of the second 
day afterwards an order was received from brigade 
headquarters announcing that there would be no 
more rations issued for two days. In the darkness 
of night the regiment formed in line to have the 
order announced to it. After the order was read 
the commantling officer said to the men that on 
the march and on the battle-field they had proven 
themselves true soldiers, and that two days from 
that time he could tell them whether they were 
good soldiers when hungry and without rations. 
With such a state of facts staring them in the face, 
who would not honor and love men who could 
send up a cheer such as did those men on that 
dark and dreary night? . . . On the night of October 
27th the regiment was ordered to lie upon its arms 
at one o'clock am. The roar of artillery and rattle 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



of musketry gave notice that the enemy had dis- 
covered the Union forces crossing the Tennessee 
River at Brown's Ferry. At four o'clock A.M., Oc- 
tober 28th, the regiment, with the brisrade to which 
it was attached, moved to the assistance of Gen- 
eral Hooker, who was fighting to open the " Hard- 
Tack Line," as the boys called it. At daylight it 
crossed the pontoon-bridge laid at Brown's Ferry, 
and was soon after ordered to take possession of a 
hill in front of General Hooker's right flank, which 
it did, and for once the front proved the safest 
place, for the enemy's shot and shell either struck 
the ground below them or went over the hill and 
fell among the troops in the rear. As the regi- 
ment was moving to its position, some of the troops 
just over from the Eastern army took occasion to 
make remarks more pointed than complimentary 
concerning the clothing of the Michiganders. 
" You may wear better clothes, but you can't do 
any better fighting," was the reply made to those 
remarks. 

On that da)- the regiment ate the first full meal 
it had had in a long time ; it consisted of wheat 
and corn in the ear. On the twenty-ninth of Octo- 
ber the regiment returned to Moccasin Point, again 
on short rations and iiard work, building corduroy- 
road from Brown's Ferry to Chattanooga. It was 
engaged in this work until November 21, 1863, 
when it was assigned the duty of moving a pon- 
toon-train to a point on the Tennessee River four 
miles above Chattanooga, preparatory to the cross- 
ing of General Sherman's forces to take part in 
the battle of Mission Ridge. 

At nine o'clock p.m. of the dark and stormy 
night of November 21st, a heavy train of pontoon 
wagons and boats was delivered to the regiment 
to be taken to the point designated on the river. 
The most profound secrecy was enjoined. The 
mules that were to move the train were so reduced 
by starvation that some of them could scarcely 
stand alone. 

The road was mud, a.xle-deep. Before starting, 
the regiment was told that upon its exertions for 
the next thirty hours depended in a great measure 
the success of the movement about to be made 
against the enemy. That if weak mules could 
not move the wagons, men must, — if wagons were 
broken they must be repaired at once. 

The missing wheels from General Palmer's 
anmiunition-train, which was parked beside the 
road on which the train was moving, gave proof 
that the order to repair breakage was promptly 
obeyed. When wagons were capsized they were 
quickly righted by the strong arms of brave men. 
When mules and wagons were mired, men knee- 
deep in mud pushed or pulled them out. The 



task was not completed when day began to break 
on the morning of November 22d. Wagons and 
boats were quickly concealed in thickets, behind 
hills, or by piling brush over them. The men, 
tired, hungry, and without rations, lay down in the 
underbrush to await the darkness of another night. 
On the night of November 23d the same experi- 
ence was repeated, and the pontoon-train parked 
in its position. 

Some idea of the slcill and secrecy with which 
the movements preceding the battle of Mission 
Ridge were carried out may be derived from the 
fact that the men of the Twenty-second had not the 
least knowledge that General Sherman, with fifteen 
thousand troops, lay concealed just over the hills, 
forty rods to their left; nor did the enemy get the 
slightest inkling of what was going on until one 
of General Sherman's captains made the grand 
rounds of their picket-line on the south side of the 
river. At one o'clock .4.M., November 26, 1863, 
the regiment was under arms to take part in meet- 
ing any resistance the enemy might make to the 
laying of the pontoon-bridge. But the movement 
had been conducted with such secrecy that the 
enemy's pickets did not discover the first landing- 
party until they did so as prisoners. Before the 
bridge was completed, five thousand men had 
been thrown across the river in pontoon-boats, 
and at nine o'clock a.m. General Sherman's whole 
force was on the south side of the Tennessee 
River. 

As soon as the crossing was effected, the regi- 
ment was ordered to take the pontoon-train back 
to Chattanooga and lay a bridge at that point. 
Those who were present will not forget the ad- 
vance of General Thomas in the centre on the 
first day; the roar of battle while General Hooker 
and his men were above the clouds on the second 
day; nor the five-mile line of battle that charged 
up the side of Mission Ridge on the third and last 
day of the battle, just as the last boat was placed 
in position, which completed the bridge over which 
a goodly number of Bragg's army marched as 
prisoners. 

On the twentj'-eighth of November the regiment 
left its camp on Moccasin Point and encamped at 
the junction of Chattanooga Creek, with the Ten- 
nessee River one mile below Chattanooga. From 
that date until May 38, 1864, it was engaged in 
building railroad-bridges, storehouses, magazines, 
and saw-mills. It used to be said, if you want 
anything made, from a watch to a saw-mill, go to 
a Michigan regiment, and they will do it; and the 
Twenty-second was not an exception to the rule. 
It would require a long narrative to tell all that 
the regiment accomplished in that line. Suffice it 



TWENTY-SECOND INFANTRY. 



93 



to say that it was never idle, and that when it 
worked, no men accomplished more than tlie 
Twenty-second Michigan Infantry. On the six- 
teenth of January, 1864, the cars began to run 
from Bridgeport to Chattanooga, at which time 
the long season of short rations ended. 

Through the efforts of a recruiting-party, sent 
home to Michigan under command of Captain 
Atkinson and Lieutenant Breidenbach, the regi- 
ment was filled up to something near its old quota 
during the months of March and April, 1864. 
May 19th it went into camp on Lookout Mountain, 
where it remained until May 26th, when it received 
orders to report to General Thomas in the field, 
and took up its line of march to the front. It pro- 
ceeded by rail as far as Kingston, Georgia, and 
from there marched three and a half miles on the 
Cassville road, and camped at sunset. May 28th. 
Just as the regiment was comfortably settled for 
the night, a dispatch was received from the post- 
commander at Kingston, stating that the regiment 
was on the wrong road, and in imminent danger 
of being attacked, and advising an immediate re- 
turn to Kingston. After a brief consultation it was 
decided to throw out pickets, and sleep or fight in 
that place. There was some good sleeping done 
that night, but no fighting. 

May 29th it marched back in the direction of 
Kingston, crossed the Etowah River, four miles 
from tliat place, passed through the beautiful little 
town of Euharley , and at five p.m. camped at Altoona 
Creek. May 30th it crossed the Altoona Mount- 
ains, and camped tiiat night on a creek four miles 
from Dallas, Georgia. 

On the thirty-first of May it marched two miles 
to the right of Dallas and reported to General 
Thomas, who ordered the regiment to report to 
General Howard, who directed it to support a 
battery on its right. Here the recruits of the 
regiment first heard the whistle of bullets, and, as 
a rule, few ever forgot how they sounded the first 
time they were heard. 

On the first of June, 1864, the regiment was 
assigned to the Reserve Brigade, Department of 
the Cumberland, Colonel Heber La Favour com- 
manding brigade, to report direct to General 
Thomas. It remained in this brigade until after 
the object of the campaign was accomplished, viz., 
the capture of Atlanta. From the time of the 
organization of the brigade until the fall of that 
place there was almost continuous battle. The 
days on which there were no battles were excep- 
tions to the rule. New Hope Church, Brown's 
Mill Creek, Morris Hill Church, Big Shanty, 
Pumpkin-Vine Creek, Kenesaw Mountain, Mari- 
etta, Rough-and-Ready Station, Vining's, Chatta- 



hoochie River, Peach-Tree Creek, the battles of 
July 22d and 28th in front of Atlanta, and Jones- 
boro', September ist, will be remembered as the 
names given to some of the engagements at which 
the regiment was present, but, as the name of its 
brigade will indicate, it was held as a reserve. 
Fortunate it was for the regiment that the Union 
forces were successful, for when disaster comes any 
position in an army is preferable to that of re- 
serves, — a fact of which the Twenty-second was 
made fully aware at Chickamauga. 

July 1 8th, the regiment was halted on the banks 
of the Chattahoochie River and ordered to build a 
bridge across it. The material for the bridge was 
growing on the margin of the river when it ar- 
rived, and sixty hours thereafter, when it marched 
away, those trees had been converted into a double- 
track bridge two hundred and eighty feet long, at 
an elevation of ten feet above the water, and of 
sufficient strength for the passage of heavy artil- 
lery. July 20th, the regiment built a bridge across 
Nancy Creek, two miles from the Chattahoochie. 
On the twenty-second of July, 1864, it went into 
camp too near to the enemy's works in front of 
Atlanta to render the camp a pleasant one. It 
remained in front of Atlanta until four .\.M., August 
25, 1864, when, with the rest of the army, it made 
the flank movement to the south of that place. 
The men carried four days' rations in haversacks, 
and the regimental transportation carried ten days' 
more. On the twenty-ninth of August it reached 
Red Oak, a small place on the Montgomery Rail- 
road. Early that morning the Twenty-second, 
with the rest of the army, proceeded to the destruc- 
tion of that road. In a few hours thirteen miles of 
railroad was destroyed, thus breaking another of 
the enemy's lines of communication with Atlanta. 

On the thirty-first of August the regiment 
camped at Renfrew's, near Jonesboro', and on the 
first of September it stood to its arms in readiness 
to move at a moment's notice to take part in the 
battle of Jonesboro', which was won on that day 
by the Union forces. . . . 

The battle of Jonesboro', fought twenty-five miles 
south of Atlanta, gave to the Union forces the key 
to the Confederacy, and on the third of September 
the regiment began to retrace its steps to the 
latter place. On the morning of September 8, 
1864, the brigade of which the Twenty-second 
was a part marched into the city of Atlanta with 
light hearts, colors flying, and bands playing. The 
prize that had been fought for, inch by inch, for 
four months, was won at last. It was one, too, at 
a time when the people of the North were dis- 
heartened and despondent. A shout of joy went 
up throughout the North, and none knew how 



94 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



great was the reason for rejoicing better than did 
the Union soldiers. 

On the fourteenth of October, while the team- 
sters of the regiment were grazing their animals 
just outside the picket-line at Atlanta, a squad of 
rebel cavalry dashed down upon them and cap- 
tured six men, five horses, and twenty-nine mules. 
One of the men who made his escape reported that 
" all the mules are captured but me." A detach- 
ment was immediately sent in piirsuit, but the 
enemy made good his escape with prisoners and 
booty. 

The regiment left Atlanta, on its return to Chat- 
tanooga, October 31, 1864, and arrived at that 
place at noon, November 6th, having accomplished 
a march of one hundred and forty miles in si.K and 
a half days, through a rain-storm which made the 
roads horrible. On the night of November 6th 
the regiment lay down to rest in the mud and rain 
without shelter. . . . 

The regiment remained at Chattanooga until 
June 21, 1865. While it remained at that place 
it cut, rafted, and sawed lumber sufficient to erect 
twenty-five buildings, of sufficient capacity to 
quarter one thousand officers and men. These 
buildings were erected by the regiment, and occu- 
pied by it at the time the order for its muster out 
of service was received. In obedience to this 
order, it proceeded to Nashville by railroad, where 
it arrived July 22, 1865. On the twenty-si.xth of 
that month, the muster-out rolls being perfect, it 
was ordered to Detroit for final payment and dis- 
charge, and on Tuesday morning, July 27, 1865, 
it left Nashville by rail homeward bound. 

The men of the regiment whose terms of service 
did not expire on or before October i, 1865, were 
transferred to the Twenty-ninth Michigan Infantry, 
in which regiment they served until its final mus- 
ter out. Although they had joined the Twenty- 
second after it had been in the field some time, 
by their cheerful discharge of duty and rapidly- 
acquired soldierly bearing, they had endeared 
themselves to the older members of the regiment, 
and it was with feelings of regret that they were 
left at Nashville. 

On the arrival of the regiment at Indianapolis it 
was detained twenty-four hours for want of cars. 
Many will remember the hearty cheers that went 
up as the train of coaches (not cattle-cars), bearing 
the familiar letters M. C. R. R., ran down to the 
Soldiers' Home in Indianapolis, where the regiment 
was quartered while in the city. It quickly got on 
board the cars, and was soon speeding away for 
Michigan, comfortably seated in passenger-coaches 
for the first time in three years. At Marshall the 
citizens had dinner ready when the train arrived, 



and, although it was not intended to stop there, they 
would not take no for an answer, and the regiment 
did such justice to the many good things spread 
before it as only old soldiers know how to do. 
At Jackson, also, there was a dinner awaiting the 
regiment ; but when it was known that it was to 
go to Detroit to be paid off, the then mayor 
of that city said that unless the regiment was 
paid off at Jackson it could not eat the dinner. 
The men had two days' rations of bacon and 
hard-tack in their haversacks, and thought they 
could live on that until they reached Detroit. 
The regiment went on board its train without 
tasting the dinner, in justice be it said, much to 
the regret and mortification of the citizens of 
Jackson. It arrived in Detroit at a quarter past 
eight P.M., was marched to the supper-room in the 
Michigan Central Railroad Depot, where so many 
of the returning regiments were the recipients of 
the hospitality of the City of the Straits. The 
welcoming speeches were made; the cow-bell that 
had seen three years' service was rung for the last 
time; the log-chain which Joseph Le Bot found in 
Southern Georgia, and carried through all his 
marches because he thought it would be- handy 
on his farm was exhibited; and the regiment sat 
down to the last supper that it ever ate as a regi- 
ment. It slept that night on the Michigan Cen- 
tral Railroad wharf, and the ne.xt day nominally 
went into camp at the barracks on Clinton Street. 
July 10, 1865, it was paid off, and the Twenty- 
second Michigan Infantry no longer had an exist- 
ance. From the day of its organization to its 
muster out there were fifteen hundred and forty 
men mustered into its ranks; their average height 
was five feet eight and a quarter inches, their aver- 
age age twenty-three years and nine months. Nine 
hundred and ninet)'-eight were born in the United 
States, two hundred and forty-three in Canada, 
eighty-one in Ireland, fifteen in France, one hundred 
and eighteen in Germany, two in Wales, one in 
Peru, and nineteen in Scotland. From the time 
the regiment left the State until it returned it 
marched two thousand two hundred and forty 
miles. 

MEMBERS OF THE TWENTY-SECOND INFANTRY 
FROM LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 
Held and Staff. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Henry .S. Dean, Oreen 0.a1<, June 7, 1S64; 
mustered out June 26, 1S65 ; major, January 5, 1S63 ; captain, 
July 31, 1862. 
Assistant .Surgeon Wells B. Fo.n, Hartlanrl, August 21, 1862 ; |iro- 
moted to surgeon Stli Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry, 
March 6, 1863; mnslered out June 24, 1865. 

Company A. 
Gustavus Baetcke, Genoa, enlisted January 5, 1S64; transferred to 
29;]! lulantry; musteied out September 6, 1865. 



TWENTY-SECOND INFANTRY. 



95 



John Dcllenliaiigh, Genon, enlisted January 5, 1S64; transferred 

to 29th Infantry ; mustered out Scplemher 6, 1865. 
Joel H. Uykes, (ienoa, enlisted January 5, 1864; transferred to 

29lh Infantry; mustered out September 6, 1865. 
Kol)ert lioylan, Genoa, enlisted March 17, 1865; transferred to 

aglh Infantry; mustered out Septemlier 6, 1865. 
Henry Baker, Brighton, enlisted March 17, 1S65; transferred to 

29th Infantry; mustered out September 6, 1865. 
Samuel J. Ilarwood, Green Oak, enlisted August 15, 1S64; trans- 
ferred to 29lh Infantry; died of disease, July 4, 1S65. 
Jeremiah Carjienter, Genoa, enlisted March 15, 1S65 ; transfei'retl 

to 29th Infantry. 
Alden G. Carpenter, Genoa, enlisted March 15, 1865; transferred 

to 29th Infantry; mustered out September 6, 1865. 
Lewis H. Westphall, Genoa, enlisted Januaiy 5, 1S64; transferred 

to 29th Infantry; mustered out September 6, 1865. 
Godfrey Westphall, Genoa, enlisted January 5, 1864; transferred 

to 291I1 Infantry; niu terecl out September 6, 1S65. 
Jeptha Tucker, Oceola, enlisted September 20, 1864; transferred 

to 29lh Infantry; mustered out June 26, 1865. 

Company B. 

Orrin S. Arnold, Unadilla, enlisted March 2, 1865; mustered out 

July 26, 1S65. 
William McWitliey, Genoa, enlisted September 2, 1864; died of 

disease. May 27, 1865. 
Jay Sweet, Marion, enlisted September 12, 1864; mustered out 

July 17, 1865. 

Company G. 

Rollin R. Bell, Unadilla, enlisted January I, 1S64; transferred to 
29th Infantry; mustered out September 6, 1865. 

Hiram Deliar, Unadilla, enlisted January i, 1S64; died of dis- 
ease at Louisville, Februaiy 14, 1865. 

John Debar, Una<lilla, enlisted January r, 1S64; mustered out 
July 27, 1S65. 

Company II. 

C.iptain Heniy S. Dean, Green Oak, July 31, 1862; promoted to 
major, January 5, 1863. 

Captain William A. Smith, Marion, January 5, 1863; died of 
wounds, October 11, 1S63, received at batlle of Chickamauga, 
September 20, 1S63. 

First Lieutenant William A. Smith, Marion, July 3t, 1862; pro- 
moted to captain, January 5, 1863. 

First Lieutenant Lewis Brown, Howell, January 5, 1863; pro- 
moted to captain, Company K, April i, 1865. 

Second Lieutenant Lewis Brown, Howell, July 31, 1S62; pro- 
moted to first lieutenant. 

Second Lieutenant Alfred R. Barrett, Marion, January 5, 1863; 
resigned November 10, 1863, for disability. 

Sergeant Alfred R. Barrett, Marion, enlisted August 6, 1S62; pro- 
moted to second lieutenant. 

Ser<'eant Edward C. Silsby, Conway, enlisted August 6, 1S62; 
killed in battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863. 

Sergeant Oscar M. Bentlcy, Green Oak, enlisted August I, 1862; 
mustered out June 26, 1865. 

Corporal Henry F. Lake, Marion, enlisted August 9, 1862; mus- 
tered out June 9, 1865. 

Corporal John G. Ferguson, Unadilla, enlisted August 5, lSU2; 
discharged for disability. May 8, 1S63. 

Corporal Richard A. Stansell, Green Oak, enliste<l August 8, 
1S62; killed in battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863. 

Corporal Mark S. Smock, Marion, enlisted .\iigiist 14, 1S62; mus- 
tered out June 26, 1S65. 

Corporal Frank Griggs, Conway, enlisted August 14, 1S62; dis- 
charged fur disability, July 27, 1S63. 

Corporal Junius S. Sniilh, Marion, enlisted August 11, 1SO2; mus- 
tered out June 26, 1865. 



Privates. 
Milo M. .'Vbbott, Marion, enlisted August 14, 1862; mustered out 

June 26, 1865. 
Feli,\ An<lrcws, Green Oak, enlisted August 14, 1S62; mustered 

out June 26, 1865. 
Francis M. Albro, Green Oak, enlisted August II, 1S62; died in 

Andersonville prison, July 20, 1864. 
Giles T. Brown, Green Oak, enlisted August 15, 1862; discharged 

for disability, December 6, 1S62. 
George Bush, Marion, enlisted August 14, 1862; mustered out 

June 26, 1S65. 
Jacob Billings, Conway, enlisted August 13, 1862; mustered out 

June 26, 1865. 
George L. Bennett, Green Oak, enlisted August I, 1862; mus- 
tered out June 26, 1865. 
Samuel Brigham, Oceola, enlisted August II, 1862; mustered 

out June 26, 1865. 
Chailes Brigham, Oceola, enlisted August 14, 1862; mustered 

out June 26, 1865. 
Leonard Clark, Green Oak, enlisted August 9, 1862; died of dis- 
ease at Le-vington, Kentucky, April 14, 1863. 
Henry Craft, Green Oak, enlisted August 15, 1S62 ; mustered out 

June 26, 1865. 
Charles H. Clark, Conway, enlisted August 14, 1862; missing in 

action at Chickamauga. 
Thomas Craft, Green Oak, enlisted July 2'6, 1862; mustered out 

June 26, 1865. 
Michael D. Day, Marion, enlisted August II, 1862; transferred to 

Invalid Corps; mustered out June 29, 1863. 
George \V. Day, Marion, enlisted August 14, 1S62; died in An- 
dersonville prison, September 30, 1S64. 
Oliver C. Ellsworth, Marion, enlisted August 14, 1S62; died»of 

disease at Nashville, March 12, 1864. 
James J. Holmes, Oceola, enlisted August 5, 1862; died in An- 
dersonville prison, August 15, 1S64. 
John Hugheston, Green Oak, enlisted August 14, 1862; died 

October 9, 1863, of wounds received at Chickamauga. 
David Hiscott, Howell, enlisted August 14, 1S62 ; died October 11, 

1863, of woimds received at Chickamauga. 
Charles Hooker, Green Oak, enlisted August 9, 1S62; died of 

disease at Nashville, November 18, 1863. 
John J. Hooper, Green Oak, enlisted August 10, 1862; died March 

1, 1S64, of wounds at Chickamauga. 
Eustace Kincaid, Green Oak, enlisted August 15, 1862; died of 

disease at Lexington, March 20, 1863. 
Charles M. Kenyon, Iosco, enlisted August 2, 1862; killed in 

battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863. 
William Loomis, Green Oak, enlisted Augu.st II, 1862. 
Harlow B. Lanning, Green Oak, enlisted August 11, 1862; killed 

in battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863. 
Isaac T. Lockwood, Marion, enlisted March 14, 1862 ; died of 

disease at Lexington, February 18, 1863. 
David W. Lyons, Marion, enlisted March 11, 1862; died of dis- 
ease at Lexington, January 18, 1863. 
Amasa Lampman, Oceola, enlisted March II, 1862; transferred 

to Invalid Corps, March 22, 1864. 
Felix McCabe, Green Oak, enlisted March 15, 1S62; died in An- 
dersonville prison, August 15, 1864. 
Stephen P. Mills, Conway, enlisted March 14, 1862; killed in 

batlle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863. 
Edward McKinley, Marion, enlisted March 15, 1862; transferred 

to Invalid Corps; mustered out June 30, 1S65. 
Norton M. Monroe, Howell, enlisted March 14, 1862; died 

December 8, 1863, of wounds received at Chickamauga. 
John 0»born, Green Oak, enlisted March II, 1S62; died of dis- 
ease at Chattanooga, November 5, 1863. 
John Ohlke, Green Oak, enlisted March 11, 1862; mustered out 

June 26, 1865. 
Thomas H. Pier, Green Oak, enlisted March 9, 1S62; mustered 
out June 26, 1S65. 



96 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



John Purely, Green Oal;, enlisted Marcli i, 1862; died of disease 
at Lexington, April 6, 1863. 

Jedde O. B. Pier, Green Oak, enlisted August 15, 1862; died of 
wounds, October 17, 1863, Chickamauga. 

Richard Pier, Green Oak, enlisted August 15, 1862; mustered 
out July I, 1865. 

William H. Robinson, Green Oak, enlisted August 8, 1862; died 
in Andersonville prison. May 5, 1864. 

Peter A. Rohrabacher, Cohoctah, enlisted August 20, 1862; mus- 
tered out June 26, 1865. 

Edwin M. Switzer, Marion, enlisted August 9, 1S62; killed in 
battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863. 

Job S. Sherman, Handy, enlisted August 14, 1S62 ; discharged 
for disability, December 26, 1S62. 

Eben A. Springstein, Deerfield, enlisted August 13, 1S62; dis- 
charged for disability, January I, 1863. 

Joseph Soutliard, Handy, enlisted August 9, 1862 ; died of disease 
at Lexington, March 23, 1863, 

William B. Taylor, Conway, enlisted August 15, 1862; killed in 
battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863. 

Oi-son W. Tock, Green Oak, enlisted August 9, 1862; mustered 
out June 13, 1865. 

Henry Turrell, Green Oak, enlisted August 9, 1862; died in An- 
dersonville prison. May 31, 1864. 

Samuel Van Dyke, Conway, enlisted August 9, 1862; died of dis- 
ease at Louisville, Kentucky, July 21, 1863. 

George W. White, H.indy, enlisted August 14, 1862; mustered 
out June 26, 1865. 

William Washburn, Green Oak, enlisted August 11, 1862; died of 
disease at Chattanooga, April 3, 1864. 

John WoU, Marion, enlisted August 14, 1S62 ; mustered out June 
• 26, 1S65. 

Gustavus M. Washburn, Green Oak, enlisted August i, 1S62; 
transferred to Invalid Corps, July 29, 1863. 

Jacob Ward, Iosco, enlisted August 14, 1862; died of disease, 
June 16, 1863. 

Peter O. Walker, Conway, enlisted August 9, 1862 ; died of dis- 
ease at Lexington, Kentucky, November 10, 1862. 

And. J. Wickman, Conway, enlisted August 14, 1862; mustered 
out June 26, 1865. 

Amos Dexter, Tyrone, enli>ted January 12, 1S64; died of disease 
at Kingston, Georgia, August 25, 1864. 

Jerome Clark, Green Oak, enlisted March 30, 1864; transferred 
to 29th Infantry. 

Lawrence A. Elansberg, Genoa, enlisted September 14, 1S64; 
mustered out June 26, 1S65. 

Samuel S. Howard, Green Oak, enlisted August 15, 1S64. 

Company I. 

Captain Frederick W. Kinibark, Brighton, July 31, 1862; resigned 

December 8, 1S63. 
Sergeant Myron G. Hodges, enlisted August 6, 1S62; died in 

Andersonville prison, Septemljer 25, 1864. 
Musician Joseph Burch, enli.-.ted August 12, 1862; mustered out 

May 31, 1865. 
William Abrams, Brighton, enlisted August 11, 1862; killed at 

battle of Chickamauga. 
Nelson Abrams, Brighton, enlisted Februar)' 25, 1864; transferred 

to 29th Infantry; mustered out September 6, 1S65. 
James Abrams, Brighton, enlisted August 11, 1862; mustered out 

June 26, 1865. 
Medad Blaisdell, Brighton, enlisted August 14, 1862; mustered 

out June 22, 1S65. 
Henry Davis, Brighton, enlisted August II, 1862; discharged for 

disability, February 20, 1865. 
Thomas Moneypenny, Hartland, enlisted August 9, 1862; mus- 
tered out June 26, 1865. 
Robert Park, Hamburg, enlisted August 12, 1S62; mustered out 

June 26, 1865. 



Richard C. Smith, Hartland, enlisted August 13, 1862; mustered 
out June 26, 1865. 

Richard M. Toncray, Green Oak, enlisted Januai-y 25, 1864; 
transferred to 29th Infantry; mustered out September 6, 1865. 

Edward E. Woodruff", Brighton, enlisted February 25, 1864; trans- 
ferred to 29th Infantry; mustered out September 6, 1865. 

Charles Phelps, died of disease at Lexington, Kentucky," November 
26, 1863. 

Company K. 

Captain Lewis Brown, April i, 1S65. 



CHAPTER X. 

TWENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY. 

Recruiting for the Twenty-sixth in Livingston County — Muster 
at Jackson — Presentation of Colors — Departure of the Regiment, 
and arrival in Virginia — Provost Duly at Alexandria — "Our 
Camp Journal" — Death of Lieutenant Burch at Alexandria — 
Movement to Suffolk, Virginia — Fight at Windsor and Death of 
Captain Culver — Movement from Suffolk to the Peninsula, and 
thence to New York — Pleasant Camping at Tarrytown — Return 
to the Army of the Potomac — Mine Run — Winter Quarters — 
Campaign of the Wilderness — Chaige at Spottsylvania — North 
Anna, Tolopotomoy , and Cold Harbor — Crossing of the James — 
Operations in front of Petei-sburg — Campaign of 1865 to Close 
of the War — March to Washington and Grand Review — Muster 
Out and Return Home — Experience of a Soldier of the Twenty- 
sixth at Andersonville — Livingston County Members of the 
Twenty-sixth. 

Two companies of the Twenty-sixth Infantry 
were raised almost entirely in Livingston County. 
In the summer of 1862 recruiting for a company 
was commenced by Stephen B. Burch and Wash- 
ington \V. Burch, of Pinckney, and Lucius H. Ives, 
of Unadilla, and the work of enlistment progressed 
so rapidly that the coinpany was sufficiently filled 
for acceptance in August. The men of this com- 
pany were largely from the south part of the county. 

The other Livingston company which joined the 
Twenty-si.xth was raised principally in the north 
part of the county, the three men most interested 
in recruiting it being John C. Culver, of Hamburg ; 
Edwin Hadley, now of Adrian; and Charles E. 
Grisson, of Hamburg. Mr. Hadley commenced 
enlisting men at Howell in the latter part of July 
or first part of August; the expectation being that 
the company when filled would j'oin the Twenty- 
second Regiment, then in process of organization 
at Pontiac. The ranks were filled with comparative 
ease, and on the twentieth of August the company 
moved by way of Fentonville to the regimental 
rendezvous at Pontiac. Nine companies of the 
Twenty-second were already organized and mus- 
tered in, and there was room for but one more 
company, — a place which the men from Livingston 
fully expected to take, but were much disappointed 
to find that a company from another county had 
already secured it, and that they must therefore be 
debarred from joining the regiment of their choice. 



TWENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY. 



97 



The only alternative then presented was to join the 
Twenty-sixth Infantry, then organizing at Jackson, 
and this was finally decided on after some days of 
deliberation and inquiry. 

On the fourth of September the company left 
Pontiac and proceeded to Jackson, where, on the 
tenth of September, it was mustered and desig- 
nated as E Company of the Twenty-sixth. Its 
first commissioned officers were 

John C. Culver, Captain. 

Edwin Hadley, First Lieutenant. 

Charles E. Grisson, Second Lieutenant. 
Their rank dated from September 1st. 

In the mean time the other Livingston company 
had preceded this to Jackson, and was mustered 
and designated as B Company of the Twenty-sixth ; 
its commissioned officers (dating also from Sep- 
tember 1st) being 

Stephen B. Burch, Captain. 

Washington W. Burch, First Lieutenant. 

Lucius H. Ives, Second Lieutenant. 

The Twenty-sixth was mustered as a regiment 
by Captain Mizner, U. S. A., with the following- 
named field and stafif officers, viz. : 

Judson S. Farrar, Colonel. 

Henry H. Wells, Lieutenant-Colonel. 

William O'Donnell, Major. 

Ennis Church, Surgeon. 

Mahlon H. Raymond, Assistant Surgeon. 

Charles D. Fox, Adjutant. 

Charles E. Crane, Jr., Quartermaster. 

Jonathan Bianchard, Chaplain. 

The ceremony of a presentation of colors to the 
regiment.vvhile preparing fordeparture for the front, 
is thus described by General John Robertson in 
his " Flags of Michigan :" 

"While the Twenty-sixth was in camp at Jackson, 
and immediately preceding tlie march of tlie regiment 
to the front, it received from the fiiir iiands of the ladies 
of J.\ckson a magnificent silk flag, — the field of blue, 
witli letters of gold. The presentation speech was 
made in good taste by the Hon. Fidus Livermore, who 
had been commissioned by tlie Governor, as commander 
of tlie camp, to raise the regiment; and wliicii was 
res|)onded to in a patriotic manner by Colonel J. S. 
Farrar, commanding tiie regiment. The flag was borne 
by the Twenty-sixtii tlirough many sanguinary fields, 
and wliat is left of it is now in the arcliives of the 
State." 

The regiment, nine hundred strong, left Jackson 
on the thirteenth of December, 1862, and pro- 
ceeded, by way of Cleveland, Ohio; Ehiiira, New 
York; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Baltimore, 
to Washington, where it arrived on the eigliteenth. 
A day or two later it crossed the Potomac and 
marciied to Alexandria, where it remained a short 
13 



time and moved out to Union Mills, which place 
was reached on the twenty-first. It was supposed 
that this woidd be its winter quarters; but on the 
twenty-ninth it was moved back to Alexandria, and 
detailed for duty as provost-guard, Lieutenant- 
Colonel Wells being made provost-marshal of tlie 
city. The camp of the regiment was in the sub- 
urbs of Alexandria, and here it remained for about 
four months, — a period which is remembered by 
the survivors of the regiment as among the most 
agreeable of any in their war experience. It was 
while the regiment was stationed at this place that 
the small newspaper called Our Catnp jfoiirnalwA?, 
started, — its editors being Lieutenant L. D. Burch, 
Lieutenant C. H. Iloldcn, and Henry H. Smith. 
The first number appeared under date of April i, 
1863, and it was afterwards occasionally issued at 
several different camps of the regiment. 

One event of a peculiarly sad nature, however, 
occurred to cast a gloom over the regiment during 
its stay, which was the death of Lieutenant Wash- 
ington W. Burch, of one of the Livingston compa- 
nies. A notice of the event, and a just tribute 
to the character of the dead lieutenant, was pub- 
lished in the special correspondence of the Detroit 
Advertiser and Tribune immediately afterwards, as 
follows : 

"The saddest incident of all our liistory as a regi- 
ment was the death of First Lieutenant W. W. Burch, 
of Company B, which occurred on the morning of 
February 7th. He was a brave, generous, and high- 
minded officer, and by his gentlemanly bearing had 
won th.e admiration of the entire regiment. How 
much we loved him, and how greatly he had endeared 
liimself to us all, no words of mine may ever tell. 
But wlien our work as soldiers is done, and we are 
' home again,' full of tlie sad and joyous memories of all 
we have seen and felt and heard, not the least of them 
will be the recollection of our chivalrous lieutenant, 
whose pure nature was incapable of wrong." 

On the twentieth of April, 1863, the Twenty- 
sixth, under marching orders, embarked at Alex- 
andria on board the steamer " Zephyr," and pro- 
ceeded down the Potomac, bound for an unknown 
destination. At night the steamer had reached the 
mouth of the Potomac, and there anchored. In 
the morning she resumed her way, and that night 
(April 2ist)the regiment was disembarked at Nor- 
folk, Virginia. From this place — on the twenty- 
second — it proceeded to Suffolk, Virginia, which 
place was then threatened by the enemy, under 
General Longstrcet. The Twenty-sixth arrived at 
Suffolk at ten o'clock p.m., and on the following 
morning made its camp on the western outskirts 
of the town. It was assigned to duty with the 
Third Brigade (General Terry), First Division, 



98 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



Seventli Army Corps, in the department of General 
Dix. On Friday, April 24th, the men had their 
first glimpse of the horrors of actual war, in seeing 
a large number of wounded brought in from the 
front past its camp, on their way to the hospital in 
Suffolk. 

On the si.xteenth of May the regiment left its 
camp at Suffolk and moved out ten miles, to " De- 
serted House." Here was the New York Sixty- 
ninth (then under command of Colonel Corcoran), 
and a number of other regiments. On the twenty- 
third of May the Twenty-sixth was ordered to the 
front, and became engaged in a skirmish with the 
enemy in the vicinity of Windsor. A member of 
the regiment who was in this fight wrote of it as 
follows : 

" Our brigade, with two others, went out on a re- 
connoissance towards Blackwater River. We did 
not find the enemy in very heavy force, although it 
was reported that Longstreet had several thousand 
men in that vicinity. Our pickets had one or two 
slight skirmishes with the rebels, but without any- 
thing disastrous occurring to us. While our men 
were out on picket the enemy made a charge on 
our line, at a post where Company A was on duty, 
near the edge of a narrow strip of woods. The 
rebels charged througii the woods, yelling like 
ten thousand demons, tliinking thus to intimidate 
our boys, who were now for the first time hearing 
and seeing 'gray-backs' face to face on the field of 
battle. But they stood their ground like veteians. 
When the enemy came in siglit of our men, they 
found they had a foe to contend with ' well worthy 
of their steel.' Although the enemy outnumbered 
us three to one, yet on seeing the firmness with 
which we stood our ground, they thought 'discre- 
tion the better part of valor,' and returned back 
faster than they came ; and, as turn about is con- 
sidered fair play, our men now charged on them, 
and sent them back again beyond the woods." 

In this affair Captain John C. Culver, of E Com- 
pany, was mortally wounded, while in command 
of a detachment, scouting in the woods outside 
the picket-line. The ball took effect in his riglit 
arm, between the shoulder and elbow, and thoun-h 
it was not at first thougiit to be dangerous, ampu- 
tation became necessary, and the brave captain 
died in the hospital at Suffolk in the afternoon of 
Sunday, the twenty-fourth of May. By thi.s casu- 
alty the command of the company devolved on 
Lieutenant Hadley, who was immediately after- 
wards commissioned as its captain. During its 
stay on the Blackwater the regiment was engaged 
in another skirmish (June lytli), in which, how- 
ever, it sustained little or no loss ; and on the 
nineteenth of June it left Suffolk by rail for Nor- 



folk, where it was embarked the same night on 
board the steamer " Utica" and transported to 
Yorktown, on the Virginia peninsula, where it 
became a part of the force under General E. D. 
Keyes. It was disembarked at ten p.m. on Satur- 
day, the twentieth, and on the following Monday 
was moved out on the road to Williamsburg, which 
town it passed through on the twenty-third, and 
camped eight miles beyond. From this place it 
marched to Cumberland Landing and White 
House. Moving from the latter place on the first 
of July, it marched up the Peninsula to the vicinity 
of Bottom's Bridge, on the Chickahominy, where 
it remained for eight days on the plantation for- 
merly of e.x-President John Tyler. Nothing of 
much importance happened there, and on the 
eleventh the regiment, with the other forces of 
General Keyes' command, reached Yorktown on 
the return. At eleven o'clock in the evening of 
the same day the Twenty-si.xth embarked on a 
steamer at Yorktown, destined for Maryland and 
Pennsylvania, as the officers and men thought; 
but the opinion proved unfounded. At nine o'clock 
the next morning it arrived at Washington, and 
soon after left by railroad for the North. It was 
now understood that its destination was New York 
City, being moved there in view of the necessity 
of using its power to quell the lawless and mur- 
derous hordes who were inciting resistance to the 
military draft. Arriving in New York on the six- 
teenth it was first quartered in the Park Barracks, 
then in the old arsenal on White and Centre 
Streets, and was shortly afterwards moved to 
Fort Richmond, Staten Island. 

Shortly after the encampment of the Twenty- 
sixth on Staten Island, three companies (D, E, and 
G), with a battery, were transported by steamer to 
Tarrytown, on the Hudson River. Here, at their 
pleasant " Camp Irving," they remained some two 
or three weeks, which was a season of great enjoy- 
ment, and of very little laborious duty to the 
soldiers, so that marching orders, when they came, 
were received with much regret. A member of 
the command, in writing of the stay at Tarrytown, 
and the scenes immediately preceding their depar- 
ture from it, said, "There is not an officer or 
soldier of our little battalion, or the battery, but 
lias some peculiar and pleasant attachment to 
Tarrytown. When it was known that we had 
marching orders, the ladies purchased and pre- 
sented to the battalion a stand of colors, which 
presentation was made the occasion of a large 
patriotic gathering. The Rev. Mr. Wines pre- 
sented the flag on behalf of the ladies of Tarry- 
town, as a pledge of their devotion to their country, 
and an earnest of their future labors in its cause. 



TWENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY. 



99 



lie spoke in flattering terms of the conduct oC the 
soldiers during their brief sojourn at Camp Irving, 
and was pleased to bear testimony to the intelli- 
gence and honor of Michigan soltliers. Rev. Mr. 
Todd followed in an enthusiastic and powerful 
spcedi, and Lieutenant Burch responded on the 
part of Captain Dailey and the officers and soldiers 
of his command. In behalf of Captain Dailey and 
his command, of Colonel Farrar and his regiment, 
of Governor Blair and the ladies of Michigan, he 
thanked the patriotic ladies of Tarrytown for the 
banner, and for the kindness and courtesy they 
liad extended. In tlie hearts of these officers and 
soldiers henceforth Tarrytown and its loyal citizens 
would be canonized. The memory of all they had 
seen and felt and heard would go with them to 
their graves. The flag, the ladies, and the speakers 
were loudly cheered, and our work in Tarrytown 
was done. Long and pleasantly shall we remem- 
ber and speak of our visit on the Hudson, of the 
happy hours we passed in Camp Irving, of the 
pleasant evenings with the Clevelands, of our sail 
upon the river in Walter Byron's yacht, of Captain 
Storm and his kindness, and all the warm hearts 
and sunny faces of Tarrytown." 

The Twenty-sixth was not called on to perform 
the duty for which it was transported to New York, 
and aftera very pleasant stay of about three months, 
mostly passed amid the invigorating breezes of the 
lower bay, it left on the thirteenth of October, pro- 
ceeding south by railroad to rejoin the Army of 
the Potomac. In due time it reached Alexandria, 
and marched thence to Warrenton, Virginia, where 
it went into camp, and was assigned to the First 
Brigade, First Division of the Second Army 
Corps. On seventh of November the regiment 
moved thence to Stevensburg, where it again went 
into camp, and there remained until the twenty- 
sixth, when it moved forward with the army on 
the expedition to Mine Run. It crossed the Rap- 
idan at Germania Ford, and reached Robertson's 
Tavern on the twenty-seventh. On the twenty- 
ninth it had reached the front of the hostile works 
at Mine Run. The story of its assault of one of 
the enemy's positions is thus told b)- an officer who 
was ]')resent : "Shelling and sharpshooting, skir- 
mishing and reconnoitering are the order, until 
Sunday morning the twenty-ninth of November, 
when, dropping down upon the left of the line at 
White Hall Church, our brigade is thrown in the 
advance, and, forming into a strong skirmish-line, 
move forward under Colonel Miles and drive the 
enemy's pickets to within a mile of his main works, 
when we are ordered to halt in full view of his line 
of battle. Colonel Miles, commanding the brigade. 
Colonel I"\arrar, of the Twcntj'-si.xth, and Colonel 



McKean, of the Eighty-first Penns\-lvania, were 
repeatedly shelled by the enemy's batteries as they 
rode out upon the field to reconnoitre. Eighty 
rods to our front, and between us and the enemy's 
right, a piece of pine-woods was held by a force 
twice our strength, both in numbers and advantage 
of position. After a half-hour's halt we were or- 
dered to charge the enemy from this position, and 
to hold the wood with our brigade. To charge 
across an open field for eighty rods exposed to a 
raking fire of musketry from the woods and shell 
from the batteries is no mean work, even for vet- 
erans ; but the First Brigade knew how to do it, 
and so across they go with a yell and a will that 
puts the enemy to flight, and in ten minutes they 
hold the wood within easy musket range of the 
rebel intrenchments. Repeatedly they try to dis- 
lodge us from this position; but it is worse than 
useless, for amid the bursting of shells, the hissing 
of balls, and the falling of boughs, the men of the 
First Brigade are coolly holding their position, and 
Colonel Miles is not solicitous about the result. 
This charge cost us some noble blood. Captain 
Phillips, of the Eighty-first, is among the killed, 
and Lieutenant McKinley, of the same regiment, 
ten of our own, and several from the Sixty-first 
New York, and other regiments, are wounded. 
From our great exposure to musketry and shell, 
it was only the bad practice of the enemy's gun- 
ners and infantry that prevented a hundred or 
more of us from being cut down." 

The Mine Run expedition was but a reconnois- 
sance in force, and upon its completion the Twenty- 
sixth returned (December 3d) to its encarhpment 
at Stevensburg, where it remained in winter quar- 
ters, engaged only in picket duty (and in an expe- 
dition to Morton's Ford, I'ebruary 6th and 7th), 
until the opening of the historic campaign of the 
Wilderness in the spring of 1864. 

On the third of May at eleven p.m. the regiment 
marched away with its brigade from the Stevens- 
burg camp, and took the road to the Rapidan, each 
man carrying five days' rations and sixty rounds of 
ammunition. It crossed the river at Ely's Ford 
on the following day, and at night bivouacked on 
the old field of Chancellorsville. On the fifth, the 
march was resumed at an early hour, and by the 
middle of the afternoon the roar of battle was 
heard to the southward all along the front. The 
Twenty-sixth formed in line of battle, but was not 
engaged during this day. That night, and through 
the following da\', it was employed in throwing up 
defensive works. On the seventh. Company E was 
sent out, and met the enemy in some force, but, 
having driven them a short distance and killed one 
officer and several men, retired again, finding it 



lOO 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



impracticable to liold tlie position against the 
superior number of tiie Confederates. Then the 
regiment advanced, supported by the One Hundred 
and Fortieth Pennsylvania, and drove the enemy 
back, capturing two prisoners and some important 
dispatches, and losing one man from Company A. 

On the eighth of May the regiment marched to 
Todd's Tavern, threw up some works, and then 
moved out towards Corbin's Bridge, skirmishing 
and losing one man wounded, after which it re- 
tired to the works at Todd's. On the ninth it 
crossed the Po River, and advanced about two 
miles to the immediate front of the enemy's line, 
and there lay on its arms through the night. In 
the morning of the tenth it covered the crossing 
of the Po River. On the eleventh it recrossed that 
stream, reconnoitred the enemy's position, became 
sharply engaged, and lost eighteen killed and 
wounded. 

In the memorable and successful assault of the 
Second Corps on the enemy's works at Spottsyl- 
vania, on the twelfth of May, the Twenty-sixth 
took active and gallant part, charging with the 
bayonet, fighting hand to hand, capturing two 
brass guns with their gunners, and being the first 
regiment to plant its colors on the hostile works. 
It was also engaged in the desperate fight that 
followed the assault of the defenses, and assisted 
in the capture of a large number of guns, colors, 
and prisoners. In this day's work the loss of the 
regiment was one hundred and twenty-five killed 
and wounded and fourteen missing, it being after- 
wards found that the greater part of those reported 
missing were among the slain. Following are the 
lists, as published at the time, of the killed, wounded, 
and missing from the two Livingston companies of 
the Twenty-sixth in the slaughter of the twelfth of 
May. 

COMPANY B. 

Killed. 
J. W. Wilson. 



Wounded. 



Charles R. Button. 
J. M. Kearney. 
James VV. Fife. 
James D. Burgess. 
Josiah H. Munick. 
Orlando H. Sly. 
W. S. Holmes. 
David Frink. 



Thomas Lister. 
Watson Lister. 
Squire Holt. 
James Waters. 
James A. Wilder. 
G. E. Farnum. 
W. H. Dakin. 
J. H. Oaks. 



Missing. 



James Metcalf. 
John Dago. 



Samuel D. Wood. 



COMPANY E. 
Killed. 
Samuel B. Appleton. Rufus H. Wines. 

Eli Rambo. John Olds. 

Daniel Meekin. 

Wounded. 
Lieut. C. E. Grisson. D. E. Hathaway. 



Albert Bates. 
P^dwin Butler. 
John Bennett. 
Aaron Slater. 
B. F. Batcheler. 



George Petteys. 
John M. Rice. 



Nelson T. Hinckley. 
Sylvester Bates. 
Joseph Low. 
Charles E. Royce. 
Ashley C. Elder. 



Missing. 



Newton T. Kirk.* 



The above lists, being official, are believed to be 
correct, though it is possible that they are not 
entirely so, having been made on the field, imme- 
diately after the battle. 

On the night of the twentieth of May the regi- 
ment left its position at Spottsylvania Court-House 
and marched to the North Anna River, reaching 
that line on the twenty-third. The next day it 
crossed that stream at Jericho Bridge under a 
heavy artillery fire, and drove the enemy into his 
works, losing fourteen in killed and wounded. It 
recrossed the North Anna in the night of the 
twenty-sixth and marched to the Pamunkey River, 
which it crossed on the morning of the twenty- 
eighth, and advanced to a position near Hawes' 
Shop, which it at once fortified. On the twenty- 
ninth it moved to a reconnoissance of the enemy's 
position on Tolopotomoy Creek, in which move- 
ment three companies became engaged, and lost 
four men killed and wounded. 

The regiment reached Cold Harbor on the sec- 
ond of June, and in the fighting of that and the 
following day lost fifteen wounded and five missing. 
The following nine days were passed on the skir- 
mish line and in the intrenchments, and during 
that time the loss of the regiment was ten in 
killed and wounded. On the thirteenth it moved 
across the Chickahominy. In the night of the 
fourteenth it crossed the James near the mansion 
of Dr. Wilcox, and reached the front of Peters- 
burg in the morning of the sixteenth. On the day 
of its arrival there, it took part in the assault by 
which the first line of Confederate rifle-pits were 
carried. In this attack' it lost twelve in killed and 

* Mr. N. T. Kirk, the present county clerk of Livingston, was 
taken prisoner at Spollsylvania, in the battle of that clay, and 
spent some months in Andersonville prison, as is mentioned in 
another place. 



TWENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY. 



lOI 



wounded ; among the latter (mortally) being its 
commanding officer, Captain James A. Lothian. 
Again, on the seventeenth it took part in the 
assault and capture of a line of works, and lost 
nine killed and wounded in the charge. On the 
eighteenth it skirmished with slight loss, and it 
was a part of the force which sustained and re- 
pulsed a determined attack of the enemy on our 
lines, on the twenty-second, near the Williams 
House. 

In the morning of the twenty-sixth of July the 
regiment marched with its brigade to Deep Bot- 
tom, where, on the twenty-seventh, it participated 
in the assault and capture of the enemy's works, 
with four pieces of artillery and a large number of 
prisoners. On the following day it was engaged 
in a reconnoissance from Deep Bottom in the di- 
rection of New Market, and on this expedition it 
attacked and routed a largely superior force of 
Confederates, and compelled them to take refuge 
within their fortifications. It was not again 
seriously engaged until the si.\tecnth of August, at 
which time, near White Oak Swamp, it encountered 
the enemy, and in the sharp action which resulted 
lost seventeen killed and wounded, and seventeen 
prisoners, among the latter being Captain Dailey, 
its commanding officer. 

The Twenty-sixth recrossed to the south side 
of the James River on the twentieth of A ugust, and 
on the following day took its place in the lines 
fronting Petersburg. It moved to the Weldon 
Railroad on the twenty-second, and energetically 
worked at destroying the track until the twenty- 
fifth, when the force was furiously assaulted at 
Ream's Station by the enemy, and driven from its 
defenses, which were, however, retaken by a deter- 
mined charge, in which the Twenty-si.xth took 
part, with considerable loss. From the fifth of 
September until the ninth of October it was em- 
ployed in constructing earthworks near the Wil- 
liams House, but on the latter date moved to a 
position farther to the right, and from the latter 
part of October for about five months it was daily 
employed in picket and fatigue duty in front of the 
invested city. 

On the twenty-fifth of March, 1865, immediately 
after the furious Confederate attack on Forts Stead- 
man and Hancock, the Twenty-sixth Regiment, 
with its brigade, made a charge on the hostile 
works in its front, carrying a part of the line, and 
captured a considerable number of prisoners. The 
brigade occupied this position until the army com- 
menced its flanking movement to the left, when the 
Twenty-sixth moved as skirmishers in front of the 
corps during the twenty-ninth, thirtieth, and thirty- 
first of March, being heavily engaged in skirmish- 



ing during a good part of the last-named day. 
From the first to the fourth of April it was en- 
gaged in the pursuit of the retreating enemy, and 
fighting every day. On the si.xth of April the 
regiment attacked a train of two hundred and 
sixty wagons loaded with amunition and provis- 
ions, all of which were captured. 

At the surrender of General Lee, the Twenty- 
sixth was in the skirmish line, and the flag of truce, 
which arranged the terms of the surrender, passed 
through the regiment's line. " From March 28th 
until April 9th the regiment had captured over 
four hundred prisoners, and during that time its 
losses had been, in killed and wounded, about 
sixty, or more than one-fourth of its number pres- 
ent for duty ; and had often been complimented by 
the brigade and division commanders as the best 
skirmishing regiment in the corps." It remained 
with the brigade at Appomattox for eight days 
after the surrender, parking the captured artillery 
and guarding the trains of captured arms and am- 
munition. It rejoined the army at Burkeville on 
the eighteenth, and remained there till May 2d, 
when it proceeded by rail through Richmond and 
Fredericksburg to Washington, D. C, where it 
arrived on the thirteenth, and took its place in the 
grand review of the Army of the Potomac on the 
twenty-third of May. It was mustered out of ser- 
vice on the fourth of June, reached Jackson, Michi- 
gan, on the seventh, and was paid and disbanded 
on the fourteenth of the same month. 

EXPERIENCE OF A SOLDIER OF THE TWENTY- 
.SIXTH AT ANDERSONVILLE. 

Among the members of the Twenty-sixth Regi- 
ment who were unfortunate enough to fall into the 
hands of the enemy during the terrible struggle 
at Spottsylvania on the 12th of May, 1864, and to 
find their way to the prison-pen at Andersonville, 
was Newton T. Kirk, of Company E, who spent 
several months in confinement there. Mr. Kirk 
(who is the present county clerk of Livingston) 
has written an account of the experience of him- 
self and fellow-prisoners in that frightful place, 
and extracts from that account are here given. 
There were other Livingston County men besides 
Mr. Kirk who suffered within that hideous inclos- 
ure, and his narrative of the atrocities which they 
there endured in common, cannot fail to be read 
with interest. 

"This prison," sa)-s Mr. Kirk, " was located in 
what has been called the Empire State of the 
South, on the railroad leading from Macon to 
Americus, and about sixty miles from the former 
place. Its location was selected in the latter part 
of 1863, after the rejection of several places more 



I02 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



suitable to the healtli and comfort of the prisoners, 
and with tlie intention, as was asserted, of building 
a pen for the Yankees where they would rot faster 
than they could be sent. In January, 1864, a 
stockade was erected of pine-logs, about twenty 
feet in height, inclosing an area of about seventeen 
acres ; to this was given the name ' Camp Sumter.' 
In the following July the inclosure was enlarged 
to afford room for the confinement of an increased 
number of prisoners, which was accomplished by 
extending the stockade about forty rods to the 
north ; the work being performed by the inmates 
of the prison. With the addition, the stockade 
embraced about twenty-three and a half acres. 
Across this, from west to east, and about one- 
third of the distance from the southerly end of the 
stockade, ran a sluggish stream of water, five or 
six feet wide, and bordered on the north by a low 
swamp, embracing an area of perhaps four or five 
acres. This swamp became in time the receptacle 
for the offal which naturally drained into it from 
the surface of the camp, as well as the wash and 
waste of the camps and cook-houses outside. Out- 
side the stockade, near where the stream entered 
it, the cook-house was located, and farther up, the 
rebel guards were accustomed to wash and bathe, 
while close to the stockade, animals were per- 
mitted to die and rot in its waters. This stream 
was the only place, with the exception of a few 
shallow wells and springs, from which the pris- 
oners could procure water for general use. When 
the stream entered the stockade, it was covered 
with a mantle of filth, grease, and drippings that 
continually floated upon it when the creek was 
at its ordinary stage. From this pure and in- 
vigorating stream the prisoners drew their main 
supply of water. Outside the main stockade were 
two other lines built for defense and protection, in 
case of attempts to escape on the part of the pris- 
oners ; one being twelve, the otiier si.xteen feet in 
height. The hospital was situated outside the 
lines, some distance from the southeast corner of 
the camp, having been erected in June, 1864. 
There were two entrances to the stockade, both 
on the westerly side, one north, and the other 
south of the stream, secured by strongly-con- 
structed gates. It was guarded and garrisoned 
by rebel troops, whose camps were on the west 
side. Thirty-five sentry-boxes, well sheltered from 
sun and rain, were provided for the guards, and 
placed on the top of the stockade, at intervals of 
one hundred feet, so that the sentinels could see 
all that transpired among the prisoners within. On 
an eminence on the southwest corner, command- 
ing the camp, were forts well supplied with artil- 
lery. The country around Andersonville prison 



was a thick forest of pines, the space occupied by 
the camp having b'een cleared away for the pur- 
pose of its location. 

"A crowd of several hundred men, mostly 
wounded, went into the stockade on the twelfth of 
July, 1S64. [This was the party of which Mr. 
Kirk was one, — having come there, by wearying 
and painful stages, from the place of his capture, 
on the battle-field of Spottsylvania.] We were 
weak from wounds, and tired and jaded from a ride 
of more than a thousand miles in crowded cattle- 
cars ; but we were thrust in among thirty thousand 
prisoners, and left to our fite. The scene within 
I have not words to describe. It is true that over 
the gates were not written in so many words 
' abandon hope all ye who enter here,' but it was 
a fact that a fearfully large proportion of those 
who did enter never passed out alive. The first 
inquiries of the prisoners were in regard to the 
cause they loved so well, and for which they were 
suffering and dying. What of its victories and 
defeats? Does Father Abraham still live ? Does 
the old flag yet wave ? And as listening thousands 
gathered round, and the stories of the successes 
and triumphs of the Union arms were repeated, 
shouts ascended from gladdened hearts, and they 
rejoiced with exceeding great joy. They suddenly 
remembered that they were Union soldiers, with 
higher aims than that of starving and dying in 
Andersonville. Many had been there for long 
months. No letters had been received or sent, and 
they were intensely anxious for news from home. 
Letters were the soldier's life in our own camps ; 
what joy they would have brought to suffering 
hearts here! Our detachment of several hundreds 

was directed to a certain part of the stockade 

the northeast corner — where we would find some 
vacant ground. After a long search we found the 
point indicated, and proceeded to spread our 
blankets, but there was hardly room enough for 
all to lie down at night. After this, I went to the 
creek Tor water, and when I returned I could not 
find my place. The ground was all covered with 
sleepers, and all looked alike tome. I roused one 
and another, hoping to find my comrade and 
blanket, but had to give up the search, and finally 
camping on an unoccupied corner lot, two feet by 
si.x, went to sleep. The next morning I found the 
object of my search about twenty feet from me. 
The more I explored this place, the more I dis- 
liked it. The tales told of its unhealthfulness were 
not encouraging to a sickly person, and reports as 
to the bill of fare were not satisfactory to a delicate 
one, and — I wanted to go home. But thousands 
had died with that same cry upon their lips, and 
my request was not granted. 



TWENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY. 



103 



"During July tlie weather became hotter and 
liottcr; at midday the sand burned tlic feet; the 
skin bh'stered under the sun's rays, and cracked 
open, and the flies were then a cruel torment. 
The loathsome swamp grew in offensivencss with 
every hour, and disease struck down its miserable 
victims on every side. During these months of 
Inly, August, and September, one could see in 
every direction numbers of men in the last stages 
of rotting death. The entire lack of vegetable food 
caused the scurvy to rage among the men in a 
frightful manner. The gums would become dis- 
eased and rot away, and men with strong, healthy 
teeth could pull them out with their fingers. The 
limbs would swell to twice their natural size and 
become red as blood and almost putrid; yet, in 
cases as bad as these, I have known a half- 
bushel of sweet potatoes, eaten raw, to effect 
almost an entire cure. If we could have had. the 
precious privilege of picking out from the refuse 
of the kitchen at home the potato-parings, apple- 
cores, and crusts of bread, hundreds of lives would 
have been saved to their country and their friends. 
I knew there in the stockade a German watch- 
maker from Philadelphia. Knowing that among 
the rebels were hundreds of old watches that re- 
quired constant tinkering to keep them in motion, 
he made for himself some rude tools, and started 
a shop. His price for cleaning and repairing a 
watch was twenty dollars, and he took his pay in 
sweet potatoes at twenty dollars a bushel. Con- 
federate money. He was constantly at work. 
Watches came to him from every quarter, and 
sweet potatoes followed. Aside from his own ne- 
cessities, they were distributed among the suffer- 
ing, and doubtless hundreds were relieved, and 
many lives saved, by his industry, skill, and hu- 
manity. I had the pleasure of meeting him after- 
wards in ' God's Country,' and of congratulating 
him on the good work he was permitted to ac- 
com])lish. 

" Inside tiie stockade, parallel with the lines, 
and about si.xteen feet distant, was the ' dead-line,' 
marked by strips of boards nailed upon upright 
posts which were planted in the ground at regular 
intervals. It was rightly named — the line of death ; 
to pass it, to encroach upon the fatal spot beyond, 
brought the penalty of death to all, without dis- 
tinction. The purpose of its establishment was to 
guard the stockade against the approach of the 
])risoners, either singly or in numbers; and the 
violation of the rule brought instant punishment. 
Many a soldier, weary of his wretched life, crazed 
with hunger, and despairing of release, deliberately 
crossed the dead line, and from the bullet of the 
guard met the death he sought. Day by day we 



heard the crack of the deadly rifle, and the remark 
would pass along the line that another soldier had 
received his discharge. But the greatest number 
met their death at the point where the dead-line 
cro.ssed the creek on the west side. Those wanting 
water would go to this spot and reach as far up the 
stream as possible, to get the least filthy water, 
and as they could reach nearly to the dead-line, 
this furnished an excuse to such of the guards as 
were murderously inclined to fire upon them. I 
think I am not out of the way in saying that for 
many weeks at least one man a day was killed at 
this place. The murders became monotonous; we 
could hear the crack of the gun, and the piercing 
shriek of the victim, and hundreds of throats would 
yell out curses and cry, 'Oh, give the rebel a fur- 
lough !' It was our firm belief that any guard who 
shot a prisoner got a thirty days' furlough. Pri.s- 
oners whose tents were near this point — this fact 
gi\'ing them a good opportunity for observation — 
have stated to me that after a soldier had been 
shot, the particular guard who did it would not be 
seen on duty again for some weeks. 

" I was at the creek one day for water, and two 
soldiers, each eager to get the best place for filling 
their canteens, began crowding and pushing each 
other. In the scuffle they came near the dead-line 
(or where it would have been had it been continued 
across the creek), and in a moment the sound of 
the rifle was heard, and the poor victim paid a 
fearful penalty for his thoughtlessness. Most of 
the guards weie very young boys or old men. 
The more able-bodied were in Lee's or Johnston's 
army, and the cradle and the grave had been 
robbed in forming these home regiments. Their 
ignorance was simply wonderful ; they could 
hardly comprehend that it was any more harm to 
kill a Yankee than a deer of their own forests. 
Their minds had been so worked upon by those 
who wished to create just such impressions, that 
they believed it was a meritorious act to extermi- 
nate them as fast as possible. It seemed to be the 
aim of those who inaugurated this system of things 
to use every available means to diminish the num- 
ber of Union soldiers. The condition of prisoners 
here was well known to those in high authority, 
as well as the extreme cruelty of those who had 
charge of them. When the rebel general Winder 
left the .scene of his crimes at Richmond, to take 
charge of Andersonville, the Richmond Examiner, 
a paper never suspected of any partiality for Yan- 
kees, exclaimed, ' Thank God that Richmond has 
at last got rid of old Winder I May God have 
mercy upon those to whom he is sent !' 

" The life we were compelled to live here was 
barelv endurable. Multitudes died because they 



I04 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



had nothing to do, nothing to read, nothing to en- 
gage their attention but misery and deatli. Many 
yielded to the long strain of privations and ex- 
posure. Their faculties shrunk under this waiting 
and longing, until they forgot their companions 
and regiments, the date of their capture, and finally 
their very names. Many sunk into this imbecile 
condition, and had to becarefully guarded by their 
comrades from running into danger. To our 
minds the world contained but two grand divisions : 
the space over which our flag floated we called 
' God's Country ;' that covered by the Confederate 
flag was designated by the strongest epithets at the 
speaker's command. To get from the latter to the 
former was the highest object of our desires; bet- 
ter be engaged in the most menial services under 
the Stripes and Stars, than to dwell in the tents of 
wickedness under the hateful Southern Cross. To 
take the lowest place in the field would now be a 
delightful change. We did not care to go home ; 
we would not ask for furloughs, if we could only 
get to that blessed place within our own lines ; once 
there, there would be no more grumbling at guard 
duty, no more fault-finding about rations. VVe 
would endure cheerfully all the privations that 
soldier's flesh was heir to. To thousands, hang- 
ing on the verge of eternity, this question meant 
life or death. 

"Between July 1st and November 1st, twelve 
thousand men died, the most of whom would 
doubtless have lived had they been able to reach 
our lines. Tiiere were only two ways by which 
this object could be accomplished, — escape and 
exchange. And there were so many perils attend- 
ing the former, and so many failures connected 
with it, that our hopes were mainly centered on 
the latter. Every day there came something to 
build up the hope that exchange was near at hand, 
and every day brought something to extinguish 
the hope of the preceding one. Hope deferred 
niaketh the heart sick, and the desponding and 
sickly sank down and died under these repeated 
discouragements. We had rumors, from time to 
time, of Sherman breaking loose from Atlanta, 
and of his march eastward ; and we prayed that 
his route might take in Andersonville. Our ears 
were constantly open for the faintest sound that 
might indicate his approach. There was hardly 
an hour of the night passed without some one 
fancying he heard the sound of distant firing. One 
would jump up and say, ' Now, if I ever heard 
musketry firing in my life, there's a heavy skirmish 
line at work, and not more than two or three miles 
away, either.' Then another would say, ' I don't 
ever want to get out of here, if that don't sound 
just like the skirmishing at the Wilderness the 



first day of the fight ; it rattled exactly as that 
does now.' One night there came two short, 
sharp peals of thunder, sounding almost precisely 
like the reports of rifled field-pieces. We sprang 
up in a frenzy of excitement, but the next peal 
went off in the usual rumble, and the excitement 
gradually subsided. 

"A few days later, in the evening of September 
6th, the rebel sergeant who called the roll entered 
the stockade, and addressed the prisoners about 
as follows: 'I am instructed by General Winder 
to inform you that a general exchange has been 
agreed upon ; twenty thousand men will be sent 
immediately to Savannah, where your vessels await 
you ; detachments one to ten will be ready to march 
early to-morrow morning.' I was in my tent when 
I first heard the cheeiing, and hastened over to 
where the crowd had gathered. The excitement 
was simply indescribable, and it increased in volume 
as the crowd increased in numbers. The prisoners 
had endured their sufferings with manly firmness, 
but the emotions which sickness and pain could 
not develop, joy could ; and the boys sang and 
shouted and danced and cried as if in delirium. 
God's country, fairer than the promised land of 
Canaan appeared to the rapt vision of the Hebrew 
prophet, was spread out in the far vista before the 
mind's eye of every one. It had come! — that 
which we had dreamed of, longed for, prayed for, 
schemed, planned, and toiled for, and for which 
had gone up the last, earnest, dying wish of the 
thousands of our comrades who would now know 
no exchange, save into that eternal God's country 
to which they had gone. 

" In the morning of September 7th several 
thousands passed out, but our enemies were such 
measureless liars that many believed that they 
were only being sent to another stockade, to be 
out of the way of Sherman's threatened march. 
On the seventh, eighth, and ninth of September 
about ten thousand were sent away ; and this gave 
us more room, so that we could have some exer- 
cise. We fervently hoped that our comrades had 
really been exchanged ; that they had carried to 
our friends in the North some news of our where- 
abouts and condition ; but knowing so well the 
character of those people we were not greatly 
surprised when we found our friends in the stock- 
ade at MiUen, Georgia, about two months later. 

"As hopes of exchange declined activity in tun- 
neling increased. Escape was a perpetual allure- 
ment to those who had some health and strength 
left; it afforded an opportunity for active possibil- 
ities. Far better to die in making the attempt 
than to starve and rot in inactivity ; but we could 
not but acknowledge that their plans to guard 



TWENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY. 



los 



against our escape were we!I-nigli perfect, as was 
attested by the fact that out of the fifty thousand 
prisoners who were, from first to last, at Ander- 
sonville, only about three hundred and twenty- 
eight succeeded in getting to our own Hnes. . . . 
There were hundreds of patrols, pickets, and 
guards passing around at all times, watching and 
guarding every avenue. Several packs of hounds 
also formed an important part of the establish- 
ment of the prison-keepers. The human rebel 
might be escaped, but it was not so easy a matter 
to get clear of their canine assistants. One man 
now living in this county has told me that on one 
occasion three prisoners (of whom he was one), 
accompanied by a single guard, went out for wood, 
when they seized and gagged the guard, and 
bound Iiim so that he could not give the alarm ; 
then ran for life and liberty, keeping as much as 
possible along the stream, where the hounds could 
not follow the scent. After some hours the guard 
succeeded in getting free, and gave the alarm ; the 
hounds were immediately put upon their track, 
and when they heard them in close pursuit they 
separated and took to the trees ; but the hounds 
followed by their masters, soon came up, and the 
men were brought down. This man was just on 
the point of getting down from the tree and join- 
ing the others, when he thought he would wait 
until invited to come down. To his great surprise 
the entire party turned about and retraced their 
way to the prison camp. As soon as they were 
out of sight he pursued his way to freedom, and 
finally succeeded, with much assistance from the 
colored men, in reaching our lines. We always 
found the colored people true friends, and there 
was no corner of the Southern Confederacy so re- 
mote but that they had heard of ' Massa Linkum' 
and his 'mancipation proclamation. 

"In September an event happened which 
brought to the minds of all familiar with Bible 
history the narrative of Moses bringing water 
from the rock. The stockade was very much 
crowded, and as there was considerable ground 
covered by the marsh along the creek that could 
not be occupied, some of the men asked and ob- 
tained permission from the rebel officers to dig 
down the hill along the dead-line and wheel the 
dirt down into the marsh, thereby gaining an acre 
or two of ground, which was afterwards used to 
very good advantage. They were busily engaged 
in this work when, deep in the hillside, they 
struck a fine spring of water, as cool aiul refresh- 
ing to the parched lips of the sick and dying of 
the prison as the waters of Meribah to the Israel- 
ites of the wilderness. The news spread that the 
waters were bursting forth, and as the maimed and 
14 



sick crowded round the healing pool of Bethesda 
in Christ's time, so did these sick and dying ones 
come here for a draught of pure, cold water. So 
great was the crowd that a police force was or- 
ganized, and the last who came were obliged to 
fall in the rear of the line. But there was no need 
of hurrying, for the water poured forth in a steady, 
constant, endless flow, — fit emblem of the blessings 
that should flow from the liberties which men were 
dying to perpetuate. 

" For me, this long period of hoping and watch- 
ing and waiting finally came to an end early in 
November. An order came that every man must 
be at his tent, as the doctors were going to exam- 
ine and send to our own lines those who would 
not be fit for future service. The doctors soon 
came in, and were quickly surrounded by maimed 
and wounded men, with wounds full of gangrene 
and limbs swollen almost to bursting with scurvy 
and dropsy, all of them imploring and beseeching 
the doctors to send them home before they died. 
From such a sight I turned away. I thought I 
had no chance in that crowd, but the sergeant of 
our ward insisted on the doctors seeing my wounds, 
and to my great surprise they put my name down 
for exchange. The next morning the bugle sounded 
for us to fall in. Our names were called and we 
were marched out of the stockade and again 
crowded into the cars. As our train left the depot 
we could see through the trees the fields where 
more than thirteen thousand of our soldiers were 
buried, — victims, not of necessity, but of the in- 
humanity of those who hatl them in chaige. 

"Our train ran to Macon, and then turned on 
the road leading to Savannah. We arrived at that 
city on Sunday morning, November 20, 1864, and 
were soon drawn up in line on the dock, to sign 
articles of parole not to take up arms again until 
duly exchanged. These preliminaries duly ar- 
ranged, we got on board a small tug and started 
down the Savannah River to the point where our 
vessel lay. As we rounded a point in the river 
we came in sight of a fort over which our flag 
floated. Our men, almost frantic with the sight 
of the stars and stripes, rushed to that side in such 
numbers that the vessel almost capsized, and the 
rebel officer drove them back with his sword. We 
finally arrived in the bay, where we saw our own 
.steamers, laden with clothing for the naked, food 
for the famishing ones, medicine for the sick and 
dying, and waiting to convey all to home and 
friends again. We .sprang over the narrow plank 
that separated the vessels, and were at home. What 
a night we passed on board that vessel ! Men 
shouted and prayed and sang as if in delirium, 
I and some died, from very joy. Whenever I awoke 



lOO 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



during the night, the voice of singing c.ime to my 
car, and m\- heart joined in the melody. What a 
delightful sense of comfort and rest we experi- 
enced for a few days ! Food was given us spar- 
inglv, but we knew there was plenty in reserve 
when we were able to bear it. The day after we 
came on board we threw our rags into the ocean, 
and received a new suit of blue. We were then 
transferred to another vessel and started North. 
The very elements were propitious, and we had a 
delightful voyage, singing with glad hearts ' Home- 
ward Bound." Verj- few were sea-sick, and about 
dark on Saturday, November 26, i S64, we reached 
Annapolis, where our wants were all provided for, 
and we received ever\-thing that our condition re- 
quired." 

MEMBERS OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY FROM 
LIVINGSTON CX>UNTY. 

/■u/J amJ S(<>f. 
Adjutant Charles E, Grisson, Hamburg, .-\pril 15, 1S64; wounded 

in K\Ule of SiV)ttsyl\-;\nia, Virginia, May 12, 1S64; promoted 

to captain. Company -V, July 29. 1S64. 
Adjutant Harris H Hickock, Howell, first lieutenant and adjutant, 

July 29, 1 804 : captain, June 9, 1S65 ; m iisioro>i out ;is adjutant, 

June 4, 18115. 

J\':Mi'C»mmissiimeii S/aJT. 

Sergeant-Major Herman Preston. Howell, enli-ted Se|itember 6, 
1S62; prvimoted to second lieutenant. Company 11, March 
20. 1S63. 

Sergeant- Major William G. Smith, Hanland, promoted to second 
lieutenant. Company E, May 24, 1S63. 

Sergeant- Major Lupton C. Culver, Hamburg, discharged for dis- 
ability, M.iy 4, 1S04. 

Sergeant-Miijor Charles S. Fall, H;imhurg, honorably discharged 
June 4. 1S65. 

Princiivil Musician Valdmer Grisson, Hamburg, honorably dis- 
charged June 4, 1S65. 

CajHain Charles E. Grisson, Hamburg, July 29, 1S64; brevet 
major United States Yolunteers for gallant and meritorious 
services in the field ; muslerevl out April 19, 1S66. 

Captain Stephen B. Burch, Pinckney, August 27, 1S62 ; discharged 

for disability, .^pril 15, iSti4. 
Cajitain Lucius H. Ives, l-nadilla, April 26, 1864: promote*! to 

m.ijor, March 7, 1S65; mustered out as captain, June 4, 1S65. 
First lieutenant Washington W. Burch, Pinckney, August 13, 

1S62-, dieil at Alexandria, Yirgiuia, February 7, 1S63. 
First Lieutenant Lucius H. Ives, ITnadilla, February 7, 1S63 ; 

promoted to captain, April 26, 1S64, Comjiony B. 
First Lieutenant Thomas C. Ch.ise, L)sco, June 26, 1864; pro- 
moted to captain ; mustered out as firet lieutenant, June 4, 

1865. 
Second Lieutenant Lucius H. Ives, I'nadilla, .\ugust 22, 1S62; 

promoted to lim lieutenant, Februarj- 7, 1S63. 
Seciind Lieutenant Thomas C, Chase, Iosco, February 7, iS6j ; 

jiromoted to tirst lieutenant, June 26, iSti4. 
Serjeant Thomas C Chase, Iosco. 
Sergeant AIl>ert W. Messenger. Iosco. 
Sergeant Ejios S. Steadm.an, I'nadilla, enlisted August 6, 1S62; 

l.ikcn prisoner in action at Deep Bottom, Yirgini.a, August 



16, 1864; died of starvation in Salisbur)- prison-iv;n, Decem- 
ber 12. 1864. 

Sergeant C. Hcniy Smith, Putnam, enlisted .Vugust 6, 1S62; died 
at Washington, May 27. tStvj. of wounds received at Spott- 
sylv.-knia, Virginia. May 12. 1S64. 

Corporal S.umicl H. Maiiin, Putnam, promoted to sci^eant; hon- 
orably discharged June 4. 1S65. 

Cor(Hiral Charles R. Dutton, Iosco, killed in action near Peters- 
bui^, Virginia, June 17, 1864. 

Corjwral Andrew J. Rounds, Marion, discharged Octol)er 14, 
1S63. 

Cor|x>ral Thomas J. Hayes, L'nadilla, died of disease at home, 
M.irch 16. 1864. 

Corjioral Henn.' Arnold, Putnam, discharged for disability, Octo- 
ber 27, 1863. 

I'rn\t/fs. 

Ira P. Annis, Putnam, enlisted August 3, 1S62 ; died at Alexan- 
dria, Virginia, March 17. 1863. of disease. 

Henry A. Kay, Putnam, enlisted .-Vugust 3, 1S62; honorably dis- 
chaiged May 22, 1865. 

Willi.am Anderson, Putnam, enlisted August 3, 1862; discharged 
for disiibilliy, June 19. 1S63. 

Burvlick J. AbKitt, Lvsco, enlisted jVugust 3, 1862; honorably dis- 
chaiged June 4, 1S65. 

Geoige W. Baiton, Unadilla, enlisted August 3, 1862; transferred 
to Coml^any G. 

William E. Burns, Iosco, enlisted August 3, 1S62 ; discharged for 
disability, June 2, 1 863. 

James D. Butgcr, Putnam, enlisted August 3, 1S62; honorably 
dischargetl June 4, 1S65. 

Myron J. Chalker, Unadilla, enlisted August 16,1862; died of 
disease at Stevensburg, Virginia, Januarv- 14, 1864. 

George \V. Chalker, Putnam, enlisted August 6, 1S62 ; honorably 
dischaiged June 4, 1865. 

John G. Chalker, P\Uiiam, enlisle\i August 15, 1S62; honorably 
di5ch.irge<l June 4, 1865. 

William S. Chalker, Putnam, enlisted August 16, 1862 ; honorably 
discharged June 4, 1863. 

And. J. Chovin, Iosco, enlisted August II, 1S62 ; died of disease at 
Yorktown, Virginia, July 16, 1863. 

Edwin B. E.\ston, Unadilla, enlisted Decemlwr 28, 1S63; killed 
in action near Petersburg, Virginia, June 17, 1S64. 

George E. Faniham. Putn.mi, enlisted J.anuary 4, 1S64; honorably 
discharged May 22, 1S65. 

George P. Foster, Iosco, enlisted August 9, 1862 ; died of disease 
at Alexandria, Virginia, March 16, 1863. 

George R. Finch, Iosco, enlisteil August II, 1S62; discharged for 
disability, Octol>er 27, 1S63. 

Wilkinson Green, Iosco, enlisted August 13, 1862; honorably dis- 
charged June 4, 1865. 

Henry O. Green, Unadilla, enlisted August 6, 1S62; honorably 
disch,irgeil June 4, 1865. 

Orfin Green, Unadilla, enlisted August 6, 1S62; mustered out 
July 13. 1S65. 

Richard B. Garrison, Unadilla, enlisted August 7, 1S62; killed in 
action at North Anna, \"itginia. May 24, 1S64. 

William S. Holmes, Unadilla, enlisted August 7, 1862 ; discharged 
by order. May iS, 1S65. 

Edward A. House, Handy, enlisted August II, 1862: disch.argcd 
by order. May 13, 1 8(14. 

Russell Hastings, Iosco, enlisted August iS, 1S62 ; honorably dis- 
chargeil M.ry 22, 1S65. 

John M. Kcuney, Putnam, enlistee! August 7, 1S62; sergeant; 
honorably dischargei.1 June 4, 1 865. 

And. S. LoMell, Putnam, enlisted August 20, 1862 : discharged 
Ajiril 9, 1863, 

Hiram D. Lee, Putnam. enliste<,l .\ugust 14, 1S62 ; honorably dis- 
charged June 4, 1865. 

Watson Lister, L»sco, enlisteil .\ugust 13, 1S62; honorably dis- 
charged June 4, 1S65. 



TWKNTY-SIXTH INFANTRY. 



107 



Thomas Lister, Iosco, enlisted February 24, 1864; died August 
7, 1864, of Wounds received at Spoltsylvania. 

KrancisJ. Lincoln, Unadilla, enlisted Au<;u>.t2f, 1862; transferred 
to Company G ; died of disease at Hamilton, Virginia, June 
26, 1863. 

Charles Lockwood, loscn, enlisted August 14, 1862; honorably 
discharged June 4, 1865. 

Wc-ley II. Mosier, Iosco, enlisted August II, 1862; died of dis- 
ease at Tompkins Centre, Michigan, Octol>cr 14, 1864. 

Jcdedlah Miner, Iosco, enlisted August 15, 1S62; honorably dis- 
charged June 4, 1865. 

Henry Mills, I'ulnani, enlisted August 6, 1862; discharged for 
disability, January 30, 1863. 

Ashcr G. Miller, I'ulnani, enlisted January 4, 1864; mustered out 
June 24, 1865. 

James Melcalf, Putnam, enlisted August 14, 1862; killed May 12, 

1864, in battle of Spoltsylvania, Virginia. 

Isaac S. Mcintosh, Unadilla, enlisted Augn-t 15, 1862; died of 

disease at V'orktown, Virginia, July 7, 1863. 
James Moore, Unadilla, enlisted August 8, 1862; transferred to 

Invalid Corps; mustered out July 3, 1S65. 
James J. Mann, I'ulnnm, enlisted August 15, 1862; died August 

19, 1864, of wounds received at Cold Harbor, Virginia. 
Josiah Minick, Putnam, enlisted August 6, 1862; killed April 7, 

1865, in action at p'armvillc, Virginia. 

Frank C. Martin, Putnam, enlisted August 21, 1862; died of dis- 
ease at Fortress Monroe, September 3, 1 863. 

John P. Miller, Iosco, enlisted August 22, 1862; discharged June 
I, 1 86 J. 

John H. Oaks, Iosco, enlisted August 9, 1862; honorably dis- 
charged June 4, 1865. 

Seth Porter, Unadilla, enlisted August 15, 1862; honorably dis- 
charged June 4, 1865. 

Andrew Kobinson, Putnam, enlisted August 15, 1862; discharged 
for disability, November 10, 1863. 

Lewis H. Sweet, Handy, enlisted August 20, 1862; honorably 
discharged June 9, 1865. 

Augustus H. Stiles, Unadilla, enlisted August 14, 1862; honor- 
ably discharged June 4, 1865. 

George Sirayer, Marlon, enlisted August 8, 1862; sergeant; honor- 
ably discharged June 4, 1865. 

D.initI Sprague, Unadilla, enlisted August 7, 1862; honorably 
discharged June 4, 1865. 

Thomas E. Allison, Putnam, enlisted August If, 1862; died of 
wounds received at Spottsylvania, Virginia, May 12, 1864. 

James Waters, Iosco, enlisted August 9, 1862; killed in action at 
Spoltsylvania, Virginia, May 12, 1864. 

John \V. Wlllson, Iosco, enlisted August 9, 1862; killed in action 
at Spoltsylvania, Virginia, .May 12, 1864. 

James A. Wilder, Pnln.im, enlisted August II, 1862; killed May 
12, 1864, in action at Spottsylvania. 

George J. Wilhelm, Iosco, enlisted August 9, 1862; honorably 
discharged May 31, 1865. 

Company C. 

First Lieutenant John M. Royce, Hamburg, October I, 1864; 
promoted to captain, June 9, 1865 ; nnistered out as fir^t lieu- 
tenant. 

Company G. 

Francis J. Lincoln, died of disease at Hampton, Virginia, June 
26, 1863. 

Lewis E. Wliitakcr, Occola, enlisted November 21, 1862; trans- 
ferred to Invalid Corps; discharged June 17, 1865. 

Isaac Mclnlosh, died of ilisease at Vorklown, Virginia, July 7, 
1863. 

Company II. 

Second Lieutenant Hcman Preston, Howell, March 20, 1863; dis- 
charged for disability, December 3, 1863. 



Private Loomis Dillingham, Conway, enlisted August 20, 1862; 
died of disease, January 12, 1864, at Stevensburg, Virginia. 

Company I. 
First Lieutenant Thomas J. Thompson, Hamburg, January 2, 

1865 ; mustered out June 4, 1865. 
.Second Lieutenant John M. Royce, Hamburg, April 13, 1864; 

promoted to first lieutenant. Company C, October I, 1864. 
Second Lieutenant Thomas J. Thompson, Hamburg, November 
17, 1864; promoted to first lieutenant. Company I, January 2, 
1865. 

Company E. 

Captain John C. Culver, Hamburg, August 21, 1862; died at Suf- 
folk, Virginia, May 24, 1863, of wounds received in action 
near Windsor, Virginia, May 23, 1863. 

First Lieutenant Charles E. Grisson, Hamburg, May 24, 1863; 
promoted to adjutant April 15, 1864. 

-Second Lieutenant Charles E. Grisson, Hamburg, September I, 
1862 ; promoted to first lieutenant. 

Second Lieutenant William G. Smilh, Hartland, May 24, 1863; 
promoted to first lieutenant; resigned June 26, 1864. 

Second Lieutenant Albert W. Messenger, Iosco, Decembers, 1864; 
sergeant, Company B; mustered out June 4, 1865. 

Sergeant William G. Smilh, Hartland, enlisted -August 14, 1862; 
promoted to sergeant-major April 23, 1863. 

Sergeant Robert Howlelt, Hamburg, enlisted August 4, 1862; 
transferred to Invalid CoriK September I, 1863. 

Sergeant Henry H. Bishop, Hamburg, enlisted August 4, 1862; 
honorably discharged June 2, 1865. 

Sergeant John M. Royce, Hamburg, enlisted August 4, 1862; 
promoted to second lieutenant. Company I, April 13, 1864. 

Corporal Heman Preston, Howell, enlisted August 14, 1862; 
transferred to Company K and promoted to sergeant-major. 

Corporal Charles Purdy, Jr., Hartland, enlisted August If, 1S62; 
discharged to accept promotion in United States Colored 
Troops. 

Corporal Philo B. Wines, Howell, enlisted August 8, 1862; mus- 
tered out June 30, 1865. 

Corporal William Gregg, Hamburg, enlisted August 15, 1862; 
discharged for disability, July 31, 1863. 

Corporal Thomas J. Thompson, Hamburg, enlisted August 4, 
1862; promoted to second lieutenant. Company I, November 
17, 1864. 

Corporal Newton T. Kirk, llarlland, enlisted August II, 1862; 
sergeant ; commissioned in United Slates Colored Infantry. 

Corporal Myron Kriesler, Genoa, enlisted August 12, 1862; dis- 
charged for disability, October 26, 1863. 

Privales. 

Jos. Abbott, Hamburg, enlisted August 8, 1862; died of disease 
at Alexandria, March 12, 1863. 

Edwin D. Alger, Cohoctah, enlisted August 22, 1862; honorably 
discharged June 4, 1865. 

Samuel B. Appleton, Hamburg, enlisted August 11, 1862; killed 
in action at Spottsylvania. 

Benj,aniin F. Bachelor, Oceola, enlisted August II, 1862; pro- 
moted into United States Colored Infantry. 

Jerome M. Baker, Hamburg, enlisted August 5, 1862; honorably 
discharged June 4, 1865. 

Albert Bales, Tyrone, enlisted August 14, 1862; honorably dis- 
charged June 4, 1865. 

Sylvester Bates, Deerfield, enlisted August 14, 1862; discharged 
for disability. May 13, 1865. 

Mark Barnard, Hamburg, enlisted August 5, 1S62; honorably 
discharged June 4, 1S65. 

Albert Burnett, Green Oak, enlisted August II, 1862; honorably 
discharged June 4, 1865. 

James Burnelt, Hamburg, tnlisied .\ugust 14, 1862; died of dis- 
ease nl Fort Rlclinioml, New York, October 14, 1S63. 



io8 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Benjamin Buffum, Hamluirg, enli^led August 12, 1862; died of 

disease at Jacl<son, Michigan, November 18, 1862. 
Edwin D. Butler, llnml:)urg, enlisted August 15, 1S62; discharged 

for disalnlity, January 9, 1865. 
Max. A. Buck, Hamburg, enlisted August 9, 1S62 ; honorably 

discharged June 4, 1865. 
Eugene A. Btiggs, Cohoctah, enlisted August 14, 1S62 ; discharged 

for disability, September 13, 1863. 
John J. Bradley, Ilartland, enlisted August 21, 1862; discliarged 

for disability, July 26, 1S63. 
Leander F. Brown, Cohoctah, enlisted August 16, 1862 ; honorably 

discharged June 4, 1S65. 
Melvin Brookfield, Cohoctah, enlisted August 22, 1S62; died of 

disease at Washington, March 10, 1863. 
Nathan Clark, Genoa, enlisted August 22, 1862; honorably dis- 
charged June 9, 1865. 
Lanson E. Clark, Hartland, enlisted August 15, 1862; honorably 

discharged June 4, 1865. 
Webster K. Cole, Oceola, enlisted August 14, 1862; honorably 

discharged June 4, 1865. 
Lupton C. Culver, Hamburg, enlisted .\ugust 15, 1862; promoted 

to sergeant-major. May 24, 1863. 
Stephen C. Culver, Hamburg, enlisted .August 15, 1862; died of 

disease at Washington, July 23, 1863. 
Lewis Cobley, Marion, enlisted August 21, 1862; discharged for 

disability, February 16, 1865. 
Hiram De Wolf, Hamburg, enlisted .Vugust 11, 1862 ; honorably 

discharged June 4, 1865. 
Elias Durfee, Hartland, enlisted .August 14, 1S62; honorably dis- 
charged June 4, 1865. 
John Dufiy, Green Oak, enlisted August 5, 1862; honorably dis- 
charged June 4, 1S65. 
Adolph Engle, Putnam, enlisted .August 9, 1862; honor.ably dis- 
charged June 4, 1865. 
Hiram C. Elliott, Handy, enlisted August 11, 1862; discharged 

for disability, September 2, 1863. 
Charles S. Fall, Hamburg, enlisted August 6, 1862; promoted to 

sergeant-major, January 18, 1865. 
James W. Fulton, Green Oak, enlisted -August 5, 1862; honorably 

discharged June 4, 1S65. 
Frederick N. Galloway, Howell, enlisted August 15, 1S62 ; cor- 
poral; promoted into 27th Infantry. 
William Gilbert, Conway, enlisted .August 7, 1S62 ; died of disease 

at Jackson, Michigan, September 16, 1S62. 
Valdnier Grisson, Hamburg, enlisted February 9, 1S64; promoted 

to principal musician, April I, 1865. 
Harris H. Hickock, Howell, enlisted August 20, 1862; promoted 

to first lieutenant and adjutant, July 29, 1S64. 
Nelson T. Hinckley, Hamburg, enlisted August 8, 1862; honor- 
ably discharged June 4, 1865. 
Thomas Ha^l, Oceola, enlisted .August 14, 1S62; honorably dis- 
charged June 4, 1S65. 
William H. Halleck, Hamburg, enlisted August 14, 1862; pro- 
moted into United States Coloied Troops September 10, 
1864. 
Dwight E. Hathaway, Hartland, enlisted .August 25, 1S62; honor- 
ably discharged June 4, 1865. 
Ira M. Hardy, Oceola, enlisted August 18, 1862; honorably dis- 
charged Jun : 4, 1865. 
Araswell Lamb, Hartland, enlisted August 14, 1862; discharged 

for disability, April n, 1864. 
George W. Lake, Howell, enlisted August 8, 1862; died at City 
Point, Virginia, September 8, 1864, of wounds received at 
Ream's Station, Virginia, August 25, 1854. 
James B. Litchfield, Cohoctah, enlisted August 22, 1862 ; honor- 
ably discharged June 4, 1S65. 
Selah Mapes, Tyrone, enlisted .August 14, 1S62; died of disease 

at Fort Richmond, New York, November 23, 1863. 
Andrew J. Mclvean, Howell, enlisted August 15, 1S62; honor- 
ably discharged June 10, 1S65. 



Robert S. Mountain, Howell, enlisted August 17, 1862; honor- 
ably discharged June 4, 1865. 

Daniel McKean, Deerfield, enlisted October 7, 1862; killed in 
action at Spoltsylvania, Virginia, M.ay 12, 1864. 

John T. Olds, Conway, enlisted August 14, 1862; prisoner from 
May to November, 1864; mustered out June 20, 1865. 

Isaac Page, Howell, enlisted August 7, 1S62; discharged for dis- 
abilily, February 3, 1865. 

George Pettys, Hambuig, enlisted .August 21, 1S62; killed in ac- 
tion at Spottsylvania, A'irginia, May 12, 1S64. 

Frank Pettys, H.imbuvg, enlisted .August 16, 1862; died of dis- 
ease, February 2, 1863, at Alexandria, Virginia. 

Edgar L. Rathbun, Oceola, enlisted August 14, 1862; honorably 
discharged June 4, 1865. 

EH Rambo, Howell, enlisted August 14, 1862; killed in action. 
May II, 1864, at Po River, Virginia. 

David Spaulding, Deerfield, enlisted October 15, 1S62 ; honorably 
discharged June 4, 1865. 

.Allen B. Springstein, Deerfield, enlisted August 14, 1S62; mus- 
tered out in Arkansas, June 25, 1865. 

Aaron B. Slater, H.andy, enlisted August 7, 1862; killed in action 
at Spottsylvania, Virginia, May 12, 1S64. 

Delos Stimson, Putnam, enlisted August 6, 1862 ; honorably dis- 
charged June 4, 1865. 

John W. Sweeny, Hamburg, enlisted August 20, 1S62 ; honorably 
discharged June 3, 1865. 

John W. Tompkins, Howell, enlisted August 22, 1S62; discharged 
for disability. May 15, 1865. 

Harvey P. Wing, Howell, enlisted August 8, 1862; honorably 
discharged May 26, 1S65. 

Josiah W. Willis, Hamburg, enlisted August 5, 1862; honor,ably 
discharged June 4, 1865. 

Martin Woll, Howell, enlisted August 8, 1862; transferred to 
Invalid Corps, September 30, 1863. 

George E. Wright, Howell, enlisted .August 8, 1862; discharged 
for disability, January 2, 1865. 



CHAPTER XI. 

THIRD AND SIXTH CAVALRY. 

The Peculiarly Arduous Service Required of Cavaliy — Organiza- 
tion of the Third Cavalry — Departure for the Front in Novem- 
ber, 1861 — Winter Quarters at St. Louis — Campaigns of 1862 
in Tennessee and Mississippi — Campaigns of 1863 — Long 
Marches and Heavy Captures of Prisoners — Winter Quarters 
at La Grange, Tennessee — Veteran Re-enlistment and Fur- 
lough — Provost Duty at St. Louis — Service in Arkansas — Win- 
ter Quarters, 1864-65, at Brownsville — Services under General 
Cnnby — Frontier Duty in Texas — Muster Out and Discharge — 
Livingston County Members of the Regiment — The Sixth Cav- 
alry — Organiz.ation and Departure from Michigan — Services in 
the Vicinity of Washington — .Assignment to Duty in the Cav- 
alry Corps, .Army of the Potomac — Its Campaigning in 1863 — • 
Winter Quarters at Stevensburg — The Richmond Raid — Con- 
tinuous Campaigning in 1S64 — Campaign of 1865 — General 
Pickett's Opinion of a Charge made by the Sixth — Movement 
to North Carolina — Return to Washington and Participation in 
the Grand Review — Transfer to Fort Leavenworth — Service on 
the Plains — Muster Out and Discharge — Members of the Sixth 
from Livingston County. 

Although the cavalry branch of the army was 
not brought into as many general engagements as 
the infantry, and consequently suffered less in 
killed and wounded, yet its service was of an ex- 



THIRD AND SIXTH CAVALRY. 



109 



trcmcly arduous nature, compelling men to be 
almost constantly in the saddle, riding day and 
night for hundreds, and sometimes for a thousand, 
miles in a single expedition. But the character of 
this service, being that of almost constant marching 
and change of station and duty, renders it imprac- 
ticable to follow and trace the movements of cav- 
alry with as much of precision and detail as can 
be done in the case of infantry regiments. 

THIRD CAVALRY. 

The Third Cavalry contained between eighty and 
one hundred men from Livingston County; these 
being most numerous in Company G, but a con- 
siderable number being found in Companies I and 
L, and a few in other companies. 

The regiment was raised in the summer and fall 
of 1 86 1, having its rendezvous at Grand Rapids. 
It left that place more than a thousand strong, 
November 18, iS6i,and proceeded to St. Louis, 
Missouri, where it remained in winter quarters at 
the Benton Barracks. In 1862 it moved south, 
and participated in the operations at New Madrid 
and Island Number Ten, also in the siege of Co- 
rinth, and the subsequent campaign in Northern 
Mississippi, where it remained during the entire 
season, capturing in that series of operations twelve 
hundred and eighty-six prisoners of the enemy, 
among whom were five field- and thirty-two line- 
officers. It passed the winter in Northern Missis- 
sippi, and in 1863 was again employed in that State 
and Western Tennessee in almost continuous 
marching, fighting, and raiding, and by the first of 
November in that year had taken an additional 
number of prisoners, sufficient to make the whole 
number captured by it since its commencement of 
service two thousand one hundred, of whom about 
fifty were officers. " During the year (from Jan- 
uary I to November i, 1863) the regiment marched 
a distance of ten thousand eight hundred miles, 
exclusive of marches by separate companies and 
detachments." Accompanying the Third in its 
movements, was a light battery of twelve-pound 
howitzers. On the first of January, 1864, the regi- 
ment arrived at La Grange, Tennessee, where it 
prepared winter quarters, and where, during Jan- 
uary, nearly si.x hundred of its members re-enlisted 
as veterans, and received the usual furlough, — to 
rendezvous at Kalamazoo. From that place they 
moved, with their numbers largely augmented by 
recruits, to St. Louis, where they remained about 
two months on provost duty in the city, while 
awaiting the arrival of new horses and equipments. 
Still dismounted, the regiment moved May i8th, 
and proceeded to Arkansas, there joining the army 
of General Steele. It was mounted and armed 



with the Spencer repeating-carbinc on the first of 
August, and from that time until winter was en- 
gaged in scouting and outpost duty in that State. 
Its winter quarters were at Brownsville Station, on 
the Memphis and Little Rock Railroad. On the 
fourteenth of March it was transferred from Ar- 
kansas to the military division of West Mississip[)i, 
under General Canby, to move with the forces 
designed to operate against Mobile. After the fall 
of that city the regiment was employed on outpost 
duty till after the surrender of Lee and Johnston, 
and was then detailed as the escort of General 
Canby, on the occasion of his receiving the sur- 
render of the Confederate General Taylor and his 
army. It moved across the country from Mobile 
to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, arriving there May 22, 
1865. On Sheridan's assuming command of the 
Division of the Southwest, the Third was ordered 
to join troops designed for Te.xas, and left Baton 
Rouge June loth, moving by way of Shrevcport, 
and across Texas to San Antonio, where it remained, 
employed in garrison dut\-, scouting expeditions 
for the protection of the frontier, and other similar 
duty till February 15, 1866, when it was dismounted 
and mustered out of service. The men returned 
'i'ia Victoria, Indianola, New Orleans, and Cairo, 
Illinois, to Jackson, Michigan, and there received 
their final payment, March 15, 1866. 

MEMBERS OF THE THIRD CAVALRY FROM LIVING- 
STON COUNTY. 

Company G. 
Second Lieutenant James R. Pinckney, Hamburg, September 21, 

1861 ; promoted to first lieutenant ; mustered out February 

12, 1S66. 
Qiiartermaster-Serge.int Henry PincUney, Hamburg, enlisted Sep- 
tember 17, 1861 ; promoted tosecond lieutenant, Cimipany L. 
Sergeant Daniel P. Barker, enlisted September 14, 1861; died of 

disease at St. Louis, Missouri, October 18, 1862. 
Sergeant David A. Wilson, enlisted October 10, 1S61 ; discharged 

for disability, June 30, 1862. 
Corporal Edward M. Hall, enlisted September 6, 1861 ; discharged 

for disability, October 15, 1S62. 
Corporal Asa Smith, enlisted September 6, 1861 ; veteran, January 

19, 1864; discharged for disability, November 26, 1864. 
Corporal Witman .S. Hall, enlisted .September 6, 1861 ; veteran, 

January 19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. 

Privates. 

Samuel .\vis, Green Oak, enlisted February 24, 1864; mustered 
out February 12, 1866. 

Alanson A. Brown, enlisted September 10, l86r ; veteran, Janu- 
ary 19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. 

Marshall Borden, enlisted September 6, 1861 ; veteran, January 
19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. 

John G. Bai low, enlisted February 18, 1864; mustered out Feb- 
ruary 12, 1866. 

La Fayette Bennett, enlisted February 15, 1864; mustered out 
February 12, 1866. 

Ambrose W. Brown, enlisted February 22, 1864; mustered out 
February 12, 1866. 

George Clinton, Putnam, farrier; veteran, Januai-y ig, 1S74; mus- 
tered out February 12, l866. 



no 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



John F. Cunningham, enlisted September 28, 1861; died of dis- 
ease at Rienzi, Mississippi, June 30, 1862. 

Charles Connor, enlisted September 23, 1861 ; veteran, January 
19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. 

William M. Cole, enlisted December i, 1861; veteran, January 
19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. 

Christopher Clinton, Putnam, enlisted December 16, !S6r ; veteran, 
January 19, 1S64; mustered out Felnuary 12, 1866. 

Jolm Fitzgerald, Brighton, enlisted February 25, 1S64; mustered 
out February 12, 1866. 

Murray Grady, enlisted September 6, 1S61 ; veteran, January 19, 
1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. 

James L. Hawley, enlisted September 17, 1861 ; discharged for 
disability, November 10, 1862. 

William Keene, enlisted January 26, 1S64; mustered out June 
30, 1865. 

David A. Livingston; discharged for disability, October 15, 1862. 

Thomas Lound, Hamliurg, enlisted September 18, 1S61 ; veteian, 
February 8, 1864; mustered out September 25, 1865. 

Ileniy Olsaver, Green OaI<, enlisted Septendier 17, 1861 ; dis- 
charged for disability, November 16, 1862. 

William C. Olsaver, Green OaU, enlisted February 24, 1864; mus- 
tered out February 12, 1 865. 

David R. O'Neal, Brighton, enlisted February 10, 1S64; mustered 
out Febniary 12, 1S66. 

Thomas D. Osborn, Green Oak, enlisted February 27, 1864; mus- 
tered out February 12, 1866. 

Lucien Power, Hamburg, enlisted February 10, 1S64; mustered 
out February 12, 1866. 

Joseph Placeway, Brighton, enlisted February 10, 1864; nnistered 
out September 29, 1865. 

Orrin Palmer, Putnam, enlisted October 17, 1S61; died of disease 
in Ohio, July 20, 1862. 

Sylvester Smith, Hamburg, enlisted October 22, 1S61 ; veteran, 
January 19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. 

Daniel L. Smith, veteran, January ig, 1S64; mustered out Feb- 
ruary 12, 1866. 

Er.astus Smith, enli^ted September 18, i86i ; veteran, January 19, 
1864; mustered out Febiuaiy 12, 1866. 

Andrew I. Sawyer, Hamburg, enlisted Feljruary 14, 1S64; mus- 
tered out February 12, 1866. 

Samuel F. Shannon, Green Oak, enlisted February iS, 1S64; 
mustered out February 12, 1866. 

Thomas Trainor, enlisted September 24, 1861 ; veteran, January 
19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866. 

Charles D. Williams, enlisted October 22, 1S61 ; veteran, January 

19, 1S64; mustered out February 12, 1866. 

La Fayette Winans, Green Oak, enlisted February 22, 1864; died 
of disease in Green Oak, Michigan, August 11, 1S64. 

Cojnpany I. 
Captain Henry J. Pinckney, Hamburg, October 24, 1864 (first 
lieutenant, August 13, 1863; second lieutenant, December 

20, 1862); mustered out February 12, 1866. 

Second Lieutenant C. W. Tenny, Hartland, mustered out Feb- 
ruary 12, 1866. 

D.ivid \V. Adams, Hartland, enlisted .September 7, 1S61; dis- 
charged for disaljility, Januaiy 25, 1862. 

Amos J. Beebe, Oceola, enli^ted September 19, 1861 ; veteran, 
January 19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1 866. 

Eugene Bly, enlisted August 28, 1861 ; veteran, January 19, 1S64; 
mustered out February 12, 1866. 

Harrison Chase, enlisted October 25, 1861 ; veteran, January 19, 
1864; mustered out February 12, 1S66. 

Jerome Carrier, enlisted September 2, 1S61 ; veteran, J.inuary ig, 
1864; mustered out February 12, 1S66. 

John Cranston, Tyrone, enlisted February 16, 1S64; mustered out 
February 12, 1866. 

Charles Crippen, enlisted .September 13, 1861 ; discharged at end 
of service, October 24, 1S64. 



John Ford, Oceola, enlisted Felnuary 27, 1S64; mustered out 
March 16, 1866. 

Quintus Foster, Hartland, enlisted January 16, 1864; mustered 
out March 16, 1866. 

Tliomas Graham, Hartland, enlisted September 17, 1861 ; veteran, 
January 19, 1864; mustered out Feljruary 12, 1866. 

John Graham, Hartland, enlisted January 4, 1864; mustered out 
February 12, 1866. 

Robert Graham, Hartland, enlisted January 5, 1864; mustered out 
February 12, 1866. 

Charles W. Hamilton, Tyrone, enlisted January 27, 1864; mus- 
tered out February 12, 1866. 

James R. Price, Hartland, enlisted September iS, 1S61 ; discharged 
for disability. 

Edwin Rogers, Brighton, enlisted February 27, 1864; mustered 
out February 12, 1866. 

Jacob Shook, Tyrone, enlisted February 4, 1S64; mustered out 
February 12, 1S66. 

Peter Shook, Tyrone, enlisted February i, 1S64; mustered out 
February 12, 1S66. 

Martin V. Stewart, Hartland, enlisted October 9, 1861 ; died in 
action at luka, Mississippi, September 13, 1862. 

John Sayers, Hartland, enlisted Januaiy 4, 1864; died of disease 
at St. John's, Missouri, July 10, 1865. 

David C. Smith, Hartland, discharged for disability, April 4, 
1S63. 

James Welch, Marll.and, enlisted January 4, 1S64; mustered out 
February 12, 1 866. 

Company L. 

Edward Clinton, enlisted October i, 1861 ; discharged for dis.i- 
bility, February, 1S62. 

Robert W. Caskey, Iosco, enlisted October i, 1861 ; veteran, Jan- 
uary 19, 1S64; mustered out February 12, 1866. 

Ezra A. Fox, Handy, enlisted October I, 1S61 ; died of disease 
in Indiana, May I, 1862. 

David W. Kennedy, Hamburg, enlisted August 27, 1862; mus- 
tered out June 2, 1865. 

Charles M. Loree, Handy, enlisted October 9, 1S61 ; veteran, Jan- 
uaiy 19, 1864; mustered out February 12, 1866, 

Joseph C. Loree, Handy, enlisted October i, 1861 ; veteran, Jan 
iiary ig, 1S64. 

Alvin Loree, Handy, enlisted October 9, 1S61 ; died of disease, 
July 20, 1862, in Tennessee. 

Michael McM.anus, sergeant, Handy, enlisted September 20, 1861 ; 
discharged for disability, April 15, 1862. 

Thomas Moore, Hamly, enlisted October I, 1861 ; died in action 
at Moulton, Alabama, July 21, 1862. 

D. R. Newman, Handy, enlisted November 9, 1861 ; veteran, Jan- 
uary 19, 1864; mustered out Februaiy 12, 1866. 

James L. Tubbs, farrier, enlisted October i, 1861 ; discharged 
for disability, April 15, 1862. 

George J. Whitehead, Handy, enlisted October i, i85i ; mustered 
out February 12, 1S66. 

Other Companies. 

Edward Denson, Company B ; enlisted September 9, 1861 ; vet- 
eran, January 19, 1864; died of disease on Mississippi River, 
October 17, 1S64. 

William Drumm, Howell, Company B; enlisted March 5, 1864; 
mustered out Februaiy 12, 1866. 

Daniel Campbell, Hartland, Company E; enlisted February 15, 
1864; discharged for disability, October I, 1864. 

Emanuel Kirby, Green Oak, Company F; enlisted January 3, 
1864; died of dise.ise at Duvall's Bluff, September 19, 1864. 

Charles W. Tenney, sergeant, veteran, January 19, 1864; pro- 
moted to second lieutenant. Company I. 

Bradley B. Norton, Hardand, Company A ; enlisted January 14, 
1S64; died of disease at Duvall's liluff, June 21, 1864. 

George M. Wallace, Hamburg, Company D; enlisted Januaiy 25, 
1S64; mustered out September 19, 1865. 



THIRD AND SIXTH CAVALRY. 



Ill 



SIXTH CAVALRY. 
The Sixth Michi<^an Cavalry, which was organ- 
ized at Grand Rapids in the autumn of 1862, car- 
ried on its rolls the names of more than fifty men 
from Livingston County, the largest number being 
in Company D. The regiment was mustered into 
the United States service with twelve hundred men, 
under Colonel George Gray, on the thirteenth of 
October in that year, and on the tenth of December 
following left the rendezvous for Washington, Dis- 
trict of Columbia, mounted and equipped, but not 
armed. It remained in the vicinity of Washington 
through the winter, and on the opening of the 
campaign of 1S63 joined the cavalry corps of the 
Army of the Potomac, being assigned to the Sec- 
ond Brigade of the Third Division. During the 
campaign of that year it experienced much of active 
service in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, 
taking part in engagements and skirmishes as fol- 
lows : Hanover, Virginia, June 30th; Hunters- 
town, Pennsylvania, July 2d ; Gettysburg, July 3d ; 
Monterey, Maryland, July 4th ; Cavetown, Mary- 
land, July 5th ; Smithtown, Boonsboro', Hagers- 
towii, and Williamsport, Maryland, July 6th; 
Hagerstown and Williamsport, July loth; Falling 
Waters, Virginia (where, according to official re- 
ports, it was highly distinguished for gallant 
behavior), July 14th ; Snicker's Gap, July 19th ; 
Kelly's Ford, September 13th ; Culpeper Court- 
House, September 14th; Raccoon Ford, Septem- 
ber 1 6th; White's Ford, September 21st; Jack's 
Shop, September 26th ; James City, October 12th ; 
Brandy Station, October 13th; Buckland's Mills, 
October 19th; Stevensburg, November 19th; and 
Morton's Ford, November 26th. From the latter 
date it remained in winter quarters at Stevensburg 
until the twenty-eighth of February, 1864, when 
it joined the cavalry column of Kilpatrick, on his 
great raid to the vicinity of Richmond. Returning 
from that expedition to camp at Stevensburg, it was 
transferred to the First Cavalry Division, and soon 
after moved camp to Culpeper. It was engaged, 
and fought bravely, near Chancellorsville, May 
6th, and skirmished on the seventh and eighth. 
On the morning of the ninth it moved with 
General Sheridan's command on the raid to the 
rear of the Confederate army, holding the advance. 
From this time until the close of the year its 
history is one of almost continuous movement, 
which may be summed up by the enumeration of 
the fights and skirmishes in which it took part, as 
follows: Beaver Dam, Virginia, May 9th ; Yellow 
Tavern, May loth and i ith ; Meadow 15ridge, May 
1 2th; Hanover Court-House, Virginia, May 27th; 
Hawes' Shop, May 28th; Baltimore Cross-Roads, 
May 29th; Cold Harbor, May 30th and June ist; 



Trevillian Station, June nth and 12th; Cold Har- 
bor, July 2ist; Winchester, August nth; Front 
Royal, August i6th; Leetown, August 25th; 
Shepherdstown, Virginia, August 26th ; Smith- 
field, August 29th ; Berryville, .September 3d ; 
Summit, September 4th ; Opequan, September 
19th; Luray, September 24th; Port Republic, 
September 26th, 27th, and 28th ; Mount Crawford, 
Virginia, October 2d ; Woodstock, October 9th ; 
Cedar Creek, October 19th; Madison Court-House, 
December 24th. 

On the opening of the spring campaign it moved 
with the other cavalry forces of Sheridan, February 
27, 1865, towards Gordonsville, and fought at 
Louisa Court-House, March 8th. Then the com- 
mand moved by way of White House Landing to 
and across the James River, and joined the Army 
of the Potomac in time to take part in the final 
battles of the war, being engaged at Five Forks, 
Virginia, March 30th, 31st, and April 1st; at 
Southside Railroad, April 2d ; Duck Pond Mills, 
April 4th ; Sailor's Creek, April 6th ; and Appo- 
mattox, April 9th. In one of these engagements 
the rebel general Pickett was captured, and he 
afterwards spoke of the charge of the Sixth on 
that occasion as " the bravest charge he had ever 
seen." 

After Lee's surrender the regiment moved to 
Petersburg, thence to North Carolina, and then 
north to Washington, District of Columbia, where 
it marched in the great review of May 23d. Im- 
mediately after it was ordered West, and moved 
with the Michigan Cavalry Brigade, via Baltimore 
and Ohio Railroad, and the Ohio, Mississippi, and 
Missouri Rivers, to Fort Leavenworth. There it 
received orders to move over the Plains, westward, 
on duty in the Indian country. The officers and 
men were greatly disgusted at this, but they would 
not soil their noble record by disobedience, and so 
they moved unhesitatingly to the performance of 
the disagreeable duty, on which they remained till 
the seventeenth of September, 1865, when the men 
of the regiment whose term did not expire before 
February I, 1866, were consolidated with the 
First Michigan Cavalry, and the remainder of the 
command was ordered back to Fort Leavenworth, 
where it was mustered out of service, November 
24, 1865. Returning to Michigan, it arrived at 
Jackson, November 30th, and was there disbanded. 

MEMUERS OF THE SIXTH C.WAI.RY FROM LIVING- 
STON COUNTV. 

Company A. 

William M. Higham, Brighton, enlislcJ .Vugust 4, 1862 ; mustered 

out June 21, 1865. 
Cliarles H. Dean, lirighton, enlisted -Vugiist 9, 1862; mustered 

out June 21, 1865. 



112 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



John Holcomb, Briglitoii, enlisted August 12, 1862; died in An- 

dersonville prison, September 6, 1864. 
Sergeant Eraslus J. Horton, Brighton, August 7, 1862 ; discharged 

for disability, October 23, 1S62. 
Ira C. Horton (non-commissioned staff), Handy, enlisted August 

7, 1S62; mustered out November 23, 1S65. 
William Palmeter, Handy, enlisted August 12, 1S62; transferred 

to Veteran Reserve Corps September i, 1S63. 
Charles S. Palmer, Oceola, enlisted August 15, 1862; mustered 

out June 21, 1865. 
Corporal Richard Parshall, Brighton, enlisted August II, 1862; 

mustered out June 21, 1865. 
William R. Radford, Brighton, enlisted August 4, 1862; mustered 

out June 21, 1865. 
John T. Sprague, Brighton, enlisted August 15, 1S62; died in 

prison at Richmond, February 9, 1864. 
Amos Ward, Brighton, enhsted August 15, 1862; died in prison 

at Richmond, February 17, 1S64. 

Cojnpany B. 

Captain Nelson C. Thomas, Brighton, enlisted as private August 
14, 1862; promoted to sergeant, and from that grade to first 
lieutenant, July 14, 1863; to captain, January 5, 1865 ; mus- 
tered out Novemljer 24, 1865. 

Corporal John A. Plait, Brighton, enlisted August 12, 1862; died 
in Richmond prison, February 9, 1864. 

Frivatcs. 

Archibald Campbell, enlisted September 8, 1862; discharged for 
disability, December 14, 1S64. 

Philip Cunningham, Brighton, enlisted August 14, 1862; mustered 
out October 10, 1865. 

Homer Goucher, Haitland; died in AndersonviUe prison, October 
13, 1864. 

Charles Goucher, Hartland ; died of disease at Stevensburg, Vir- 
ginia, February 21, 1S64. 

Jacob H. Smith, Brighton, enlisted December 5, 1863; mustered 
out May 19, 1865. 

Cojnpany D. 

First Lieutenant Luther C. Kanouse, Cohoctah ; promoted from 
sergeant, July 1, 1864; mustered out November 24, 1865. 

Sergeant Jared L. Cook, Howell, enlisted September 5, 1862; 
discharged by order, July 18, 1865. 

Privales. 

Justus F. Boyd, Cohoctah, enlisted August 14, 1S62; promoted to 
corporal, September 5, 1862 ; discharged for disability, March 
24, 1863. 

Lyman Blodgett, Deerfield, enlisted September 5, 1862; died in 
Richmond prison, January 29, 1864. 

Martin N. Brayton, Cohoctah, enlisted January 25, 1864; mustered 
out March 25, 1865. 

Jared L. Cook, Howell, enlisted September 5, 1862; transferred 
to Veteran Reserve Corps, March 31, 1864. 

Augustus C. Fox, Deerfield, corporal, enlisted September 7, 1S62; 
discharged for disability, January 26, 1864. 

Henry Fisher; mustered out May 15, 1865. 

Farris G. Fairbanks, Cohoctah, enlisted February 20, 1864; died 
in Lynchburg prison, July 5, 1864. 

James Gordon, Conway, enlisted October 8, 1862; died in An- 
dersonviUe prison, June 28, 1864. 

Charles E. Huff, Cohoctah, enlisted September 4, 1S62 ; discharged 
for disability. 

Benjamin B. Head, Howell, teamster, enlisted October 2, 1S62; 
discharged for disability, March 24, 1863. 

Conrad C. Hayner, Cohoctah, enlisted February 20, 1S64; mus- 
tered out June 14, 1865. 



John Jordan, Oceola, enlisted September 7, 1862; mustered out 
August 10, 1865. 

Henry Kelly, Cohoctah, enlisted February i, 1864; mustered out 
March 25, 1865. 

L. C. Kanouse, Cohoctah, sergeant; discharged by order, August 
6, 1S64. 

Hiram Moore, Cohoctah, enlisted February 20, 1864; died of dis- 
ease at Cleveland, Ohio, March 28, 1864. 

William W. Olds, Conway, enlisted September 9, 1S62; mustered 
out June 9, 1865. 

Amos Pratt, Cohoctah, enlisted September 6, 1862; mustered out 
Januaiy 12, 1865. 

John W. Randall, Cohoctah, enlisted September 8, 1S62; mus- 
tered out November 24, 1865. 

Carlos Rider, Deerfield, enlisted September 10, 1862; died in 
action at Trevillian Station, June II, 1864. 

John W. Soule, Cohoctah, enlisted September 6, 1862; died of 
wounds received in action, July 8, 1863. 

Joseph Shafer, Cohoctah, enlisted September 10, 1862; died in 
Richmond prison, February 12, 1864. 

Francis Sackner, Oceola, enlisted February 23, 1S64; mustered 
out June 23, 1865. 

Samuel Scripture, Handy, enlisted August 30, 1862; mustered out 
May II, 1866. 

Company G. 

Francis Clark, Brighton, enlisted August 5, 1S62; mustered out 
July 27, 1S65. 

Joseph W. Cole, Oceola, enlisted March 18, 1865; mustered out 
February 10, 1866. 

Company I. 

T. C. Cranston, Tyrone, corporal, enlisted September 12, 1862; 
died in action at Trevillian Station, June 11, 1864. 

W. Johnson, Hartland, enlisted September 9, 1862; died of dis- 
ease at Seneca, Maryland, June II, 1863. 

R. H. Payne, Tyrone, enlisted August 25, 1862; died in Ander- 
sonviUe piison-pen, June 15, 1864. 

D. Whalen, Hartland, enlisted September 9, 1862; died of dis- 
ease at Seneca, Maryland, June 11, 1863. 

Robert B. Garner, Tyrone, enlisted August 25, 1862; mustered 
out November 24, 1865. 

Company K, 
Taylor Parshall, Oceola, enlisted March 14, 1865; mustered out 
March 25, 1865. 



CHAPTER XI I. 

OTHER LIVINGSTON COUNTY SOLDIERS. 

First Michigan Light Artillery^First, Second, Third, Seventh, 
Eighth, Tenth, Eleventh, Fourteenth, Sixteenth, Eighteenth, 
Nineteenth, Twentieth, Twenty-first, Twenty-third, Twenty- 
fourth, Twenty-seventh, Twenty-eighth, Twenty-ninth, and 
Thirtieth Infantry Regiments — First, Fifth, Eighth, Tenth, and 
Eleventh Cavalry — -First .Sharpshooters — One Hundred and 
Second United States Colored Troops — United States Sharp- 
shooters. 

Besides the regiments which have been men- 
tioned above, there were several others which con- 
tained soldiers from Livingston County, whose 
record is equally bright and honorable, though 
serving in regiments in which the county repre- 
sentation was less numerous. Of the men who 
served in these regiments, a list is given in this 
chapter. 



FIRST MICHIGAN LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



"3 



FIRST MICHIGAN LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

This regiment contained a comparatively large 
number of Livingston County men, but tliese were 
scattered through several of the batteries of which 
the regiment was composed, and the histories of 
the batteries are as distinct, and as unconnected 
with each other, or with the regimental organiza- 
tion, as are the histories of the same number of 
infantry or cavalry regiments. Therefore the First 
Light Artillery cannot be mentioned as a whole. 
The battery which contained a larger number than 
any other — and in fact a larger number than all 
the others — of Livingston County soldiers, was 
Hattery H. This battery was organized at Mon- 
roe, under Captain Samuel De Golyer, and left 
that place March 13, 1862, with orders to report 
to General Halleck, at St. Louis, Missouri. It re- 
mained in service until July 22, 1865, and the bat- 
tles and skirmishes in which it was engaged dur- 
ing those three years are recorded in the office 
of the Adjutant-General of Michigan, as follows: 
"Thompson's Mills, Mississippi, May i, 1863; 
Raymond, Mississippi, May 12, 1863; Jackson, 
Mississippi, May 14, 1863; Champion Hills, Mis- 
sissippi, May 16, 1863; Siege of Vicksburg, May 
18 to July 4, 1863; Brownsville, Mississippi, Oc- 
tober, 1863; Clinton, Mississippi, February, 1864; 
Big Shanty, Georgia, June 14, 1864; Kenesaw, 
Georgia, June 27, 1864; Nickajack Creek, Geor- 
gia, July 5, 1864; Peachtree Creek, Georgia, July 
22, 1864; Siege of Atlanta, July 22 to August 
25, 1864; Jonesboro', Georgia, August 31, 1864; 
Lovejoy's Station, Georgia, September i, 1S64." 
Equally dangerous and creditable service was per- 
formed by Livingston County men in the other 
batteries. Following is the list of soldiers from 
this county, serving in the several batteries of the 
Light Artillery organization : 

BATTERY C. 

Asa McFall, Howell, enlisted October n, 1861 ; discharged for 
disaliility, February 9, 1862. 

Reuben McFall, Howell, enlisted December I, 1861; dieil of 
disease at luka, Mississippi, September 3, 1S62. 

(Jeorge H. Miles, Howell, enlisted December 10, 1S61 ; discharged 
at end of service, December 18, 1864. 

Joseph H. Preston, Howell, enlisted December 8, 1861 ; dis- 
charged for disability, November 6, 1862. 

Allen C. Stearns, IlowcU, enlisted December 12, 1861; veteran, 
December 28, 1863; sergeant; mustered out July 22, 1865. 

B.A.TrERY G. 

\Villard L. Preston, Unadilla, enlisted December 28, 1863; mus- 
tered out August 6, 1865. 

Corporal John W. Scriver, Hamburg, ertlisted .September 14, 1864; 
mustered out August 6, 1865. 

BATTERY H. 
First Lieutenant Asa E. Waterman, Hartland, December 27, 1S64; 
second lieutenant, .\pril 25, 1864; mustered out July 22, 1865. 

»5 



Sergeant-M.ajor Quinlus Foster, Hartland, enlisted October 17, 
1861; discharged for disability, September 20, 1862. 

Henry C. Andrews, Hartland, enlisted September 12, 1864; mus- 
tered out July 22, 1865. 

Corporal Edwin A. Bullard, Hartland, September 12, 1864; mus- 
tered out July 22, 1S65. 

William Burch, Unadilla, enlisted October 17, 1S61; discharged 
for disability, September I, 1862. 

David H. Cleveland, Unadilla, enlisted December 28, 1863; mus- 
tered out July 22, 1865. 

Eugene W. Champlin, Oceola, enlisted September 12, 1864; 
mustered out July 22, 1865. 

Llewellyn Chalker, Unadilla, enlisted August 25, 1864; discharged 
by order. May 30, 1S65. 

Morris Davis, Unadilla, enlisted December 28, 1863; died of dis- 
ease at Cairo, Illinois, June, 1864. 

Henry A. Dibble, Unadilla, enlisted November 20, 1861; dis- 
charged for disability, August 22, 1862. 

James E. Durkee, Unadilla, enlisted December 28, 1S63; mus- 
tered out July 22, 1865. 

Henry C. Ellis, Unadilla, enlisted December 30, 1863; mustered 
out July 22, 1865. 

W. Eggleston, UnailiUa, enlisted March 17, 1S64; mustered out 
July 22, 1865. 

Nathaniel C. Etheridge, Hartland, enlisted November 14, l86l ; 
sergeant; discharged for disability. 

Hubbard W. Franklin, Hartland, enlisted September 12, 1864; 
mustered out July 22, 1865. 

William H. Fay, Unadilla, enlisted December 28, 1863; mustered 
out July 22, 1865. 

Fred. Griswold, Hartland, enlisted October 20, 1861 ; discharged 
for disability, January 8, 1863. 

Robert Griswold, Hartland, enlisted January i, 1862; veteran, 
January I, 1S64; mustered out July 22, 1865. 

William Griswold, Hariland, enlisted November 15, 1861 ; dis- 
charged for disability, July 24, 1S62. 

William J. May, Hartland, enlisted November 17, 1861 ; dis- 
charged .at end of service, January 30, 1865. 

Elias McOmber, H.anland, enlisted September 12, 1864; mus- 
tered out July 22, 1865. 

Alvah T. Phillips, H.irtland, enlisted September 12, 1864; mus- 
tered out May 12, 1865. 

James Sayres, Hartland, enlisted September 7, 1864; mustered 
out June 8, 1865. 

Samuel Sayres, Hartland, enlisted October 24, 1861 ; veteran, 
January I, 1864; mustered out July 22, 1S65. 

Zina B. Slocum, Hartland, enlisted November 20, l85l ; died of 
disease at New Madrid, Missouri, June 5, 1862. 

Stephen D. Stedman, Howell, enlisted December 2, 1861 ; dis- 
charged for disability, February, 1863. 

John Stamp, Unadilla, enlisted August 22, 1864; died at Chat 
tanooga. May 12, 1865. 

Georfe H. Tryon, Unadilla, enlisted November 6, 1861 ; veteran, 
January I, 1864; mustered out July 22, 1865. 

Thomas A. Tisdale, Hartland, enlisted January I, 1862; dis- 
charged for disability, June 3, 1862. 

Frederick Wildt, Hariland, enlisted January 3, 1862; discharged 
by order, October 26, 1863. 

John G. Williams, Hartland, enlisted September 12, 1864; died 
at Hartland, Michigan, May 8, 1865. 

Lewis Warren, Hartl.and, enlisted October 8, 1864; mustered out 

July 22, 1865. 

BATTERY I. 

Jacob Maumee, Iosco, enlisted .Septeniber 27, 1S64; mustered out 

July 14, 1865. 
John F. Peterson, Oceola, enlisted .September 24, 1864; mustered 

out Julv 14, 1865. 

B.ATTERY M. 

Alfred Bradley, Putnam, enlisted .Septemb:;r 5, 1864. 

Andrew Baker, Putnam, enlisted September 5, 1864. 



114 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Lavvton Babcock, Putnam, enlisted September 5, 1864. 
Daniel R. Jeffreys, Marion, enlisted March 10, 1864. 

THIRTEENTH MICHIGAN BATTERY.* 
Second I,ieutenant Jack Blakesly, Deerfield, January 2, 1S65; 

mustered out July I, 1865. 
Lewis L. Chubb, Putnam, enlisted September 15, 1863; sergeant; 

mustered out July i, 1865. 

FIRST INFANTRY. 

George 11. Annis, Handy, Company H; enlisted October 29, 
1S61; discharged September 1, 1862. 

■William W.Collins, Company F; enlisted September 7, 1S61; 
discharged for disability, March II, 1863. 

William H. Fields, Company I ; discharged on account of 
wounds, October 16, 1S62. 

Joseph Philips, Company F; enlisted July 17, 1861 ; mustered 
out November 3, 1865. 

Jonathan Shadd, Company F; enlisted September 5, 1861 ; dis- 
charged for disability, May 2, 1863. 

SECOND INFANTRY. 

Marshall Bennett, Genoa, Company I; enlisted March 27, 1864; 
mustered out August 28, 1865. 

James Coe, Company E; mustered out July 28, 1865. 

Peter Cameron, Howell, Company F; enlisted March 28, 1864; 
mustered out July 20, 1865. 

John French, Company I; discharged for disability. 

Thomas Howard, Deerfield, Company I ; enlisted April 23, 1864; 
mustered out June 7, 1865. 

James Hamlin, Deerfield, Company G; enlisted March 28, 1S64; 
discharged for wounds. May 15, 1865. 

Joseph Neely, Cohoctah, Company F; died of disease at Wash- 
ington, District of Columbia, April i, 1865. 

Theo. Neely, Cohoctah, Company E; enlisted March 28, 1864; 
mustered out July 11, 1865. 

Isaac Van Loon, Company H ; discharged at end of service, Jan- 
uary I, 1865. 

Henry P. Wimbles, Company H ; discharged by order, June 5, 
1865. 

Franklin Goodrich, Howell, Company K; enlisted March 26, 
1864; discharged for disease, May i, 1865. 

THIRD INFANTRY. 
Covipaity C. 
Oren W. Trembly, musician, enlisted June 10, 1S61 ; died of dis- 
ease at Harrison's Landing, Virginia, July 24, 1862. 

REORGANIZED THIRD INFANTRY.f 
Major John C. Hall, Oceola, January i, 1865; resigned June 14, 
1865. 

Company A. 

Albert H. Whiting, Marion, enlisted March 20, 1865; discharged 
at end of service, March 3, 1866. 

Company C. 

Franklin O. Beach, Marion, enlisted March 28, 1865; mustered 

out March 26, 1866. 
Edward C. Brown, Marion, enlisted March 28, 1865; corporal; 

mustered out March 26, 1866. 
D. Ingraham, Brighton, enlisted September 17, 1864; died of 

disease at Nashville, January 20, 1865. 

* Not a part of the First Artillery. 

-j- This regiment was not mustered into the service until October 
15, 1864. It left the rendezvous at Grand Rapids, October 20, 
and proceeded to Nashville, Tennessee. It afterwards did good 
service in Tennessee, Alabama, and Texas. Its battles and skir- 
mishes recorded in the adjutant-general's office are " Decatur, 
Alabama, October 28, 29, and 30, 1864 ; Murfreesboro', Tennessee, 
November 30 to December 20, 1864." 



Company D. 
James Cooper, Marion, enlisted March 20, 1865; mustered out by 

order, August 22, 1865. 
William W. Kenyon, Marion, enlisted March 25, 1865; mustered 

out August 30, 1865. 
Arthur W. Wimbles, Marion, enlisted March 25, 1865; mustered 

out March 27, 1S66. 

Company E. 

John Beckwith, Brighton, enlisted September 15, 1864; mustered 
out May 25, 1866. 

Lemuel Chipman, Conway, enlisted September 15, 1864; mus- 
tered out May 25, 1866. 

Simon Durkee, Brighton, enlisted September 14, 1S64; mustered 
out May 25, 1S66. 

Samuel Rowling, Conway, enlisted September 16,1864; mustered 
out May 25, 1866. 

James M. Wilson, Brighton, enlisted August 30, 1864; corporal ; 
mustered out May 25, 1866. 

Company F. 
Jacob B. Boyer, Conway, enlisted September 15, 1864 ; discharged 

by order, October 4, 1865. 
Tames W. Bigelow, Oceola, enlisted September 22, 1S64; ser- 
geant; discharged by order, October 4, 1865. 
George Catlin, Oceola, enlisted September 17, 1864; mustered 

out May 25, 1866. 
Douglas Ingraham, Brighton, enlisted September 17, 1864; died 

of disease at Murfreesboro', April 10, 1865. 
James Latimer, Oceola, enlisted September 17, 1864; mustered 

out May 25, 1866. 
Henry Wood, Oceola, enlisted September 22, 1864; corporal; 

mustered out May 25, 1866. 
Andrew Warren, Unadilla, enlisted March 8, 1865 ; mustered out 

May 25, 1866. 

Company G. 

Captain John C. Hall, Oceola, August 15, 1864; promoted to 

major, January I, 1865. 
Sergeant Walter L. Hallett, Brighton, enlisted Septembers, 1864; 

discharged for disability, March 29, 1865. 
.Sergeant John McKay, Deerfield, enlisted Septeinber 8, 1864; pro- 
moted to second lieutenant ; mustered out as sergeant. May 

25, 1866. 
Charles Buzzell, Oceola, enlisted September 19, 1864; corporal; 

mustered out May 25, 1866. 
Alvin A. Hall, Brighton, enlisted Septembers, 1864; mustered 

out May 25, 1 866. 
Lemuel Rumsey, Brighton, enlisted August 5, 1864; mustered out 

May 25, 1866. 
John Tufts, Oceola, enlisted September 24, 1864; mustered out 

May 25, 1866. 
Emmett M. Hopkins, mustered out May 25, 1866. 
Isaac S. Tower, mustered out May 25, 1866. 

Company H. 

Arthur H. Fish, Genoa, sergeant; second lieutenant, November 
28, 1864; first lieutenant June 15, 1S65 ; mustered out May 
25, 1866. 

John McKenzie, Brighton, enlisted October 4, 1S64; discharged 
for promotion. 

Company I. 

Nathaniel Allison, Brighton, enlisted August 29, 1864; transferred 
to Company F; discharged by order, November I, 1865. 

Robert Acson, Genoa, enlisted August 31, 1864; mustered out 
May 25, 1866. 

William H. Austin, Green Oak, enlisted September 16, 1864; 
mustered out May 25, 1866. 

Samuel C. Brockway, Genoa, enlisted September 8, 1864; dis- 
charged by order, August 28, 1S65. 



OTHER LIVINGSTON COUNTY SOLDIERS. 



"S 



Peter Dyckmaii, Green Oak, enlisted September 8, 1864; dis- 
charged l)y order, September 5, 1S65. 

Jolin Dyckman, Green Oak, enlisted October 7, 1S64; died at 
Miirfrecsl)oro', December 29, 1864. 

Solomon Dyckman, Green Oak, enlisted September 6, 1S64; mus- 
tered out May 25, 1866. 

Henry Doufjherty, Putnam, enlisted September 12, 1864; trans- 
ferred to Company H, 4th Infantry; died at San Antonio, 
Texas. 

Ch.irles Hall, Green Oak, enlisted September 5, 1864; died of 
disease at Knoxville, April, 1865. 

Freeman H.aynes, Green Oak, enlisted September 6, 1864; mus- 
tered out May 25, 1866. 

William J. Knight, Green Oak, enlisted September I, 1864, ser- 
geant ; mustered out May 25, 1866. 

James J. Meehan, Unadilla, enlisted September 7, 1S64; died at 
Gieen Lake, Texas, July 23, 1865. 

William F. Robinson, Oceola, enlisted September 17, 1864 ; absent, 
sick; not mustered out with company. 

Jehn St.insell, Green Oak, enlisted August 27, 1864, corporal; 
mustered out May 25, 1866. 

James Shanks, Green Oak, enlisted Sejitember 3, 1864, sergeant; 
mustered out May 25, 1866. 

Albert Ward, Unadilla, enlisted September 17, 1864; mustered 
out M.iy 25, 1 866. 

Ernest Winter, Genoa, enlisted September 12, 1864, corporal; 
mustered out May 25, 1866. 

James A. Wilson, Green Oak, enlisted August 30, 1864, corporal; 
mustered out M.ay 25, 1866. 

Wendell Willis, Putnam, enlisted September 24, 1864; mustered 
out May 25, 1 866. 

Company K. 

John F. Waller, Brighton, enlisted October 6, 1S64; discharged 
by order, June 8, 1S65. 

SEVENTH INFANTRY. 

Warren S. Berry, Company F ; died of disease at Glendale, Vir- 
ginia, June 30, 1862. 

Oscar Blood, Company F, enlisted August 22, 1861 ; died of dis- 
ease at Camp Benton, Maryland, February 11, 1862. 

James Barnhart, Howell, Company G, enlisted March 3, 1863; 
transferred to Invalid Corps, February 15, 1S64. 

Henry Armstrong, Company F, enlisted August 22, 1861 ; corpo- 
ral. May 12, 1862; discharged for disability, February 6, 1863. 

.\ndrew I. Forester, Company F, enlisted August 22, 1861 ; ser- 
vice eniled September 5, 1 864; discharged. 

Henry A. Callin, Company F, enlisted August 22, 1861 ; service 
ended August 22, 1864; discharged. 

George O. dile. Company F, enlisted .\ugust 22, 1861 ; discharged 
for disability, February II, 1863. 

FIRST REGIMENT ENGINEERS AND MECHANICS. 
Company K. 

Henry Devereaux, Howell, enlisted November 23, 1861; died of 
disease .at Nashville, Tennessee, February 20, 1862. 

Franklin Goodrich, Howell, enlisted November 22, 1861; dis- 
charged by order. May 28, 1862. 

Oliver Lampman, Howell, enlisted November 21, 1861 ; discharged 
for disability, February 4, 1863. 

Truman Munson, enlisted June 3, 1863; mustered out September 
22, 1865. 

Davis Smith, enlisted December 5, 1861 ; discharged for disability. 

David Wright, Howell, enlisted December 5, 1861 ; discharged 
for dis.ibility, January 24, 1863. 

EIGHTH INFANTRY. 
Company B. 
Charles P. B.Tchelor, Oceula, enlisted Februar)- 29, 1864; died 
of wounds, July 22, 1864, received at Cold Harbor, June 3, 
1864. 



Simon Dolph, Howell, enlisted February 2g, 1864; died in \n- 
dersonville prison, August 14, 1864. 

Thomas Eager, Harlland, enlisted February 23, 1864 ; mustered 
out July 30, 1865. 

George R. Griswold, Ilartland, enlisted February 29, 1864; died 
of disease at Annapolis, Mar\*land, March 22, 1864. 

Thomas A. Hastings, Harlland, enlisted March 22, 1864; mus- 
tered out July 30, 1865. 

Henry Hetchler, Oceola, enlisted February 25, 1864; discharged 
by order, May 3, 1865. 

Charles Miller, Harlland, enlisted February 29, 1864; corporal; 
mustered out July 30, 1865. 

Hiram Merrill, Harlland, enlisted February 26, 1864; mustered 
out July 30, 1S65. 

Charles Murdock, Hartland, enlisted February 18, 1864; mus- 
tered out July 30, 1865. 

Calvin Murdock, Hartland, enlisted February 27, 1864; died of 
disease in Vermont, August 30, 1864. 

Patrick O'Connell, Deerfield, enlisted Februaiy 22, 1864; mus- 
tered out July 30, 1865. 

Chauncey Puisell, Harlland, enlisted February 27, 1864; corpo- 
ral ; mustered out July 30, 1865. 

Dunford Parker, Oceola, enlisted February 26, 1864; discharged 
by order, M.iy 3, 1865. 

James H. Reese, Hartland, enlisted Februaiy 27, 1S64; disch.arged 
by order. May 3, 1865. 

Timothy Russell, Hartland, enlisted Febru.ary 9, 1864; died of 
disease at Cincinnati, Ohio, March 18, 1864. 

William Snell, Oceola, enlisted February 25, 1864; discharged by 
order. May 3, 1865. 

John S. Welsh, Harlland, enlisted February 27, 1864; discharged 
by order, May 3, 1865. 

Company C. 

Elnathan Doane, Green O.ak, enlisted August 16, 1861 ; corporal ; 
discharged to enlist in regular army, October 26, 1862. 

Company E. 

Addison D. Skinner, Hartland, enlisted January 6, 1S64; dis- 
charged from Invalid Corps, October 3, 1865. 

Company G, 

Henry Smith, Oceola, enlisted December 13, 1864; corporal; dis- 
charged by order, May 3, 1865. 

Company H. 

Edward C. Marsh, Hartland, enlisted February 18, 1864; lost a 
leg; discharged August 12, 1865. 

Daniel A. Neely, Cohociah, enlisted January 25, 1864; discharged 
by order, June 16, 1S65. 

John Rushby, Oceola, enlisted February 25, 1S64; corporal; mus- 
tered out July 30, 1865. 

George F. Stephens, Conway, enlisted February 29, 1864 ; died 
of wounds at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 25, 1864. 

Company I. 

George B. Avis, Conw.ay, enlisted May 2, 1864; killed in battle of 
Wilderness, May 6, 1864. 

William H. Brock, Hartland, enlisted September 19, 1861 ; veteran, 
December 29, 1863; discharged for disability, March 19, 
1865. 

Thomas Blindson, Oceola, enlisted September 17, 1861 ; veteran, 
December 29, 1863; sergeant; mustered out July 30, 1865. 

Andrew BIy, Tyrone, enlisted August 18, 1862 ; discharged Feb- 
ruary 3, 1863. 

Vellal A. Baker, Harlland, enlisted February 16, 1864 ; mustered 
out, date unknown. 

McD. M. Griswold, Harlland, enlisted September 19, 1861 ; vet- 
eran, December 29, 1863; sergeant. 



ii6 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Roval D. Hinds, Haillaiid, enlisted September 19, 1861 ; killed 
on James Inland. June 16, 1S62. 

Willard H. Kesslei', Harlland. 

Ezra M. Martin, Hartland, enlisted September 15, l85i ; absent, 
sick; not mustered out with company. 

Asa Parshall, Hartland, enlisted September 15, 1S61 ; discharged 
for disability, December 14, 1862. 

John P. Willett, Harlland, enlisted February 25, 1864 ; died of dis- 
ease at City Point, Virginia, M.ay 18, 1S65. 

Cyrus H. Rogers; died of disease at Washington, March 7, 1863. 

Conipatty K. 

Philo Jones, Conway, enlisted February 22, 1864; died of disease 

at Alexandria, October 8, 1864. 
Isaiah Rathbone, Brighton, enlisted February 29, 1S64; prisoner; 

not mustered out with company. 

TENTH INFANTRY. 

Company A. 
Bradford Cook, Cohoctah, second lieutenant, enlisted October 4, 

1861; first lieutenant, May 25, 1862; promoted to captain, 

Company E, May 13, 1863. 
Sergeant Ira Brayton, Cohoctah, enlisted October 23, 1861 ; dis- 
charged for disability, 1862. 
Corporal James Devlin, Cohoctah ; died of disease in hospital. 
Martin Brayton, Cohoctah, enlisted October 9, 1861 ; discharged 

for disability, October 2, 1862. 
Lyman V. D. Cook, Cohoctah, enlisted October 16, 1S61 ; veteran, 

February 16, 1864; mustered out July 19, 1865. 
Gideon Cassidy, Conway, enlisted October 30, l86l; discharged 

for disability, March 2, 1863. 
Corporal Benjamin Coburn, Conway, enlisted October 9, 1861 ; 

mustered out July 19, 1865. 
Sheldon Dickson, enlisted October 9, 1S61 ; died at Farmington, 

Mississippi, July 22, 1862. 
Israel Ellsworth, Cohoctah, enlisted October 22, 1861; discharged 

for disability, March 12, 1862. 
William Fuller, Conway, enlisted November 18, 1861 ; died at 

Farmington, Mississippi, July 11, 1S62. 
Rufus Griswold, enlisted November 12, 1861 ; died at Roseville, 

Georgia, May 5, 1864. 
Edward A. Hart, Howell, enlisted October 21, 1861 ; discharged 

July 2, 1863. 
Sherwood Hart, Howell, enlisted October 26, 1861 ; died of dis- 
ease at Nashville, Tennessee, November 17, 1S62. 
David Lord, enlisted October II, 1861 ; discharged for disability, 

February 8, 1862. 
William H. Hall, Cohoctah, enlisted October 19, 1861 ; died at 

Detroit, 1864. 
Hugh McKeever, Howell, enlisted October 27, 1861 ; discharged 

for disability, June 21, 1862. 
David Palmer, Cohoctah, enlisted October 12, 1861 ; discharged 

for disability, July 22, 1862. 
Christopher Palmer, Cohoctah, enlisted October 10, l86i ; veteran, 

February 6, 1864; died of wounds received at Dallas. 
John PicUins, Cohoctah, enlisted October 11, 1861 ; died at Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, July 29, 1862. 
William B. Forbes, enlisted October 14, 1861 ; discharged at end 

of service, February 6, 1865. 
Andrew Williams, Jr., enlisted October 11, 1861 ; discharged at 

end of service, February 6, 1865. 

Company B. 

James Coleman, Conway, enlisted Februarys, 1864; transferred 
to 19th Infantry; mustered out July 19, 1865. 

George Simpson, Conway, enlisted February 8, 1864; transferred 
to 19th Infantry; absent, sick ; not mustered out with com- 
pany. 



Company E. 
Captain Bradford Cook, Cohoctah, May 13, 1863; June 29, 1864, 
died of wounds received at Kenesaw, Georgia. 

Company F. 
Henry W. Thompson, Tyrone,,enlisted April 15, 1864; mustered 

out July 19, 1865. 
Lewis Webber, Oceola, enlisted Decemlier 27, 1S64; mustered 

out July 19, 1865. 

Company G. 
Silas K. Hanse, enlisted November 26, 1861 ; discharged at end 

of service, February 6, 1865. 
William Kennedy, Putnam, enlisted October 21, 1861 ; discharged 

for disability. May 6, 1863. 
Ira Mitchell, enlisted October 16, 1S61; veteran, February 6, 

1864; discharged April 28, 1865. 
Charles E. Towsley, Putnam, enlisted March 28, 1864; mustered 

out July 19, 1S65. 

ELEVENTH INFANTRY. 
Company D. 

Jos. Burroughs, Hamburg, enlisted March 15, 1865; died at Chat- 
tanooga, April 19, 1S65. 

Sibley R. Case, Hamburg, enlisted March 15, 1865; discharged 
by order. May 3, 1865. 

Henry E. Hoagland, Marion, enlisted March 14, 1865 ; discharged 
by order, August 5, 1865. 

Eugene Humphrey, Hamburg, enlisted March 15, 1865; discharged 
by order, September 16, 1865. 

Charles E. Johnson, Hamburg, enlisted March 8, 1S65 ; discharged 
by order, September 16, 1865. 

Company K. 

George Lane, Unadilla, enlisted March 7, 1865; sergeant; dis- 
charged by order, September 16, 1865. 

William Pyper, Unadilla, enlisted March 7, 1865; discharged by 
order, .September 16, 1865. 

FOURTEENTH INFANTRY. 

James Abbott, Iosco, Company K; enlisted November 22, 1861 ; 
discharged for disability, July I, 1862. 

Joseph Barnes, Company K; enlisted February 17, 1862; dis- 
charged at end of service, April 10, 1865. 

Edward Downer, Company E; enlisted December 3, 1S61 ; dis- 
charged at end of service, March 14, 1865. 

Edward Haney, Howell, Company B; enlisted April 19, 1S64; 
mustered out July 18, 1865. 

Henry Hopson, Company I ; died of disease at Ypsilanti, July 27, 
1862. 

Leonard Helms, Company D ; enlisted December 5, 1861 ; veteran, 
January 4, 1864; mustered out July 18, 1865. 

Philander Helms, Company D ; enlisted December 26, 1861 ; died 
of disease at Farmington, Mississippi, August 3, 1S62. 

John McNally, Cohoctah, Company E; enlisted December 7, 1861 ; 
discharged for disability, July i, 1862. 

Benoni L. Ward, Marion, Company K; enlisted January 8, 1862; 
veteran, January 4, 1S64; mustered out July 18, 1865. 

Martin E. Wilson, DeerfieUI, Company I ; enlisted .September 28, 
1S64; mustered out July 18, 1S65. 

SIXTEENTH INFANTRY. 
Company B. 
Peter Malosh, Howell, enlisted March 23, 1865; mustered out 
July 8, 1865. 

Company C. 

Arthur M. Hodges, enlisted August 2, 1861 ; veteran, December 
24, 1863. 



OTHER LIVINGSTON COUNTY SOLDIERS. 



117 



Company D. 

Benjamin L. Cook, discharged by order, June 22, 1865. 
George Maxficid, nin'itercd out July 8, 1865. 
Henry A. Vose, mustered out July 8, 1865. 

Company E. 

James Barney, Howell, enlisted March 29, 1S65 ; mustered out 

July 8, 1S65. 
Samuel Fisher, Cohoctah, enlisted March 31, 1865; mustered out 

July 8, 1S65. 
Edward Lightall, mustered out July 8, 18O5. 

Company G. 

John M. Caldwell, Deerlield, enlisted February 10, 1863 ; mustered 

out July 8, 1865. 
Alexander Fisher, Deerfield, enlisted March 29, 1865; mustered 

out July 8, 1865. 
Marsena Holmes, Deerfield, enlisted February 28, 1863; mustered 

out July 8, 1S65. 
Charles Johnson, Putnam, enlisted February 2, 1865; mustered 

out July 8, 1865. 
Charles Moore, Howell, enlisted March 28, 1865; mustered out 

July 8, 1865. 
William Moore, Cohoctah, enlisted March 28, 1865; mustered out 

July 8, 1865. 
William Robinson, Howell, enlisted March 18, 1865; mustered 

out July 8, 1865. 

Company I. 

Franklin Abbot; veteran, December 22, 1863. 
Phiiieas Butler, Cohoctah, enlisted December 9, 1861 ; died in ac- 
tion at Gaines' Mills, June 27, 1862. 
Edmond Breford, Cohoctah, enlisted October 22, l86l ; discharged 

for disability, June 29, 1862. 
James Bogart, Putnam, enlisted December 10, 1S61; died in 

battle at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 3, 1863. 
John Carney, Howell, enlisted January 2, 1862; discharged for 

disability, August 24, 1863. 
John Mandling, Hartland, enlisted March 28, 1865; mustered 

out July 8, i8C)5. 
George Reed, Howell, enlisted December 10, 1861; discharged 

February 18, 1863. 
John Smith, I'ulnam, enlisted March 25, 1865; discharged by 

order, June 8, 1865. 

Company A'. 

S. M. Craw, Oceola, enlisted February 10, 1863; discharged at 
end of service, November 21, 1863. 

EIGHTEENTH INFANTRY. 
Company B. 

Donald H. Bliss, Company H ; died of disease at Lexington, Ken- 
tucky, December 30, 1862. 

Uriah Carpenter, Marion, enlisted September 7, 1864; mustered 
out June 26, 1865. 

NINETEENTH INFANTRY. 
Company G. 

James Coleman, Conway, enlisted February 8, 1864; mustered 

out May 20, 1865. 
George J. Simpson, Conway, enlisted February 8, 1864; Iransfeired 

to loth Michigan Infantry, June 10, 1865. 

TWENTIETH INFANTRY. 

Company II. 

William A. Snow, Hamburg, enlisted August II, 1S62; missing 
at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1S64. 



TWENTY-FIRST INFANTRY. 
Company II. 
Giles T. Brown, discharged for disability, December 6, 1862. 
Job S. Sherman, discharged for disabiliiy, December 6, 1862. 

TWENTY-THIRD INFANTRY. 

George F. Snapp, Tyrone, Comp.iny A ; enlisted September 5, 

1864; transferred to 28th Infantry, June 28, 1865. 
George A. Losee, Tyrone, Company B ; enlisted September 2, 

1864; transferred to 29th Infantry; mustered out June 28, 

1865. 
Benjamin I^iomis, Genoa, Company B; enlisted September 28, 

1864; sick in Washington, February 11, 1865. 
Blenker L. Barker, Conway, Company H; enlisted August 13, 

1862; mustered out June 28, 1865. 
Stephen D. Harrington, Howell, Company H; enlisted September 

9, 1862; mustered out June 28, 1865. 

TWENTY-FOURTH INFANTRY. 

Company E. 

Hosea Birdsall, Tyrone, enlisted March 14, 1865; mustered out 

June 30, 1865. 
Israel Buzzell, enlisted March 22, 1865; mustered out June 30, 

1865. 
Levi Banckman, enlisted March 22, 1865; mustered out June 30, 

1865. 
George A. Bidwell, mustered out June 30, 1865. 
Milo Crawford, mustered out June 30, 1865. 
Ezra C. Crane, Brighton, enlisted March 29, 1865; mustered out 

June 30, 1865. 
Augustus .S. Denton, Tyrone, enlisted March 14, 1865; mustered 

out June 30, 1865. 
Ch.irles E. Durfee, Brighton, enlisted March 29, 1865; mustered 

out June 30, 1865. 
William Carter, Tyrone, enlisted March 22, 1S65; mustered out 

June 30, 1S65. 
Daniel Harrington, Tyrone, enlisted March 14, 1865; mustered 

out June 30, 1865. 
Amos Rogers, mustered out June 30, 1865. 
Henry G. Thompson, mustered out June 30, 1865. 
Jos. T. Van Amburg, mustered out June 30, 1865. 
James E. Whalen, Tyrone, enlisted March 14, 1865; mustered 

out June 30, 1865. 

TWENTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY. 

Henry Hagadorn, Howell, Company G; enlisted February 10, 
1863; died of disease, June 9, 1864. 

Charles W. Payne, First Independent Sharpshooters; died of dis- 
ease, October 25, 1S64. 

Ralph C. Sclman, Brighton, Company B; enlisted February 23, 
1864; discharged for disability, February 23, 1865. 

Henry D. Stansell, Company B; mustered out July 26, 1865. 

James Ferguson, Company B; discharged November 19, 1863. 

TWENTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY. 

Eugene Billings, Handy, Company E; enlisted September 20, 

1864; mustered out June 3, 1865. 
William Campbell, Howell, Company K; enlisted September 22, 

1864; mustered out September 13, 1865. 
George W. Lincoln, Howell, Company K ; enlisted September 22, 

1864; died of disease at Nashville, July 10, 1865. 
William Mershon, Howell, Company E ; enlisted September 20, 

1864; mustered out June 13, 1865. 
Avon Selleck, Howell, Company A; enlisted September 12, 1864; 

mustered out June 5, 1865. 
Myron Simpson, Howell, Company K; corporal; enlisted .Septem- 
ber 22, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865. 
Palmer G. Tripp, Howell, Company F; enlisted September 24, 

1864; mustered out May 30, 1S65. 



Ii8 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Alfred Wright, Howell, Company F; enlisted September 26, 1864 

mustered out June 5, 1865. 
John Walker, Howell, Company K; enlisted September 26, 1864 

mustered out June 5, 1865. 
Levett J. Wood, Howell, Company H ; enlisted August 30, 1864 

mustered out June 5, 1865. 

TWENTY-NINTH INFANTRY. 
Sergeant Hamilton Bogardus, Tyrone, Company D; enlisted Sep- 
tember 3, T864; discharged for disability, February 25, 1865. 
Hugh Alexander, Deerfield, Company K; enlisted September 17, 

1864; mustered out May 16, 1865. 
William H. Childs, Cohoctah, Company H ; enlisted September 

15, 1864; mustered out September 6, 1865. 
Jerome Clark, Green Oak, Company H; enlisted March 30, 1864; 

mustered out September 6, 1865. 
Henry Decker, Tyrone, Company H; enlisted September 17, 

1864; died of disease at Murfreesboro', September 6, 1S65. 
Calvin D. Draper, Tyrone, Company E; enlisted September 3, 

1864; mustered out September 20, 1S65. 
John Flake, Deerfield, Company K; enlisted September 17, 1864; 

mustered out September 6, 1865. 
John Kean, Putnam, Company K; enlisted .September 21, 1864; 

mustered out September 6, 1865. 
Herman Mann, Hartland, Company K; enlisted October 3, 1864; 

mustered out September 6, 1865. 
Elisha Reynolds, Hartland, Company K ; enlisted October 3, 

1864; mustered out September 6, 1865. 
Sergeant James Palmer, Deerfield, Company H ; enlisted Septem- 
ber 14, 1864; mustered out September 6, 1865 
John W. Reed, Tyrone, Company H ; enlisted September 10, 

1864; mustered out September 6, 1865. 
Jay Rosencrans, Genoa, Company H; enlisted March 15, 1865; 

mustered out September 6, 1865. 
Samuel F. C. Ross, Deerfield, Company K; enlisted September 

29, 1S64; mustered out September 6, 1865. 
Thomas Warren, Deerfield, Company K; enlisted September i8, 

1864; mustered out September 6, 1S65. 
Charles Sutton, Deerfield, Company F; enlisted September 3, 

1864; mustered out May 6, 1865. 
Lewis Sutton, Deerfield, Company F; enlisted September 3, 1864; 

mustered out September 6, 1865. 
Simon J. Watson, Cohoctah, Company E; enlisted August 27, 

1864; mustered out September 20, 1865. 

THIRTIETH INFANTRY. 
David Burner, Conway, Company A; enlisted November 23, 

1864; mustered out June 30, 1865. 
Marvin Benjamin, Handy, Company F; enlisted December 13, 

1864; mustered out June 30, 1865. 
James L.Collins, Handy, Company F; enlisted December 12, 

1864; mustered out June 30, 1865. 
James E. Kennedy, Putnam, Company A ; enlisted November 30, 

1864; mustered out June 30, 1865. 
William H. Kennedy, Putnam, Company A; enlisted November 

23, 1864; sergeant; mustered out June 30, 1865. 
Peter R, Miller, Conway, Company A; enlisted November 29, 

1864; mustered out June 30, 1865, 
Israel Miner, Conway, Company F; enlisted December 21, 1864; 

mustered out June 30, 1865. 
Oliver J. .Sawyer, Conway, Company A ; enlisted November 23, 

1864; mustered out June 30, 1865. 
Nelson Wright, Handy, Company F; enlisted December 20, 

1864; mustered out June 30, 1865. 
Charles F. Williams, Handy, Company F; enlisted December 24, 

1864; mustered out June 30, 1865. 

FIRST CAVALRY. 
Sergeant Adelbert F. Parsons, Brighton; promoted to second lieu- 
tenant; mustered out as sergeant. 



Thomas Moran, Putnam, Comp.any A; enlisted January 4, 1864; 

died in action at Havves' Shop, Virginia, May 28, 1864. 
Joshua Robinson, Putnam, Company M; enlisted January 3, 1864; 

mustered out March 25, 1865. 

SECOND CAVALRY. 

Robert Armstrong, Putnam, Company A; enlisted November i8. 

1863; discharged by order, June 20, 1865. 
Theodore Arthur, Deerfield, Company A; enlisted November 18 

1863; mustered out August 17, 1865. 
Edwin A. Burch, Howell, Company B; enlisted November 19 

1863; died in action at Oxford, Alabama, April 28, 1865. 
Orrin B. Demming, Genoa, Company A ; enlisted November 10, 

1863; died in action at Linnville, Tennessee, December 14 

1864. 
John Dubois, Hartland, Company I ; enlisted November 7, 1863 

transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, April 3, 1865. 
Abram De May, Hamburg, Company H; enlisted November 7 

1863; discharged for disability, July I, 1863. 
Martin Forward, Tyrone, Company I; enlisted November 4, 1863 

mustered out June 6, 1865. 
George Gleason, Deerfield, Company D; enlisted November 24 

1863; mustered out August 17, 1S65. 
James Ingalls, Genoa, Company D; enlisted November 17, 1863 

mustered out May 24, 1865. 
John Jones, Genoa, Company D; enlisted November 19, 1S63 

mustered out May 12, 1865. 
Joseph Krozier, Howell, Company E; enlisted November 20, 

1863; mustered out April 22, 1865. 
Clark Phelps, Marion, Company B; enlisted November 8, 1863 

mustered out by order, June 16, 1865. 
Charles H. Pease, Hartland, Company I; enlisted November 7 

1863; died of disease at home, October, 1864. 
Paris L. Pray, Green Oak, Company L; enlisted November 21 

1863; died of disease at N.ashville, Tennessee, December 

22, 1S64. 
Christian Rupert, Hartland, Company E ; enlisted November 9, 

1863; mustered out August 17, 1865. 
Amos Smith, Deerfield, Company H ; enlisted November 20, 

1863; mustered out May 15, 1865. 
John Smith, Tyrone, Company K; enlisted November 19, 1863; 

mustered out May 15, 1865. 
Joseph Smith, Unadilla, Company K; enlisted November 20, 

1863; died of wounds at Columbia, Tennessee, December 

25, 1864. 
Alexander Truckey, Putnam, Company L; enlisted November 19, 

1863; mustered out August 17, 1865. 
Francis Crandall, Howell, Company E; enlisted November 20, 

1863; mustered out August 17, 1865. 

FIFTH CAVALRY. 

Gilbert Abel, Putnam, Company F; enlisted March 29, 1865 
transferred to First Cavalry; mustered out May I, 1866. 

Daniel B. Bennett, Putnam, Company B; enlisted March 29, 1865 
transferred to First Cavalry ; mustered out. 

Elbridge G. Fish, Putnam, Company B; enlisted March 29, 1865 
transferred to First Cavalry; mustered out April 5, 1866. 

Nelson D. Potter, Putnam, Company L; enlisted March 29, 1865 
transferred to Seventh Cavalry. 

James Rice, Green Oak, Company D; enlisted August 22, 1862 
mustered out June 22, 1865. 

Alvin Root, Putnam, Company D; enlisted March 29, 1865 
transferred to First Cavalry. 

Lewis-Randolph, Putnam, Company D ; enlisted March 29, 1865 
transferreii to First Cavalry. 

Elliott Stedman, Company C; enlisted August ig, 1862; trans- 
ferred to Veteran Reserve Corps. 

Charles Sykes, Putnam, Company F ; enlisted March 19, 1S65; 
transferred to First Cavalry. 



OTHER LIVINGSTON COUNTY SOLDIERS. 



119 



George Stocking, Putnam, Company F; enlisted Mnrch 29, 1865; 

transferred to First Cavalry; mustered out March 10, 1866. 
Marvin Whiting, Green Oak, Comjiany D; enlisted August 21, 

1862; mustered out June 22, 1865. 
Seymour Wymans, Green Oak, Company D ; enlisted August 21, 

1862; died of disease at Warrcnton Junction, August 15, 

1864. 
Edward H. Phillips, Green Oak, Company H ; enlisted August 19, 

1862; died in action, Trevilian Station, June II, 1864. 

EIGHTH CAVALRY. 

Corporal Martin V. Avery, Unadilla, Company E; enlisted De- 
cember 27, 1862; mustered out September 22, 1865. 

Elisha Alden, Oceola, Company K; enlisted September 23, 1862; 
mustered out June 6, 1S64. 

Charles Birdsall, Tyrone, Company D; enlisted January 20, 1S64; 
mustered out September 22, 1865. 

Hiram Birdsall, Tyrone, Company D; enlisted Januaiy 20, 1864; 
mustered out September 22, 1865. 

Melvin Comstock, Marion, Company E; enlisted January 7, 1863; 
died of disease at Nashville, Tennessee. 

Oscar Demott, Mariim, Company E; enlisted January 7, 1863; 
mustered out May 26, 1864. 

William Fitzgerald, Putnam, Company E; enlisted NovemI)er 16, 
1862; mustered out June 13, 1S65. 

Franklin Goodman, Tyrone, Company I; enlisted April 4, 1865; 
mustered out September 22, 1865. 

Sergeant Francis M. Hart, Unadilla, Company E; enlisted Decem- 
ber 27, 1862; mustered out September 22, 1865. 

Lawrence C. Hayes, Unadilla, Company E ; enlisted December 
23, 1862; mustered out September 22, 1865. 

Simon W. Hagar, Marion, Company E; enlisted December 27, 
1863; mustered out June 13, 1865. 

Sergeant Frank .S. Howard, Putnam, Company E; enlisted No- 
vember 16, 1862; died in Andersonville prison, January 29, 
1865. 

Daniel Kelley, Hnrtland, Company K; enlisted February 14, 
1863; musteied out June 13, 1865. 

Corporal James E. Lipscomb, Putnam, Company K ; enlisted 
.SejMember 3, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865. 

Thomas J. McCuIlough, Putnam, Company K ; enlisted September 
3, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865. 

Charles H. Stevens, L'nadilla, Company E; enlisted November 
20, 1862; mustered out September 22, 1865. 

Sergeant Harrison Stiles, Unadilla, Company E ; enlisted No- 
vember 22, 1862; discharged for disability. 

Alfred Wiley, Unadilla, Company E ; enlisted December 27, 1862 ; 
discharged for disability, June 22, 1865. 

Wagoner James W. Buckley, Marion, Company E; died of wounds 
at Athens, Tennessee, October 2, 1863. 

Sergeant Albert L. Hathaway, Hartland, Company K ; promoted 
to seigcant-niajor; promoted to first lieutenant, January 18, 
1864; taken prisoner on Stoneman's raid, August 12, 1864; 
exchanged September 27, 1864; promoted to captain. Com- 
pany I, December 27, 1864 ; mustered out September 22, 1865. 

TENTH CAVALRY. 

Cotnpany B. 

Peter Butler, Brighton, enlisted September 5, 1863 ; mustered out 
November 11, 1865. 

Company H. 

James Grover, Cohoctah, enlisted September 7, 1863; died in 
Andersonville prison, April 15, 1864. 

Edward Hadsall, Cohoctah, enlisted September 7, 1863; dis- 
charged by order, July 18, 1865. 

Jacob Sherman, Conway, enlisted August 28, 1863; discharged 
for disability, May 18, 1865. 



James iL Worden, Conway, enlisted August 17, 1863; discharged 

for disability, August II, 1865. 
Alonzo Wiseman, Conway, enlisted August 22, 1863; died of 

disease at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, March 4, 1864. 

Company K. 

Captain Andrew J. Itsell, Marion, July 25, 1863 ; resigned Octo- 
ber 6, 1865. 

Sergeant John T. Hodgman, Putnam, enlisted August 29, 1863; 
mustered out November II, 1865. 

Sergeant Paul C. T. Itsell, Marion, enlisted September 5, 1863 ; 
mustered out November 11, 1865. 

Sergeant Stephen G. W. Itsell, Marion, enlisted September 5, 
1863; mustered out November II, 1865. 

Sergeant Moses Lyon, Marion, enlisted September I, 1S63; mus- 
tered out November II, 1865. 

Gilbert Angus; discharged by order. 

William H. Babcock, Iosco, enlisted October 9, 1863; died of 
disease at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, March 15, 1S64. 

George Bennett, Hamlnirg, enlisted September 5, 1863; died of 
disease at Knoxville, Tennessee, June 28, 1864. 

Levi Bush, Marion, enlisted September 5, 1863; died of disease 
in Knoxville, January 7, 1865. 

Ephraim B. Chubb, Putnam, enlisted August 31, 1863; mustered 
out November II, 1S65. 

Leonard Fowle, Unadilla, enliated September 4, 1863; mustered 
out November II, 1865. 

Chester Goodrich, Iosco, enlisted September I, 1863; mustered 
out November 29, 1865. 

Herbert H. Glass, Howell, enlisted August 29, 1863; mustered 
out November II, 1865. 

Edgar J. Hendricks, Hamburg, enlisted September 3, 1863; mus- 
tered out November 1 1, 1865. 

Hiram Kennedy, Putnam, enlisted September 28, 1863; mustered 
out November 11, 1865. 

Adelbert Peavey, Hamlnirg, enlisted September 3, 1S63; mustered 
out November II, 1865. 

John Swanger, Howell, enlisted April 26, 1864; died of disease 
in North Carolina, January 17, 1S65. 

Reuben H. W.irren, Howell, enlisted September 9, 1S63 ; mustered 
out November 11, 1S65. 

Samuel Waring, Howell, enlisted October 16, 1863; tr.insferred 
to Veteran Reserve Corps, M.ay i, 1864. 

Company L. 
Stephen A. Ball, Iosco, enlisted .Seplemljer 12, 1863; died of dis- 
ease at Detroit, March 7, 1864. 
Andrew BIy, Tyrone, enlisted September i, 1S63; mustered out 

November 11, 1865. 
John G. Clark, Genoa, enlisted October 2, 1863; mustered out 

November 9, 1 865. 
Alexander Clark, Handy, enlisted October 17, 1863; discharged 

for disability, February 17, 1864. 
George Cranston, Tyrone, enlisted August 29, 1863 ; died of dis- 
ease at Camp Fenton, Michigan, June 27, 1865. 
James B. Grant, Handy, enlisted October 17, 1863 ; mustered out 

November II, 1865. 
Corporal Jesse M. Harris, Tyrone, enlisted September I, 1863; 

died of disease at Camp Burnside, March 20, 1864. 
Sergeant Rosvvell S. Ingham, Tyrone, enlisted August 25, 1863; 

mustered out November 21, 1865. 
C. C. Merritt, Handy, enlisted October 17, 1863; mustered out 

November 21, 1865. 
Jno. McKinstry, Tyrone, enlisted October 19, 1863; mustered out 

November 21, 1865. 
Sergeant Benjamin G. Munson, Handy, enlisted September i, 

1863; died of disease at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, January 

15, 1864. 
Francis A. Sargent, Unadilla, enlisted October 8, 1863; mustered 

out November 22, 1865. 



120 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Franklin Watkins, Handy, enlisted October 17, 1863; mustered 
out November 11, 1865. 

Lyman Welcker, Handy, enlisted September 8, 1S63 ; died of dis- 
ease at Somerset, Kentucky, February 26, 1864. 

Alvarado Warzey, Handy, enlisted October 17, 1863 ; died of dis- 
ease at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, January 15, 1864. 

ELEVENTH CAVALRY. 

Company A. 

Samuel Barber, Green Oak, enlisted March iS, 1865 ; mustered 

out June 26, 1865. 
William Corey, Green Oak, enlisted March iS, 1865 ; mustered out 

September 22, 1865. 
Wallace H. Case, Brighton, enlisted March 17, 1865; mustered 

out September 22, 1S65. 
Ellsworth W. Hall, Hamburg, enlisted March 15, 1865 ; mustered 

out October 10, 1865. 
W. W. Hendricks, Hamburg, enlisted March 22, 1S65; mustered 

out October 10, 1865. 
Seth A. Petteys, Hamburg, enlisted March 22, 1865 ; mustered out 

September 22, 1865. 
Charles H. Smith, Green Oak, enlisted March 18, 1865 ; mus- 
tered out September 22, 1865. 
James H. Smith, Green Oak, enlisted March iS, 1865 ; mustered 

out September 22, 1865. 

Cotiipauy B. 

William M. Houghton, Cohoctah, enlisted Octobers, 1863; died 
in Richmond prison, December, 1864. 

Isaac G. Jenks, Cohoctah, enlisted October 5, 1S63 ; mustered out 
June 16, 1865. 

Charles S. Newman, Cohoctah, enlisted September 10, 1S63; dis- 
charged for disability. 

Lester Newman, Cohoctah, enlisted October 5, 1863; discharged 
by order, August 10, 1865. 

Companies E, C, and F. 
Sergeant J. W. Anderson, Deerfiekl, Company E; enlisted Sep- 
tember 19, 1863; mustered out September 22, 1865. 
James S. Barknian, Tyrone, Company E; enlisted April 4, 1865; 

mustered out September 22, 1865. 
Charles W. Cale, Green Oak, Company E; enlisted March 18, 

1865; mustered out September 22, 1S65. 
Richard Butler, Hamburg, Company C; enlisted March 18, 1865; 

mustered out September 22', 1865. 
Charles E. Gushing, Brighton, Company F; enlisted March 17, 

1865 ; mustered out September 22, 1S65. 
Romanzo Sawyer, Hamburg, Company C ; enlisted March 8, 

1865 ; died of disease at Knoxville, May 8, 1865. 
Jno. McNamee, Green Oak, Company F; enlisted March 29, 1865 ; 

mustered out September 22, 1S65. 

Company G. 

Thomas Addison, Brighton, enlisted October 28, 1863; mustered 
out September 22, 1865. 

Myron Buck, Hamliurg, enlisted September 21, 1863; mustered 
out July 20, 1865. 

James Cust, Hamburg, enlisted .September 23, 1863; mustered 
out September 22, 1S65. 

Gilbert Drown, Brighton, enlisted November 3, 1863; mustered 
out August 10, 1865. 

William W. Pentlin, Brighton, enlisted September 8, 1863 ; mus- 
tered out May 24, 1865. 

Bronson C. Soule, Brighton, enlisted March 17, 1865; mustered 
out September 22, 1865. 

Nelson G. Tupper, Green Oak, enlisted November 6, 1863; mus- 
tered out September 22, 1S65. 

Corporal William Wynn, Hamburg ; enlisted September 23, 1S63 ; 
mustered out May 13, (865. 



Company I. 
James A. Cavell, Hamburg, enlisted March 24, 1865 ; mustered out 

September 22, 1865. 
Lyman Cate, Green 0.ak, enlisted March 18, 1865 ; mustered out 

June IS, 1865. 
Richard Mallby, Green Oak, enlisted March iS, 1865; mustered 

out September 22, 1865. 
Albert R. Maltby, Green Oak, enlisted March 18, 1865 ; died of 

disease at Knoxville, Tennessee, April 26, 1865. 
Freeman Sackner, Cohoctah, Company I ; enlisted November 2, 

1863; mustered out September 22, 1865. 

Company L. 
Corporal Jno. Smith, Hamburg, enlisted September 5, 1863; died 
of disease, July 31, 1864, at Covington, Kentucky. 

FIRST MICHIGAN SHARPSHOOTERS. 

George Demarest, Handy, Company B; enlisted February 14, 

1863; died in Salisbury, North Carolina, February 8, 1S65. 
William Dingman, Handy, Company E; mustered out July 28, 

1865. 
William Gott, Handy, Company B; enlisted February 12, 1S63; 

mustered out July 28, 1865. 
Thomas D. McCall, Handy, Company B; enlisted February 21, 

1863; mustered out July 28, 1865. 
William W. Sly, Handy, Company B ; enlisted February 10, 1863 ; 

mustered out July 28, 1865. 
Peter Stevens, Handy; enlisted Februaiy 11, 1863; mustered out 

July 28, 1865. 

ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND UNITED STATES 
COLORED TROOPS. 

First Lieutenant Samuel B. Curtis, Howell; November 23, 1863; 

resigned August 13, 1864. 
John A. Foster, Putnam, Company A ; enlisted February 28, 1865 ; 

mustered out September 30, 1865. 
James Finley, Unadilla, Company D; enlisted March 8, 1865; 

mustered out September 30, 1865. 
Amos S. Grayson, Company A ; died in Beaufort, South Carolina, 

May 16, 1865. 
Richard Philips, Hartland, Company K; enlisted Januaiy 5, 

1S64; mustered out September 30, 1865. 

UNITED STATES SHARPSHOOTERS. 

First Lieutenant Luther H. Frink, Howell, Company I ; Decem- 
ber 14, 1864. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

AGRICULTURE— FARMERS' ASSOCIATIONS- 
POPULATION. 

Early Agriculture in Livingston — Cattle — Improved Breeds — 
Sheep-Breeding — Pure-Blooded Sheep — First Livingston County 
Agricultural Society — Present Agricultural Society of the County 
— Livingston County Horse Association — Livingston County 
Mutual Fire Insurance Company — Livingston County Council, 
Patrons of Husbandry — Population of the County at Different 
Periods. 

E.ARLY AGRICULTURE IN LIVINGSTON. 

The earliest agriculture of Livingston was in no 
respect different from that of other counties of the 
State, where, as in this, the pioneer immigrants 
were largely from the " Genesee Country" of West- 
ern New York, — that fertile region which had been 



AGRICULTURE. 



121 



reputed to surpass nil others in richness of soil 
and adaptability to the purposes of agriculture, par- 
ticularly to the production of wheat. Emigrants 
from that section invariably gauged the new coun- 
tries to whicii they went by comparison with that 
which they had left; and to them the one princi- 
pal proof of the excellence of a soil was its capa- 
bility to produce wheat, — as much wheat in quantity 
and as good wheat in quality as could be raised 
on the same area of laud in that garden-spot of the 
world, the Genesee Valley of New York. And in 
their application of this test to the county of Liv- 
ingston the result was so satisfactory that some of 
them avowed the belief that the new country was 
equal to the old in this most essential particular. 

The first care of the farmers who came to till the 
virgin soil was, of course, to provide subsistence 
for their families, and so the first crops which they 
planted or sowed in the openings, or in the small 
clearings in the timber, were exclusively such as 
were required for this purpose, and chief among 
these was wheat. Potatoes and other esculents 
were provided for, but the article of prime neces- 
sity was wheat, and to it a great proportion of the 
tilled area was devoted. The abundant crops which 
they obtained at once relieved their necessities and 
placed them beyond the reach of possible want, and 
then, from the surplus of the first and succeeding 
crops, they began to realize a revenue in money, 
though the very redundancy of the yield of wheat 
in this and adjoining sections of the countrybrought 
the price so low at times that the remuneration for 
the labor of raising, harvesting, hand-threshing, 
and transporting the grain to a distant market* 
seemed discouragingly small. The experience of 
later )ears, however, has shown that the immigrant 
farmers of the early days were not far from right 
in their estimate of the importance of wheat cul- 
ture upon such a soil as that of Livingston County, 
where its constantly increasing, and almost uni- 
formly successful, cultivation has been the founda- 
tion of so large a proportion of the agricultural 
wealth and prosperity. 

Below are given statistics of the wheat produc- 
tion of Livingston County at several periods, from 
183710 1873. as shown by the census reports of 
the years next following the dates given, viz.: 

Kushcls. 

Wheat li.iivestetl in 1837 40.S3S 

1839 S4,94j 

1849 303.594 

'853 360.425 

'859 273.545 

* It was sometimes the case that farmers of Livingston County, 
afler h.iiiling their wheat over the long and weary roail to Ann 
Arbor, weie compelled to sell it there at three shillings a bushel. 
These were extreme cases, and it was not very often that svlieat 
sold in that town at less th n Kfly cent< per bushel. 
16 



Bushds. 

Wheat harvested in 1865 290,734 

" " 1869 671,969 

" 1873 568,580 

The following are the statistics of the Indian 
corn product of Livingston County in the years 
mentioned : 

Bushels. 

Corn raised in Livingston in 1837 '9.483 

" " " 1S39 82,081 

'849 173.197 

1853 200.779 

" " " 1859 268,743 

1863 3'7.896 

1873 5'>.568 

The total amount of all other grains than wheat 
and corn raised in the county in 1873 was four hun- 
dred and thirty-eight thousand five hundred and 
twenty-one bushels. 

C.\TTLE. 
There are few counties in which, at the time of 
their early settlement, the number of cattle was as 
great in proportion to the number of inhabitants 
as it was in Livingston. This was clue to the fact 
that the great quantity of wild-marsh grasses found 
here furnished food on which animals could be 
kept from the first without waiting for the produc- 
tion of grain or fodder from tilled land. This fact 
was discovered by those who prospected the county 
to make their selections and enter their lands, and 
so when they returned, bringing their families, 
nearly all of them brought also a number of horned 
cattle, — some having ho more than a yoke of oxen, 
others having more, and some as many as ten or 
twelve head, including o.xen, cows, and young stock; 
so that in the year 1840, only fotir years after 
immigrants began to arrive here in any consider- 
able numbers, the number of neat cattle in the 
county (as shown by the census returns of that 
year) was seven thousand nine humired and thirty- 
one. Three years later, the old Livingston County 
Agricultural Society offered separate premiums for 
different classes of cattle, and about 1846 the stock 
of the county had so much increased that droves 
of cattle were collected in Livingston, and taken 
hence to Buffalo for tiie Eastern market. One of 
the first of these droves — if not the very first — was 
purchased by Altiion Whipple antl Williani Dor- 
rance, of Howell, in 1845 or 1846, and disposed of 
in the East. 

IMrUOVFO IJUEKDS. 

Tiie first cattle of imported breed introduced 
into the county were a few Devons, purcliased 
about 1848, from Mr. Crippen, a rather famous 
breeder, of Coldwater, Michigan, by David B. 
Power, of Hamburg. After breeding these for 
about ten years, Mr. Power procured a fine Dur- 
ham bull, and bred the Durham-Devon cross for 



122 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



about five \-ears, until he liad a herd of consider- 
able size. At that time he sold his herd to his 
son-in-law, William Ball, of Hamburg. 

About the same time that Mr. Power purchased 
his first Devoiis, or a little later, Mr. John Sellers, 
of Deerfield, also purchased a few of the same 
breed, and became the owner of a small herd. 

Mr. C. L. Crouse, of Hartland, brought in three 
or four pure Durhams from New York State about 
1855 ; and Mr. VVakeman, of the same town, also 
bred a small herd of Durhams — all bulls. Mr. 
Crouse increased his purchase to quite a numerous 
herd, but this has since been dispersed. From the 
herds above mentioned came most of the blooded 
stock in the county down to the year i860. 

The records of the Agricultural Society, from 
1854 to i860, show a large number of names of 
persons who received premiums on, or entered, 
improved stock in the exhibitions of the society 
during the years mentioned. The names given be- 
low are taken from those records, and printed 
here as showing who were among the principal of 
the breeders of such stock at that time. It is 
proper, however, to say that very few of the ani- 
mals were pure bloods, even when mentioned as 
such : 

1854. — Premiums on short-horns, to Charles P. 
Bush, George Taj'Ior, Loren Boutell, J. B. Ham- 
mond, P. L. Smith. On crosses of full blood, to 
William Se.xton, Job Cranston, G. B. Armstrong, 
Thomas B. Brooks, D. Case, William Stedman. 
On Devons, to Ralph Fowler and D. B. Power. 

1856. — Premiums on full-blood cattle, to Daniel 
Jackson, Luther Boyden, William Placeway, J. 
Nichols, J. S. Bliss, Austin Wakeman, James R. 
Sage, L. E. Beach & Co., Job Cranston, John 
Griffon, D. B. Power, L. C. Crittenden. On grades, 
to Ely Barnard, W. C. Shaft, Sanford Marble, C. 
L. Crouse, R. F. Glass, Mrs. A. P. Jewett, L. E. 
Beach, Jr., Austin Wakeman. 

1857. — Pantries of Devons and Durhams, by 
James R. Sage, J. Brown & Co., Daniel Harpley, 
William Steadman, L. C. Crittenden, Austin Wake- 
man, D. B. Power, E. Buckel, K. S. Bingham, Wil- 
liam Placeway, C. W. Burwell, R. H. Bennett, Job 
Cranston. 

1S58. — Entries of short-horns, by D. B. Power, 
R. Wrigglesworth, K. W. Bingham, Austin Wake- 
man, George W. Peck, C. L. Crouse, R. Bigham. 
Entries of Devons, by D. B. Power, William Ball, 
J. O. Fonda, J. J. Bennett, Jr., William Placeway. 
Entries of full-blood foreign cattle, by J. B. Arms, 
H. Masson, and C. A. Jeffries. 

1859. — Entries of short-horns, by C. L. Crouse, 
K. W. Bingham, A. Wakeman, E. Buckel, R. 
Wrigglesworth, Entries of Devons, by W. G. 



Smith, D. B. Power, William Ball, J. O. Fonda,7. 
J. Bennett, Jr., R. H. Bennett, R. Bigham. 

i860. — Entries of short-horns, by W. Sexton, 
R. Wrigglesworth, E. Buckel, F. S. Wyckoff, A. 
Wakeman, D. Sherwood, J. B. Skilbeck, Alva Pres- 
ton, George Coleman. Pantries of Devons, by B. 
G. and W. M. Smith, and William Ball. 

Soon after the purchase of Mr. D. B. Power's 
herd by William Ball, as above mentioned, the 
latter gentleman disposed of all these animals 
with the intention of breeding pure short-horns 
and none other, an object which he has since fully 
carried out. He has bred and sold large numbers 
of these cattle, and has now a herd of about forty 
iiead on his farm in Hamburg. The other breeders 
of pure Durhams in Livingston County are as 
follows: Alexander McPherson, of Howell, has a 
fine herd; Ephraim J. Hardy and son, of Oceola, 
a herd of about ten head ; Charles Fishbeck, of 
Genoa, a herd of about twenty; Horace Halbert, 
of Conway, a herd — number not known; Heman 
Bump, of Howell, the same; B. F. Batchelor, of 
Oceola, a small herd ; Aaron Holt, of the same 
township, a herd — number not known; L. K. 
Beach, of Marion, a fine herd, from which he has 
recently made public sales; Charles Love, of Put- 
nam, Carroll Woods, of Green Oak, Thomas 
Granger, of the same township, W. and F. Hyne, 
of Brighton, and Richard Wrigglesworth, of Con- 
way, all liave small herds of the same breed. 
George Coleman, of Marion, has a few Galloways, 
and Ebenezer Kellogg, of Oceola, has a small 
herd of Ayrshires. The owners of fine crosses 
and grades in the county are too numerous to 
mention separately. 

SHEEP-BREEDING. 

Sheep-raising and wool-growing were among 
the earliest of the agricultural industries in Liv- 
ingston, being entered into to some extent by the 
farmers of the county soon after settlement, and 
generally, as soon as their circumstances had been 
improved and the comfort of their families assured, 
by the production of a few crops of wheat and 
other necessaries. In 1840 there were nineteen 
hundred and three sheep in the county, as shown 
by the census report of that year, and the wool 
product was three thousand nine hundred and 
forty-five pounds. In 1850 the wool produced in 
the county was, as reported, eighty-six thousand 
six hundred and eighty-six pounds, and the whole 
number of sheep had increased to thirty-two thou- 
sand two hundred and eighty-two. In i860 the 
number of sheep reported was fifty-si.x tiiousaud 
si.K hundred and eighty-one, and the wool-clip in 
the county had increased to one hundred and si.xty- 



AGRICULTURE. 



123 



seven thousand and t\vent\--eight pounds. In 1S64 
the number of sheep reported was one luindred 
and two thousand two hundred and sixteen over 
six montlis old, and tiic pounds of wool shorn 
three hunihcd and fifty-eight thoLisand five hun- 
dred antl eighty-six. The last census (that of 1874) 
shows that ninety thousand four hundred and 
eighty sheep were shorn in the county in the pre- 
vious year, and that the wool produced was four 
hundred and thirty- five thousand one hundred and 
seventy-one pounds. 

Sheep-breeding and wool-growing at the present 
time, although not prosecuted with as much of en- 
thusiasm as during the period of inflated prices 
produced by the war of the RebelHon, is still a 
leading agricultural industiy in Livingston County; 
and it must remain a profitable one, if the product 
and prices of future years should prove e(]ual to 
those of 1879. 

rURE-BLOODED SHEEP. 

Among the first Merino sheep brought into Liv- 
ingston County were those introduced, about 1848, 
by David B. Power and Ira Jennings. The latter 
gentleman brought in several Spanish Merinos 
[ from Vermont, and bred them successfully until 
^~1iis death, after which it was continued by his son 
till about i860, when his flock was sold to William 
Ball, of Hamburg. 

The sheep introduced by Mr. Power were French 
Merinos, purchased in Washtenaw County from a 
flock which had been brought there by Mr. Patter- 
son from New York State. Mr. Power bred these 
with Spanish Merinos, and continued breeding 
them until about i860, when Mr. Ball also pur- 
chased his flock, as lie had about the same time 
purchased that of Mr. Jennings; and he has kept 
the flock up, and replenished it by purchases, until 
the present time. His purchases have been made 
principally from the Moore, the Rich, the Totting- 
ham, and the Burwell flocks in Addison Countj', 
Vermont. He has now a flock of between two 
liundred and three hundred sheep, all of pure 
blood, and so registered. 

All the history of the introduction of pure- 
blooded Merinos into Livingston County, and of 
the breeding of them for a number of years after- 
wards, is included in the above mention of the 
purchases of the Spanish and I'rench sheep by 
Mr. Jennings and Mr. Power, respectively, and of 
their subsequent purcha e, and the continuation of 
the business b)- Mr. Ball, of Hamburg. In later 
years the following-named breeders have become 
the owners of thoroughbred flocks entitled to 
registration, viz. : 

About six years ago, Ephraim J. Hardy & Son, 



of Oceola, purchased twenty-five improved Span- 
ish Merinos from Mr. Ball, and supplemented this 
purchase by another of about fifty animals from 
the noted flocks in Addison County, Vermont. 
They now liave a fine flock of about two hun- 
dred. 

Ebenezcr Kellogg, of Oceola, commenced at 
about the same time with Mr. Hardy. His pur- 
chases have all been made from Mr. Ball, and his 
flock now numbers about one hundred sheep. 

Mr. E. Merithew, of the same township, has also 
a flock of fine Spanish Merinos. 

Henry T. Ross, of Brighton, commenced breed- 
ing some six or eight j-ears since. His purchases 
were from the Martin flock, of Rush, Monro2 
County, New York, and from Mr. Ball. He has 
now a flock of more than fift\- thoroughbreds, be- 
sides a number of fine high-grade sheep. 

Henry Doane has a thoroughbred flock of about 
fifty sheep, bred from some ten or twelve originally 
purchased from Mr. Ball. 

Horace Halbert, of Conway, Lyman K. Beach, 
of Marion, and William Smith, of Oceola, have 
recently commenced in pure bloods, and each of 
these gentlemen has now a flock of fine sheep. 

There are, perhaps, some other small flocks of 
thoroughbreds in the county, but it is believed that 
those above mentioned comprise all or very nearly 
all which are strictly of pure blood. 

Not much has been done in the county in the 
way of breeding coarse-wool sheep, but there are 
several farmers who breed them, and among these 
may be mentioned Mr. Wesley Garlock, of Genoa, 
who has some fine Leicesters and Hamixshire 
Downs. 

THE FIRST LIVINGSTON COUNTV AGRICUETUR.VL 
SOCIETY. 

There are now but kw persons in Livingston 
County who are aware that, some years prior to 
the formation of the present county agricultural 
society, there existed here an older organization 
under the same naine, and which included in its 
membership some of the most prominent farmers 
of the county. The fact, however, is unquestion- 
able that such a society had an existence of sev- 
eral years, and it seems probable tliat its com- 
mencement was in the year 1 84 1 or 1842. 

In the Livingston Courier, of May 10, 1843, there 
appeared a notice, having reference to the business 
of this old societ)', as follows : 

" IJi'ingston County Agricultural Society. 
" The E.Kecutive Committee of the Livingston 
County Agricultural Society for 1843 licld their 
first meeting, on call of the president, at the school- 
house, in the village of Howell, on the second day 



124 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



of May. Present : Rial Lake, Esq., president of 
the society, and Messrs. Glover, Gay, O. J. Smith, 
J. W. Smith, and Pierce, of the committee. The 
premium list for 1843 was made out, revised, and 
ordered to be published, as follows: 

P'or the best acre of Second Best. 

Wheat $3.00 #1.50 

Corn 200 I.oo 

Oals 1.00 50 

Pot.itoes 1.00 50 

One h.ilfacie fl.Tx I.oo 50 

" " rutabagas i.oo 50 

One quarter-acre cnrruts 50 25 

Best stud-horse 3.00 1.50 

*' breetlinj^-niare 2.00 1.00 

" pair \vorking-hor^es 2.0J I.oo 

" coh, with regard to age, under three years 

old 2.00 I.oo 

" bull 2.00 I.oo 

" working-cattle 2.00 I.oo 

" cow I.oo 50 

" calf. 50 25 

" pair three-year old steers 2.00 I.oo 

" buck 2.00 I.oo 

" ewe I.oo 5*-* 

** specimen (not less than hfty pounds) of 

cheese I.oo 

" butter (ten pounds) I.oo 

** piece of woolen cloth (not less than five 

yards) manufacluted in the county 2.00 

" piece of linen cloth (five yards) i.oo 

" managed farm, considering all circum- 
stances 4.00 

" By order of the Committee. 

" George W. Jewett, 
''Recording Secretary." 

In the same newspaper, under the date of March 
20, 1844, appeared a notice of a meeting of the 
Livingston County Agricultural Society, to be held 
in the Presbyterian church in Howell, on the ninth 
of the following month ; with the announcement 
that " Addresses appropriate to the occasion may 
be expected. 

" By order of the Executive Committee, 

" George W. Jewett, Secretary." 

No subsequent allusion to this society or to any 
of its transactions has been found. It seems a little 
remarkable that these matters, and even the fact of 
the existence of the society, should have so com- 
pletely faded from the memories of the many per- 
sons still living in the county who were at that 
time of mature age, and actively engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits. 

THE PRESENT LIVINGSTON COUNTY AGRICUL- 
TURAL SOCIETY. 

On Thursday, the twenty-fourth of February, 
1853, a meeting of farmers and others, citizens of 
Livingston County, was held at the court-house 
in Howell, pursuant to a previously published call, 
for the purpose of forming a county agricultural 
society. The meeting being organized by the 
choice of Freeman Webb, Jr., as Chairman, and 
James M. Murray, Secretary, a resolution offered 
by W. A. Buckland, declaring "That it is expedient 



at the present time to organize a County Agri- 
cultural Society," was adopted without a dissenting 
voice ; and, on motion made by E. F. Burt, and 
approved by the meeting, the chair appointed a 
committee of seven to report a constitution for such 
a society. This committee — composed of E. F. 
Burt, W. A. Buckland, Loren Boutell, J. R. Good- 
rich, R. C. Rumsey, A. W. Olds, and V. R. T. An- 
gel — reported a constitution, which was adopted, 
and of which the first two articles were as follows : 

"Article i. — This society shall be called The Liv- 
ingston County Agricultural Society, auxiliary to the 
Michigan State Agricultural Society, and the same is 
organized and established for the encouragement and 
advancement of agriculture, manufactures, and the 
mechanic arts. 

" Article 2. — Any person may become a member of 
this society by signing tlie constitution and paying one 
dollar into the treasury, and may continue a member 
by paying annually thereafter the sum of fifty cents.* 
Life memberships may be obtained on payment of 
the sum of ten dollars; and all certificates of member- 
ship shall include tlie family of the person to whom 
they are given. The officers elected upon the organi- 
zation of the society shall be considered members for 
one year." 

After the adoption of the constitution, the first 
officers of the society were elected as follows : 

President, Ira Jennings, Green Oak. 

Vice-Presidents. 
Job Cranston, Brighton. 
David Bush, Conway. 
Loren Boutell, Deerfield. 
Royal C. Rumsey, Green Oak, 
Ely Barnard, Genoa. 
Chauncey L. Crouse, Hartland. 
Marvin Gaston, Handy. 
Stoddard W. Twichell, Hamburg. 
Odell J. Smith, Howell. 
Daniel Person, Iosco. 
E. N. Fairchild, Marion. 
Joel B. Rumsey, Oceola. 
Freeman Webb, Jr., Putnam. 
Jacob Kanouse, Tuscola (now Cohoctah). 
John C. Salisbury, Tyrone. 
V. R. T. Angel, Unadilla. 

Treasurer, Wm. A. Buckland. 
Secretary, Elijah F. Burt. 

Executive Committee. 



Nelson G. Isbell. 
Ephraim J. Hardy. 
Alonzo W. Olds. 



James M. Murray. 
John How. 



* Amended to read "seventy-five cenIS)" October 10, 1856. 



AGRICULTURE. 



125 



The following is a list of tlie members of the 
society in the first jxar of its existence : 



L. Judson. 
L. C. Pratt. 
C. A. Jeffries. 
L. }i. Jones. 
William McCauley. 
R. H. Bennett. 
Sherman Bennett. 
J. J. Bennett, Jr. 
Daniel Case. 
N. L. Emory. 
Rev. C. Osborn. 
S. M. Conely. 
Thomas Dailey. 

C. L. Croiise. 
A. R. Crouse. 
G. W. Cropsey. 
David Thompson. 
L. B. Fonda. 

L. C. Pratt. 

S. W. Twichell. 

William Olsaver. 

Charles Smith. 

J. lirown. 

E. N. Fairchild. 

H. H. Smith. 

Jacob Fishbeck. 

Caleb Sawyer. 

W. S. Conely. 

Miss Celia Ann Conely. 

James McLaughlin. 

L. W. Kinney. 

Floyd Williams. 

Job Cranston. 

R. S. Hall. 

Joseph Doane. 

D. B. Power. 
William D. Corson. 
William R. Griffith. 
Gustave Baetcke. 
Dr. Benck. 

E. Doane. 
L Armes. 
William T. Timis. 
P. S. Hendricks. 
Thomas Gilks. 

A. P. Dickinson. 
Hiram Dickinson. 

Paddock. 

Ely Barnard. 

D. Person. 

E. Latson. 
L. Walker. 
Henry G. Love. 



Joseph F. Jennings. 
J. B. Hammond. 
M. Bird. 
T. Bridgeman. 
Nelson G. Isbell. 

A. Angel. 
David Gallatian. 
E. Case. 

E. D. Morse. 
O. Morse. 
Simeon Lawrence. 
William H. Bennett. 
G. Truesdale. 

B. Carpenter. 

E. S. Field. 
Albert Tooley. 
M. W. Randall. 
Charles P. Bush. 
H. H. Hoyt. 
John Fewlass. 
Ira Bray ton. 

N. S. Benjamin. 
Jesse Hall. 
William Placeway. 
Hiram Wing. 
William Valentine. 
S. Warner. 
J. Cordley. 
N. House. 

F. J. Lee. 

N. J. Hickey. 
J. H. Galloway. 
S. N. Winans. 
James Swiney. 
John Monohan. 
Loren Boutell. 
D. Boutell. 
Lyman Lee. 
William White. 
William Jubb. 
Smith Tindale. 
P. L. Smith. 
L. Foote. 
George Lemen. 
J. D. Gale. 
T. B. Brooks. 

C. Goodspecd. 

D. Kellogg. 
William Brown. 
W. B. Conely. 
William E. Thompson. 
Mark Jacobs. 

R. S. Hayner. 



W. W. Smith. 
D. S. Lee. 
P. Y. Browning. 
J. W. Botsford. 
Calvin Murdock. 
A. Mclntyre. 
William Steadman. 
Harvey Rhodes. 
S. Sears. 
W. Sears. 

Kinsley S. Bingham. 
William C. Shaft. 
Alexander Carpenter. 
John S. Johnson. 
Gardner Bird. 
L. C. Crittenden. 
O. H. Winegar. 
William Waits. 
Victor)' W. Gay. 
Nicholas Kriseler. 
Patrick Bogan. 
N. Gilks. 

Edward Beurman. 
Isaac Brown. 
Hiram Goodrich. 
D. D. Cam 
M. D. L. Townsend. 
Emil Beurman. 
H. C. Briggs. 
A. Wakeman. 
De Witt Denton. 
William Schaed. 

D. De.xter. 
Hannibal Lee. 
Ira P. Bingham. 
William Morse. 
John Fulmer. 
C. W. Pease. 
Jacob Kanouse. 
Isaac W. Appleton. 
R. D. Power. 

L. K. Hewett. 

A. C. Noble. 

O. A. Fuller. 

Morris Bennett. 

Van RensselaerT. Angel. 

P. W.Dey. 

John Sigler. 

George Pullen. 

J. A. Van Camp. 

J. Fishbeck. 

E. W. Woodruff. 
William Crawford. 
George Burnett. 
William Payne. 
George J. Griffin. 



C. L. Myers. 

A. Maltby. 
George L. Gage. 
Charles Spencer. 
John S. Bryant. 
J. Miller. 
Gaines Fuller. 

B. B. Durfee. 
H. H. Norton. 
A. Campbell. 
J. Paddock. 
Peter Kanouse. 
J. W. Kellogg. 
M. McCabe. 
Jacob Sigler. 
A. L. Munsell. 
Aaron Monroe. 
L. Door. 

W. Lewis. 
George W. Peck. 

A. F. Albrecht. 
Simon Abrams. 
David Dickerson. 
William Davis. 
Stephen Dailey. 
William Bitten. 
J. B. Kneeland. 
S. S. Moore. 

S. Morgan. 
George Gready. 
George Miles. 
J. Chamberlain. 
Lee Nutt. 
E. W. Grant. 
David Bush. 
Stephen M. Winans. 
George Cropsey. 
William W. Dean. 
Warren Parker. 
James Hammill. 
James McLaughlin. 
Joseph Hodgman. 
Smith Henry. 
T. J. Rice. 
E. Holloway. 

B. G. Smith. 

J. F. Harrington. 
Jesse Marr. 
J. P. Farnsworfh. 
S. H. Hazard. 
Charles Smith. 
Henry Griswold. 
John Arms. 
Thomas Dailey. 
John Lakin. 
Gardner Wheeler. 



126 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



John Graham. 
J. Case. 
G. N. Barker. 
John Bush. 
M. W. Randall. 
James Barber. 
William Osborn. 
W. L. Webb. 
J. F. Jennings. 
J. M. Holden. 
Daniel Pierson. 
Isaac Smith. 
Perry G. Ross. 
James Clark. 
M. Chubb. 

F. Baetcke. 

G. H. Chambers. 
John Laughlin. 
W^illiam Elliott. 
David Hazard. 



John R. Mason. 
Hiram Wing. 
Moses Fuller. 
Eli Annis. 
Ralph Fowler. 
John Hartman. 
Mark Jacobs. 

E. Watrous. 
John Euler. 
Richard Walker. 
Luther Jefferds. 

C. Goodrich. 

F. A. Grimes. 

D. Kellogg. 
Richard Berhnes. 
H. N. Lewis. 

H. H. Hanse. 
W. S. Russell. 
John Hooper. 
Henry George. 



The board of directors (composed of the pres- 
ident, secretary, and executive committee of the 
society) held their first meeting March 12, 1853, 
at Howell, on which occasion, after adopting a 
code of by-laws, the board "Resolved, That the 
first annual fair of the society be held in the month 
of October next, in that township in the county 
which will raise and pledge to the board of direc- 
tors, on or before the last Saturday in April next, 
the largest amount of means towards defraying the 
incidental expenses of the said fair," and the sec- 
retary was instructed to open a correspondence 
with citizens of the several townships upon that 
subject. At a meeting, held pursuant to adjourn- 
ment on the .seventh of May, the board "Resolved, 
That the time for receiving offers and proposals with 
reference to the place of liolding the first annual 
fair be extended to and until the fifteenth of June 
next," and, after some further business, adjourned 
to that day ; when, upon reassembling, it was by 
the board "Resolved, That whereas the township of 
Brighton has offered the largest sum (one hundred 
and forty dollars) for the location of the first annual 
fair at that village, that the said first annual fair of 
the society be held at said village of Brighton on 
the sixth and seventh days of October next:" 

The fair was accordingly opened at Brighton, at 
ten A.M., on Thursday, October 6, 1853, under 
direction of William R. Cobb, chief marshal, and 
continued during that and the following daj'. The 
exercises of the second day embraced a grand 
plowing match at nine a.m., election of officers 
of the society for the ensuing year at eleven a m., 
and at two p.m. an address by the Hon. George W. 
Peck, immcdiatelv after which came the rcadin"' of 



the reports of the several viewing committees, 
and the announcement of their awards. A list of 
persons to whom premiums were awarded at this 
first fair of the society, being regarded as of some 
interest to the farmers of the county, is here given 
as follows : 

Field Crops. — E. N. Fairchild, Jacob Fishbeck, 
wheat; H. H. Smith, " Marion wheat, a new va- 
riety;" A. Monroe, corn; O. Morse, potatoes. 

C(?///t'.— William Se.xton, P. L. Smith, J. B. 
Hammond, Jacob Fishbeck, Daniel Case, W. W. 
Smith, F;iy Barnard, Rev. Mr. Osborn; J. W. Bots- 
ford, F. Fishbeck, Charles P. Bush, J. Monohan, 

C. Sawyer, W. B. Kellogg, D. B. Power, working 
oxen; C. A. Jeffries, two premiums on Durham 
cattle. 

Horses. — W'. C. Shaft, H. G. Love, stallion ; T. 
Holloway, H. H. Norton, brood mare ; D. D. Carr, 
W. E. Thompson, D. S. Lee, F. Monroe, Floyd 
Williams, Hiram Wing, Thomas Dailey, T. Hollo- 
way, colt; K. S. Bingham, P. L. Smith, span of 
matched horses ; I. P. Bingham, E. Deidmer, single 
horses ; Captain P. E. Tuhn, full-blood mare ; Cap- 
tain P. E. Tuhn, matched pair trotting horses. 

Discretionary Preiniuins on Horses. — Kanouse & 
Fuller, stallion "Young Duroc;" J. R. Goodrich, 
stallion " Black Hawk ;" F. Monroe, C. Smith, span 
matched colts ; J. Cole, G. C. Fuller, C. Corson, 
E. Latson, W. E. Thompson, colts ; A. Toole\% 
span matched horses. 

Sheep. — P. Y. Browning, best French buck; S. 
W. Twichell, second best French buck ; J. Cran- 
ston, Merino ewes; K. S. Bingham, Merino ewes 
(Spanish) ; L. C. Crittenden, buck lambs (Spanish) ; 
William Brown, buck lambs (Leicester and South- 
down) ; I. & J. F. Jennings, ewe lambs (Spanish); 
H. Goodrich, ewe lambs (Spanish); Bingham & 
Olds, French Merino bucks. 

Szvine. — Royal C. Rumsey (two premiums), C. 
L. & R. C Crouse (two premiums), L. B. Fonda, A. 
Angel. 

Poultry. — J. H. Galloway, Shanghais; N. J. 
Hickey, Cochin Chinas; N. J. Hickey, Chitta- 
gongs ; Fred. J. Lee, Dorkings. 

Farm Iiitpleincnts. — D. Kelly, Nelson House, 
William Placeway, Hannibal Lee, K. S. Bingham, 

D. Thompson, L. B. Fonda, W. C. Woodward, Ira 
Brayton, N. Toncray, Israel Arms. 

Butter and Cheese. — T. Bridgeman, D. Gallatian, 
D. Case,* butter; J. F. Jennings,* cheese. 

Sugar and Honey. — J. Ridenger, best ten pounds 
of honey ; N. Chrisler, second best ten pounds of 
honey; M. W. Randall, maple-sugar. 

Domestic Manufactures.- — First variety: T. 

" DHcrelkmaiv. 



AGRICULTURE. 



127 



Bridgeman, Miss Jane M. Gallatian, B. Carpenter, 
Miss C. Twichell, Miss E. Carpenter, Mrs. E. An- 
nis. Mrs. J. R. Mason, Miss A. C. Isbell, Mrs. 
Fuller, Mrs. Osborn,* Mrs. J. M. Murray.* Sec- 
ond vaiiety: John Miller, William Waits, James 
Swincy, W. R. Griffith, Ira Brayton.* Third va- 
riety: L. Walker, L. Judson, A. Hubbard. 

Fruits Olid Vegetables. — R. Lyon, J. Brown, H. 
Wing, apples; R. Lyon, S. M. Conely, peaches; 
N. S. Benjamin, quinces; W. S. Conely, pears; 
Gustave Baetcke, grapes ; D. Boutell, G. W. Crop- 
scy, L. W. Kinney, T. B. Brooks, R. S. Hall, Loren 
Boutell, T. Bridgeman, R. S. Hayner, C. S. Crouse, 
O. Morse,* Thos. Gilks,* Dr. Benck,* vegetables. 

Pltrwiug Matcli. — William White, first premium 
for best quarter-acre plowed ; A. 1'. Dickinson, 
second premium. 

The financial result of this fair was quite satisfac- 
tory to the society, the receipts and expenditures 
being as follows : 

RIXEII'T.S. 

Subsciiplion by citizens of ISrigliton Sl40.oo 

Sale of memljership tickets 424.00 

*' single tickets 94-44 

" fruit (lonatefl 8.24 

Donation by C. I.. & R. Cruu.se 10.00 

S676.68 

DISIiURSEMENTS. 
E.vpense of preparing Fair-CIrouiul... $168.41 

Amount of premiums awardeel 145.00 

" paid W. 15. Smith, for print- 
ing 16.00 

" paid .Secretaiy, for services 

and expenses 25.00 

Other expenses of fair 3S.57 

392.9S 

$283.70 
Value of lumber left on hand too. 00 

Excess of receipts over expenditures $383. 70 

In March, 1854, the society resolved that its 
second fair should be held at Howell, provided the 
citizens of the place should pledge to the society 
the sum of two hundred dollars towards defraying 
the incidental expenses. In case such pledge was 
not given on or before April 15th, the fair was "to 
be held in that village in the county whose citizens 
shall pledge the highest amount." On the second 
of May the subscription of the people of Howell 
was laid before the board of directors, "which was 
deemed a compliance with the terms of the offer 
made them, and it was voted that the second an- 
nual fair of the society be held at Howell." N. J. 
Mickey was appointed marshal, and authorized to 
select grounds for the fair, "by and with the advice 
of Nelson G. Isbell and Elijah F. Burt, who are 
hereby appointed a committee of the board for that 
ptirpose." 

* Discretionary. 



The ground selected was the public square in 
Howell, and the fair was held there on Tuesday, 
Wednesday, and Thursday, October 3, 4, and 5, 
1854. The address was delivered by the Hon. F. 
W. Curtenius, on the last day of the fair. 

At the fair of 1853 no premium had been 
awarded for the best cultivated farm, but in this 
second exhibition that premium was awarded to 
Alva Preston, who also secured the same prize at 
the fairs of 1855 and 1856. 

At the settlement with the treasurer at the end 
of the year, that officer made return of a balance 
of four hundred and ninety-four dollars and forty- 
three cents in his hands, and the marshal returned 
a net amount of one hundred and one dollars and 
seventy-five cents. This was turned over to 
George W. Lee, treasurer for the ensuing j'ear, and 
thus the society commenced the year 1855 with a 
fund of five hundred and ninety-si.K dollars and 
eighteen cents, bcsitles si.x dollars in uncurrent 
money and twenty-three dollars in notes and 
orders. 

In 1856 the fair was given to the village of 
Howell, in consideration of a subscription by the 
citizens to the amount of one hundred and fifty 
dollars. The exhibition was held on the eifrhth, 
ninth, and tenth of October. A. W. Smith, mar- 
shal. It was also held at Howell in 1857, one 
hundred and twenty-five dollars being raised there 
by subscription. In the awards of this year the 
two-hundrcd-acre firm of Joseph Rider, Jr., was 
especially mentioned by the committee "as an 
example for the farmers of Livingston County to 
work after." 

The fair of 1858 was held at Brighton on Wed- 
nesdav', Thursday, and F"riday, October 6th, 7th, 
and Sth. Spaulding M. Case, Marshal. 

In 1859, citizens of Brighton sent in to the 
executive committee of the society two proposals 
to secure the location of the exhibition of that 
year at their village. The first was an offer of one 
hundred dollars in money, and the second a written 
proposal, signed by Ira W. Case, C. W. Barber, F. 
D. Acker, and N. Kennedy, offering to inclose a 
suitable ground and erect all necessary buildings 
as directed by the officers of the society. The 
last-named proposition was accepted, and the fair 
was held at Brighton on Tuesday, the twenty- 
seventh of September, and the two following days. 
On October 14th, in the same jxar, Elijah F. Burt, 
Almon Whipple, and Nathan J. Hickey -were ap- 
pointed a committee "to look out suitable ground 
for permanently locating the annual fiirs of the 
society at or near the village of Howell." 

In March, i860, the following action was taken 
by tlie directors of the society : 



128 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



'■'Resolved, By the board of directors, that they per- 
manently locate their fair at or near Howell, provided 
the citizens of that place raise and secure a donation 
of four himdred dollars towards paying for six acres of 
land (said selection of land to be made in the vicinity 
of Howell), and that the citizens of Howell have until 
the fourteenth day of April instant to raise the above- 
named amount. 

"Resolved, That in case the above resolution is not 
complied with by the citizens of Howell, that the 
secretary advertise for proposals from the several vil- 
lages in the county, and that the society liold their 
fair for iS6o at the village in the county where the 
citizens thereof raise and secure to the society the 
largest amount toward defraying the expenses of said 
fair, — said proposal to be made to the secretary on or 
before the first day of June next." 

The necessity for prompt action by the people 
of Howell was now apparent, and a number of 
citizens of the village promised that the necessary 
amount should be raised. Upon this, on the 
twenty-eighth of March, the directors voted to 
purchase six acres of land near the toll-gate, 
east of the village of Howell, for the sum of 
five hundred dollars, to be used as a permanent 
fair-ground, "provided the citizens of Howell 
raise and pay to Mr. Wiiipple four hundred dol- 
lars towards the same, and that the citizens of 
Howell have till the eighteenth of April next to 
raise said amount." On the second of June fol- 
lowing, the board of directors received the dona- 
tion of four hundred dollars in compliance with 
the above-named conditions, and closed the con- 
tract with Mr. Whipple for the six acres of land 
near the toll-gate; paying over to him the amount 
of the donation, and agreeing to pay him the bal- 
ance of one hundred dollars by the first of Febru- 
ary, 1861. The amount was paid to Mr. Whipple 
before the time specified, and he conveyed the 
land to the society by deed dated January 14, 
1861. This was the first of the several purchases 
by which the society has acquired its present fair- 
ground ; the subsequent purchases of adjoining 
lands having been made from Mr. Whipple, Mr. S. 
F. Hubbell, and McPherson & Mills. 

The ground purchased from Mr. Whipple was 
fenced and prepared, and some buildings erected, 
all under supervision of Nathan J. Hickey, mar- 
shal for the year, and on the twenty-sixth, twenty- 
seventh, and twenty-eighth days of September, 
i860, the society first held its fair upon its own 
grounds. Since that time the annual fairs have 
been regularly held here. The fair-grounds are 
very eligibly located, on the north side of Grand 
River Street, a short distance east of the compact 
portion of the village of Howell, but within the 



corporation limits. They embrace an area of about 
twenty acres, containing a half-mile track and the 
buildings usually found in grounds devoted to 
agricultural exhibitions. On the seventeenth of 
May, 1866, the fair-ground was leased for a term 
of thirty years to the Livingston County Horse 
Association, to be used for its meetings and fes- 
tivals, the Agricultural Society, however, retaining 
the right to use it for the annual fairs and other 
meetings. 

The first annual sheep-shearing festival of the 
society was held on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 
fifteenth and sixteenth of May, 1866. The attend- 
ance was not very large, on account of the unpro- 
pitious state of the weather, but the festival was 
regarded as very successful, several of the best 
flocks in the county being represented. Several 
champion shearers entered the ring and contested 
for the premiums, which were awarded as follows : 
first premium, A. A. Brockway, Green Oak; second 

premium, D. Dailey, Putnam; third premium, 

Eaton, Oceola. No proper record of the weight 
of animals and fleeces was kept. 

Since that time the annual sheep-shearing fes- 
tivals have been continued, but less interest is felt 
in them than when they were first inaugurated. 

In the report of the board of directors of the 
society for the year 1876 (after the purchase of the 
last addition to the fair-grounds) they mentioned 
that the expense during the year had been great, 
owing to the purchase of land, and fencing the 
same, rebuilding cattle-sheds and sheep- and swine- 
pens, and erecting a ticket-office, and they add : 
" We now have about twenty acres of choice land, 
which, with buildings and fi.xtures, are worth at 
least six thousand dollars. . . . The number of 
life members having certificates and entitled to the 
same to this date is four hundred and fifty-si.x." 
On the thirty-first of January, 1878, the number of 
life members of the society was four hundred and 
eighty-three, and at the present time (October i, 
1879) is four hundred and eighty. 

The recent location of the State society fairs at 
Detroit, and the custom of holding them a few 
days earlier than those of the Livingston County 
society, has undoubtedly injured the latter to some 
extent, but their fairs continue to attract a very 
large attendance, and that of the present year 
yielded to the society the handsome sum of four- 
teen hundred and nineteen dollars. 

The principal officers of the society from its or- 
ganization, in 1853, to the present time, have been: 

1853. — President, Ira Jennings; Treasurer, W. 
A. Buckland ; Secretary, Elijah F. Burt ; Executive 
Committee, Nelson G. Isbell, E. J. Hardy, A W. 
Olds, James M. Murra}', John How. 



AGRICULTURE. 



129 



1854. — President, Ira Jennings ; Treasurer, Ely 
Barnard ; Secretary, Nelson G. Isbell ; Executive 
Committee, John R. Goodrich, Elijah F. Burt, 
Austin Wakcman, James M. Murray, P. L. Smith. 

1S55. — President, Robert Crouse ; Treasurer, 
George W. Lee; Secretary, L. K. Hewett; PIk- 
ccutive Committee, John R. Goodrich, Job Crans- 
ton, Royal C. Rumsey, P. L. Smith, Ralph Fowler. 

1856. — President, Robert Crouse; Treasurer, 
W. C. Rumsey; Secretary, Elijah F. Burt; E.x- 
ccutive Committee, R. D. Power, F. G. Rose, J. B. 
Rumsey, L. K. Hewett, Ely Barnard. 

1S57. — President, Nelson G. Isbell ; Treasurer, 
William McPherson ; Secretary, Elijah F. Burt; 
ICxccutive Committee, P. L. Smith, David B. 
Power, F. G. Rose, C. L. Crouse, Daniel Case. 

1858.— President, N. G. Isbell ; Treasurer, Odell 
J. Smith; Secretary, Pl^lijah F. Burt; Executive 
Committee, Francis Monroe, Ira Jennings, S. G. 
Ives, J. Kenyon, Jr., E. N. Fairchild. 

1859. — President, Ely Barnard; Treasurer, F. J. 
Lee ; Secretary, Lyman Judson ; Executive Com- 
mittee, J. F. Jennings, F. Grisson, J. R. Mason, E. 
N. Fairchild, C. L. Crouse. 

1S60. — President, P^ly Barnard ; Treasurer, F. J. 
Lee; Secretary, Lyman Judson; E.xecutive Com- 
mittee, J. F. Jennings, F. Grisson, Austin VVake- 
nian, K. N. Fairchild, C. L. Crouse. 

1861. — President, Austin Wakeman ; Treasurer, 
B. H. Lawson ; Secretary, Henry P. Crouse; Ex- 
ecutive Committee, F. Grisson, Isaac H. Smith, 
Daniel Case, Joseph Rider, Jr., H. H. Norton. 

1862. — President, Austin Wakcman, Tyrone; 
Treasurer, William B. Smith, Howell ; Secretary, 
Henry P. Crouse, Hartland ; Board of Directors, 
Daniel Case, Howell; Samuel G. Ives, Unadilla; 
Joseph Rider, Jr., Genoa; Ephraim J. Hardy, 
Oceola; H. H. Van Leuvan, Brighton. 

1863. — President, Ephraim J. Hardy, Oceola 
Treasurer, William B. Smith, Howell ; Secretary 
Henry P. Crouse, Hartland ; Directors, Francis 
Monroe, Howell ; K. W. Bingham, Green Oak 
E. N. P'airchild, Marion ; Samuel G. Ives, Unadilla 
H. H. Van Leuvan, Brighton. 

1864. — President, Ephraim J. Hardy, Oceola; 
Treasurer, William B. Smith, Howell; Secretary, 
Henry P. Crouse, Hartland ; Directors, Sylvester 
Andrews, Howell; William Ball, Hamburg; K. 
W. Bingham, Green Oak ; W. S. Conely, Brighton ; 
E. Buckle, Howell. 

1865. — President, James M. La Rue, Putnam; 
Treasurer, William B. Smith, Howell ; Secretary, 
I'llijah I"". Burt, Howell ; Directors, John Sigler, 
Putnam ; Sylvester Andrews, Howell ; E.J. Hardy, 
Oceola ; E. N. Fairchild, Marion ; Albert Tooley, 
Genoa. 
17 



1866. — President, James M. La Rue, Putnam; 
Treasurer, William B. Smith, Howell ; Secretary, 
Albert Tooley, Genoa; Directors, William Ball, 
Hamburg; William F. Lemen, Hartland; Francis 
Monroe. Howell ; M. D. Carr, Putnam ; W. R. 
Melvin, Howell. 

1867. — President, K. W. Bingham, Green Oak; 
Treasurer, N. J. Ilickey, Howell ; Secretary, Albert 
Tooley, Genoa; Directors, M. D. Carr, Putnam; 
William Ball, Hamburg; H. C. Cady, Brighton; 
B. W. Cardell, Howell ; E. J. Hardy, Oceola. 

1868. — President, Francis Monroe, Howell ; 
Treasurer, L. C. Smith, Howell ; Secretary, Albert 
Tooley, Genoa ; Directors, S. Andrews, Howell ; 
E.N. Fairchild, Marion; P^bcnezer Kellogg, Oceola; 
Daniel Case, Howell ; Asa Van Kleeck, Genoa. 

1869. — President, Francis Monroe, Howell; 
Treasurer, Orin H. Winegar, Howell; Secretary, 
Albert Tooley, Genoa ; Directors, Daniel Case, 
Howell; H. P. Crouse, Hartland; K. W. Bing- 
ham, Green Oak ; John Meyer, Genoa ; F. Webb, 
Putnam. 

1870. — President, Sylvester S. Andrews, Howell; 
Treasurer, Asa Van Kleeck, Howell; Secretary, 
Albert Tooley, Genoa; Directors, Linus Reed, 
Marion; W^illiam White, Howell; Lewis Meyer, 
Genoa; E.J. Hardy, Oceola; Chas. Curtis, Marion. 

1871. — President, Ira D. Crouse, Hartland; 
Treasurer, Asa Van Kleeck, Howell ; Secretary, 
Albert Tooley, Genoa; Directors, William White, 
Howell ; E. J. Hardy, Oceola ; Linus Reed, Mar- 
ion ; Lewis Meyer, Genoa ; H. G. W. Fry, Oceola. 

1872. — President, Ira D. Crouse, Hartland; 
Treasurer, James A. Preston, Howell ; Secretary, 
B. F. Batcheler, Oceola ; Directors, William White, 
Howell; Stephen Teeple, Putnam; Linus Reed, 
Marion ; Lewis Meyer, Genoa ; R. Wrigglesworth, 
Cohoctah. 

1873. — President, Edwin 15. Winans, Hamburg; 
Treasurer, W. H. Newell, Howell ; Secretary, B. F. 
Batcheler, Howell ; Directors, ¥.. W. Grant, Mar- 
ion ; D. F. Crandel, Howell ; Francis Monroe, 
Howell; Myron Mitchell, Marion; D. O. Taft, 
Oceola. 

1874. — President, Edwin B. Winnns, Hamburg ; 
Treasurer, H. G. W. Fry, Howell ; Secretary, B. F. 
Batcheler, Howell ; Directors, J. A. Preston, 
Howell; William White, Howell; Charles Fish- 
beck, Genoa ; Myron Mitchell, Marion; Jacob 
Sigler, Pinckney. 

1875. — President, Charles Fishbeck, Genoa; 
Treasurer, H. G. W. Fry, Howell ; Secretary, Al- 
bert Riddle, Howell; Directors, William Ball, 
Hamburg; P. T. Gill, Genoa; E. W. Hardy, 
Oceola; E. B. llosley, Oceola; L. K. Beach, 
Marion. 



130 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



1876. — President, Charles Fishbeck, Genoa; 
Treasurer, H. G. VV. Fry, Howell ; Secretary, Al- 
bert Riddle, Howell ; Directors, B. F. Andrews, 
Oceola ; James Harger, Marion ; B. F. Batcheler, 
Marion; P. T. Gill, Genoa; S. W. Dickerson, 
Marion ; A. M. Wells, Howell. 

1877. — President, William Ball, Hamburg; 
Treasurer, Charles Curtis, Howell ; Secretary, 
Frank O. Burt, Marion ; Directors, B. F. Andrews, 
Oceola; B. F. Batcheler, Oceola; P. T. Gill, 
Genoa ; James Harger, Marion ; A. M. Wells, 
Howell ; Halsted Gregory, Howell. 

1878. — President, William Ball, Hamburg; 
Treasurer, Charles Curtis, Howell ; Secretary, 
F'rank O. Burt, Marion ; Directors, B. F. Batch- 
eler, Oceola ; Giles Lee, Green Oak ; James Har- 
ger, Marion ; H. Gregory, Unadilla ; A. M. Wells, 
Howell ; B. F. Andrews, Oceola. 

1S79. — President, Myron Mitchell; Treasurer, 
Alexander McPherson ; Secretary, Frank O. Burt ; 
Directors, B. F. Batcheler, Oceola ; Giles Lee, 
Green Oak ; James Harger, Marion ; Halsted 
Gregory, Unadilla ; A. M. Wells, Howell ; E. B. 
Winans, Hamburg. 

THE LIVINGSTON COUNTY HORSE ASSOCIATION. 

This association, having for its object the pro- 
motion of improvement in the breeding of horses, 
was organized April i, 1866, the following-named 
persons being the original share -holders, viz : 



Sardis F. Hubbell. 

Frederick J. Lee. 

Elbert C. Bush. 

W. R. Melvin. 

Henry H. Harmon. 

H. P. Wheeler. 

G. Tucker. 

John H. Galloway. 

Charles Bailey. 

Henry H. Norton. 

I. C. Huntley. 

Nathan J. Hickey. 

Alexander McPherson. 

D. Embury. 

H. E. Cady. 

K. W. Bingham. 

A. Teasdale. 

W. W. Carpenter. 

J. H. Wilcox. 

Charles W. Barber. 



Harvey & Coleman. 
E. McGunn. 
Orin H. Winegar. 
Dennis Shields. 
Royal H. Rumsey. 
Isaac W. Bush. 
L. D. Smith. 
Almon Whipple. 
William L. Wells. 
L. L. Wing, 

William McPherson, Jr. 
Leander C. Smith. 
V. R. T. Angel. 
John M. White. 
L. Haynes. 
Mylo L. Gay. 
L. K. Beach. 
William Se.xton. 
N. A. Smith. 
D. Case. 



The first officers of the association were : 

Sardis F. Hubbell, President. 
Charles W. Barber, Secretary. 
Alexander McPherson, Treasurer. 



Vice-Presidents. 
Isaac W. Bush. Nathan J. Hickey. 

P'red. J. Lee. Henry H. Norton. 

On the seventeenth day of May next following 
the organization the association leased, for the 
term of thirt)' years, the Fair-Grounds of the Liv- 
ingston County Agricultural Society, and on these 
grounds their meetings and festivals have since 
been held. The enthusiasm and public interest in 
these periodical gatherings was great during the 
first few years, but has declined latterly, though 
they are still well attended, and regarded with 
favor by the people of the county. 

The present officers of the association are : 

Benjamin H. Rubert, President. 
Sardis F. Hubbell, Treasurer. 
Leander C. Smith, Secretary. 

Vice- Presidents. 
L. K. Beach. N. J. Hickey. 

Fred. J. Lee. R. H. Rumsey. 

THE LIVINGSTON COUNTY MUTUAL FIRE INSUR- 
ANCE COMPANY. 

This company, formed for the purpose of insur- 
ing farm buildings and property, and no other, has 
now been in existence for more than sixteen years, 
and has proved so eminently successful, so advan- 
tageous to those interested in it, that it is regarded 
with much satisfaction and pride by its members 
and the people of Livingston County. 

It is admitted that the formation of the company 
was due to the efforts of Elijah F. Burt, of Ma- 
rion, in greater degree than to those of any other 
person. The first meeting to take into considera- 
tion the formation of such a company was held on 
the twenty- fourth of January, 1863. Articles of 
association were agreed upon and entered into, and 
E. F. Burt was appointed secretary pro tempore. 
On the twenty-third of February, 1863, the first 
public notice of the corporators was published. 
On the twent}--third of April following, the com- 
missioners appointed by the Secretary of State re- 
ported that the corporators had complied with the 
statute, and on the second day of May the secre- 
tary filed with the county clerk the certificate of 
the Secretary of State, with papers required by law, 
which authorized the company to proceed to the 
election of permanent officers and the transaction 
of the business of insurance. 

Agreeably to the published notice required by 
law, the first meeting of the members of the com- 
pany was held at the court-house in Howell, on 
the sixteenth of May, 1863, at which meeting the 
permanent officers were elected, as follows : 



PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY. 



131 



President, Ephraim J. Hardy. 
Vice-President, Francis Monroe. 
Secretary, Elijah F. Burt. 
Collector, John Sigler. 
Director, L\'man Judson. 

On the eighteenth of May, 1863, the secretary 
commenced issuing policies, and on the first of 
November succeeding, the company had two 
hundred and twenty-nine policies in force, em- 
bracing property insured to the amount of four 
hundred and si.K thousand four hundred and thirty 
dollars, belonging to two hundred and twenty-four 
members. 

The fiist annual meeting of tlie company was 
held at the court-house in Howell, November 7, 
1S63, when the following officers were elected : 

President, Ephraim J. Hardy. 

Vice-President, Francis Monroe. 

Secretary, E. F. Burt. 

Collectors, John Sigler, L. C. Crittenden. 

Directors, E. J. Hardy, J. M. La Rue, E. F. 
Burt. 

Prudential Committee : Brighton, L. Judson ; 
Cohoctali, J. Kanouse ; Conway, Henry Snyder; 
Deerfield, Calvin T. Burnett; Genoa, C. VV. Bur- 
well; Green Oak, Isaac H. Smith ; Hamburg, R. 
H. Bennett; Handy, M. Gaston; Hartland, C. H. 
Mercer; Howell, B. W. Cardell ; Iosco, D. Per- 
son ; Marion, E. N. Fairchild ; Oceola, Aaron V. 
Holt; Putnam, Gilbert Brown; Tyrone, Austin 
Wakeman ; Unadilla, John Fulmer. 

The great increase of the business of the com- 
pany is shown by the report of the mutual fire in- 
surance companies of tlie State ; the following 
figures, taken from that report, having reference to 
the condition of the Livingston County company 
on the thirty-first day of December, 1878, viz.: 

Membership 'S59 

Risks ill force at that date $3,889.92 

Assessments levied, 1878 5,640.99 

Percent, of assessment 0015 

The total losses of the company since its organ- 
ization have been as follows : 

1864 56.75 

1.S65 3,050 15 

1866 1,128.80 

1S67 1,864.45 

1868 651.00 

1869 2,292.41 

1870 3-5S8.25 

1871 1.440.75 

1872 2.834-30 

1873 2.854.25 

1874 2,138.55 

1875 3.>>2.55 

1876 7,941.05 

'S77 7.832 76 

1S78 4,992.00 

1879 to June 1st 3.558-63 

^49,286.65 



All these being within the county of Living- 
ston. 

An amendment to the company's charter and 
by-laws was adopted September 14, 1872. Under 
this amendment provision is made for payment of 
" loss and damage by lightning to buildings of 
farmers, and property therein," and that "the 
company is not holden for any damages occasioned 
by the use of steam threshing-machines; and all 
persons using such steam machines do so at their 
own risk." 

The officers of the company under the amended 
charter are " a president, vice-president, a secretary, 
who shall act as collector, and a board of three 
directors, of which number the president and sec- 
retary shall fx officio be two, and such other officers 
as said directors shall at any time deem it neces- 
sary to have or appoint." 

The present officers of the company are : 

President, Lyman Judson. 

Secretary and Treasurer, William Suhr. 

Director, E. W. Grant. 

LIVINGSTON COUNTY COUNCIL, I'.VTRONS OF HUS- 
BANDRY. 

This organization, first named and known as 
" Union Council,* Patrons of Husbandry," was 
formed at a meeting held in the village of Unadilla, 
December 5, 1873, pursuant to a call emanating 
from Unadilla Grange, No. 6. The meeting wa.s 
composed of delegates from adjacent granges as 
follows : 

Unadilla Grange, No. 6: Royal Barnum, \V. M. 
Stilson, William Watts. 

Eureka Grange, No. 2 : E. Croman, B. W. Sweet, 
E. Skidmore. 

Iosco Grange, No. 109: Milton Bradley, John 
Elliott, Isaac Stow. 

Pinckney Grange, No. 17: Freeman Webb, C. 
M. Wood, Jacob Sigler. 

Lafayette Grange, No. 92 : R. Buchanan, W. W. 
Williams, E. A. Nordman. 

Genoa Grange, No. 76 : Joseph Rider, Charles 
Fishbeck, William Holt. 

Stockbridge Grange, No. 7 : Wm. H. Stevens, 
H. H. Brewerton, P. Rowe. 

Howell Grange, No. 90: Henry Barnard, Daniel 
Case, Theodore Welckcr. 

Ro\'al Barnum, of Unadilla Grange, was called 
to the chair, and Isaac Stow, of Iosco, was chosen 
secretary. A permanent organization of the meet- 
ing was afterwards effected by the choice of C. L. 
Whitney as Chairman ; Isaac Stow, Secretar}'; W. 

* The name was changed, and the present one adopted by unani- 
mous vote of delegates present at the annu.1l meeting of the council, 
February 6, 1877. 



132 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Williams, Overseer; Thomas Hewlett, Steward; 
Joseph Kirkland, GateKeeper. A committee, com- 
posed of the chairman, the Masters of the several 
granges represented, and J. Webster Childs, of 
Washtenaw County, was constituted for the pur- 
pose of drafting articles of association and a con- 
stitution, which (after a recess) were reported to 
the meeting and adopted; the preamble and first 
two articles being as follows : 

" IF/ir/ras, Other classes ond professions of men have 
associations to protect their own interests; therefore, to 
form a more jierfect union, secnne our own rights, and 
protect our own interests against the encroachments of 
all combinations, we, the delegates of the subordinate 
granges, do hereby form ourselves into a council, and 
adopt the following articles of association : 

"Article i. — This association shall be called the 
Union Council of the Patrons of Husbandry. 

"Article 2. — The objects of this council shall be 
the promotion and attainment of united and uniform 
action of the granges of which it is composed in all 
matters affecting their interests and welfare, and in 
bringing the producers and consumers of agricultural 
implements and products closer together, by buying 
and selling through this council, or through such 
parties as may make arrangements with it, to buy or 
sell such articles or implements as we may need, and 
to transact such other business as may be necessary to 
secure these ends." 

It is elsewhere declared in the articles of asso- 
ciation that the object of the order is to secure 
social and intellectual advantages to its members, 
no less than to proinote their financial interests. 

The first officers of the council — elected at 
this meeting — were : Master, C. M. Wood ; Over- 
seer, William Stevens ; Steward, Charles Fishbeck; 
Assistant Steward, H. N. Stilson ; Chaplain, L. J. 
Whitcomb; Treasurer, B. W. Sweet; Secretary, 
Isaac Stow ; Gate-Keeper, T. Howlett ; Executive 
Committee, C. M. Wood, Isaac Stow, Freeman 
Webb, Royal Barnum, M. Bradley. 

The following is a list of the officers of the 
council, elected in succeeding years, to the present 
time : 

1874.— Master, C. W. Maze; Overseer, Charles 
Fishbeck ; Steward, B. W. Sweet ; Assistant Stew- 
ard, H. N. Stilson : Chaplain, L. J. Whitcomb ; 
Treasurer, Royal Barnum ; Secretary, Isaac Stow; 
Purchasing Agent, W. K. Se.xton ; Gate-Keeper, T. 
Howlett; Executive Committee, W. W. Williams, 
Thomas Copeland, William Stevens, Charles Cur- 
tis, Theodore Welcker. 

1875. — Master, Charles Fishbeck; Overseer, 
Peter T. Gill; Steward, Theodore Welcker; As- 
sistant Steward, H. O. Barnard; Chaplain, Thomas 
Copeland; Treasurer, Charles Curtis; Secretary 



and Purchasing Agent, William K. Sexton ; Ex- 
ecutive Committee, William Fishbeck, Charles 
Cuitis, Henry Lake. 

1876. — Master, Charles Fishbeck ; Overseer, 
James Harger ; Steward, A. M. Wells ; Assistant 
Steward, H.O.Barnard; Chaplain, Linus Reed; 
Treasurer, Charles Curtis ; Gate-Keeper, S. M. 
Dickerson ; Secretary, Mrs. W. K. Sexton ; Pur- 
chasing Agent, W. K. Sexton ; Executive Com- 
mittee, Charles Curtis, William Fishbeck, Charles 
Fishbeck, VV. K. Sexton, F. W. Munson. 

1877. — Master, Stevens Person; Overseer, A. 
M. Wells ; Steward, G. M. Smith ; Assistant Stew- 
ard, Joel Briggs ; Chaplain, Thomas Stanfield ; 
Treasurer, Joseph Rider; Secretary, Mrs. W. K. 
Sexton ; Gate-Keeper, S. M. Dickerson ; Purchas- 
ing Agent, W. K. Se.xton ; E.xecutive Committee, 
Peter T. Gill, James Harger, Linus Reed. 

1 878. —Master, W. K. Sexton; Overseer, A. M. 
Davis ; Steward, M. Sabin ; Assistant Steward, 
Minor Hosley; Chaplain, S. Bidwell ; Treasurer, 
J. S. Briggs ; Secretary, Mrs. W. K. Se.xton ; Gate- 
Keeper, VV. R. Cole ; Purchasing Agent, W. K. 
Se.xton. 

1879. — Master, J. S. Briggs; Overseer, A. J. 
Wickman ; Steward, A. Newman ; Assistant Stew- 
ard, A. M. Wells; Chaplain, S. Bidwell; Treas- 
urer, L. Meyer; Secretary, Mrs. W. K. Sexton; 
Gate-Keeper, W. K. Cole ; Purchasing Agent, W. 
K. Sexton. 

One of the principal objects had in view in the 
formation of the council was to secure for its 
members, through concert of action, greater ad- 
vantages and more favorable terms than they had 
before been able to obtain in the purchase of 
farmers' supplies and the sale of farmers' products, 
as set forth in the second of their articles of asso- 
ciation. 

The first action taken by the Livingston (then 
the Union) Council towards the accomplishment 
of this object was the appointment of Mr. W. K. 
Se.xton as purchasing agent, in the fall of 1874, and 
the opening by him (through, and in connection 
with the State grange) of negotiations for the pur- 
chase of plaster for fertilizing purposes. The price 
of plaster was then four dollars per ton at Grand 
Rapids. The Patrons believed this price to be 
exorbitant, and that the article might and ought 
to be furnished at three-fourths, if not at one-half 
that figure ; but, when they made an attempt to 
obtain it at a reduction, they were met by the re- 
fusal and determined opposition of all the manu- 
facturers, who at once entered into a combination, 
embracing the plaster companies of Michigan and 
Ohio. In this combination a certain territory was 
assigned to each company, in which territory only 



PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY. 



133 



it was permitted to make sales; and eacii was 
pledged to make no sales under any circum- 
stances, and in no matter how large quantity, 
at less than four dollars per ton. This price the 
manufactuiers at Grant! Rapids told the purchas- 
ing agent was the lowest at which plaster could 
be manufactured ; and they said if any one should 
sell it for less than that price, " they would make 
it cost him a good deal more money." Previously 
the State grange had succeeded in obtaining aeon- 
tract from the Grand River Valley Plaster Com- 
pany to deliver plaster in large quantities at a 
reduced price, but when the fact became known 
this company was forced into the manufacturers' 
combination, and refused to carry out their agree- 
ment. Mr. J. T. Cobb, secretary of the State 
grange, in a circular which he was instructed by 
the executive committee of the State grange, to 
address to the subordinate granges, in mentioning 
this bad faith on the part of the Grand River 
company, said, — 

"You are all aware that the first act of bad faith of 
which we complain, on the part of mamif;»<;turers of 
l)laster in tliis State, was the refusal of the Grand River 
Valley Piaster Company, whose works are located at 
Grandville, to comply with a contract made with said 
company, duly signed and sealed with their corporate 
seal, on tlie twentieth day of Marcli, 1874. The same 
week the contract was signed, this company became a 
party to, and a part of the Grand River Valley Plaster 
Association, which included every manufacturer of 
plaster in the State. 

"This association placed itself at once in direct an- 
tagonism to the farmers of the State, by discriminating 
against them and treating them as not only irresponsi- 
ble but unreliable, demanding payment of Patrons be- 
fore plaster was shipped, while to their agents it was 
supplied on their order without a question. 

" As Patrons we did not ask credit, but as Patrons 
we were unwilling that a half-dozen manufacturers in 
the State should say to us, that you must buy of our 
established agents, and pay whatever price they de- 
mand, or submit to conditions that, by implication at 
least, declare us irresponsible and unworthy of confi- 
dence. The combination fi.xed the jirice at four dol- 
lars per ton at Grand Rapids, and held steadily to 
tlieir arrangements through the winter and s[)riug of 
1875, ^"'' "''-' '^'''^ '"^ comply with the terms, or do 
widiout plaster." 

In August, 1875, Mr. H. O. Weston, of Grand- 
ville, proposed to the executive committee of the 
State grange to develop a plaster-bed which he 
owned at that place, and to furnish plaster to the 
Patrons at three dollars per ton ; stipulating only 
that they should furnish orders to the amount of 
eight thousand tons, and he promising to be ready 
to commence shipment by the commencement of 



the year 1876. Before the desired result was ac- 
complished, however, his available means became 
exhausted, and, as he stated to the committee of the 
State grange, " his credit had been so impaired by 
the representations of the members of the [com- 
bined plaster manufacturers] association, that he 
coultl not go on with his enterprise without pecu- 
niary aid from some quarter." Upon this, the 
matter was, at the meeting of the State grange in 
1876, referred to a committee of five members, 
who reported a plan of action, and the meeting 

^'Resolved, That tlie State grange will sustain the 
executive committee in any efforts they may make to 
help H. O. Weston develop his ])laster-bed for the use 
of the Patrons of Husbandry, pecuniary or otherwise." 

This resulted in the sum of four thousand dol- 
lars being advanced to Mr. Weston, with the agree- 
ment that he should furnish plaster at three dollars 
per ton ; receiving two dollars and twenty-five cents 
per ton in cash, leaving seventy-five cents per ton 
to be applied on account of the money advanced. 
But the project did not prove successful under this 
arrangement, although Mr. Weston did his best to 
carry it through ; and in April, 1876, he sold his 
entire interest in the plaster-bed, with the mill, fix- 
tures, and business, to Day & Taylor, who assumed 
Mr. Weston's obligation to the Patrons, and con- 
tinued the former arrangement as to prices and 
shipments. This firm prosecuted the business 
successfully, and have furnished large quantities 
of plaster to the Patrons at and considerably below 
the price originally established in the agreement 
with H. O. Weston. In regard to the success of 
the Patrons in their determined effort to reduce 
the price of plaster. Secretary Cobb, in a circular 
issued in 1878, said, — 

"You all know that on account of a most wicked 
combination of manufacturers four years ago to compel 
the farmers of Michigan to pay four dollars per ton 
for plaster at the mills, and a discrimination against 
Patrons, requiring that cash should accompany a grange 
order, that througli the vigorous measures adopted by 
the executive committee of the State grange the com- 
bination was broken up, and that not only Patrons, but 
all farmers in tlie State, have had cheap plaster now for 
three years. The stand taken by us has saved very 
many thousand dollars to the farmers of Michigan, 
and this result could not have been reached without 
the aid and co-operation of Messrs. Day & Taylor. 
Tliat they have been faithful and true to their agree- 
ment with tlie order, have done all they possibly could 
to accommodate, and have always been ready to make 
good any claim for shortage, loss, or damage by delay 
or otherwise, even when the claim was not always 
quite reasonable and jtist, from my knowledge of the 
business has seemed to me true; and that they have 



134 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



claims on the order that we cannot ignore is recog- 
nized by every well-informed member. 

..." The result of our efforts to break the combi- 
nation was to throw two of the old companies into 
bankruptcy, and the properties fell into the hands of 
the mortgagee, the Union Mutual Life Insurance Com- 
pany, of Maine. This new interest, together with 
another new firm, have undertaken with cheap plaster 
to capture the whole trade. The price with them does 
not seem to be at all important, for plaster is being 
sold by them from eighty-five cents to one dollar and 
fifty cents per ton without regard to cost." 

The members of the Livingston Coimcil have 
participated, with others, in these advantages which 
have resulted from the opening of the Weston 
plaster-beds at Grandville, and are now receiving 
their plaster from Day & Taylor at two dollars per 
ton, or one-half the price they were formerly com- 
pelled to pay. Their shipments are received at 
Howell, Brighton, and Fowlerville, and at the first 
and last-named places they have storehouses built 
and paid for solely from the profit realized on pur- 
chases and sales. The council also purchases the 
salt required by its members ; contracting for large 
quantities and obtaining material reduction in 
prices. All purchases and sales are made by the 
purchasing agent, W. K. Se.xton, who has per- 
formed the business to the entire satisfaction of 
the Patrons, and has several times received the 
council's vote of thanks " for the correct manner 
in which the accounts have been kept, and the suc- 
cess attained in the business through his faithful- 
ness." 

In the matter of sales by the purchasing agent 
for account of members of the council, the princi- 
pal item is that of wool, which is now shipped 
hence by the agent, and sold to heavy buyers in 
Boston, Massacluisetts. The first movement in 
this direction was made in 1878, when the wool of 
thirty-one producers in this county was shipped 
and sold in Boston by Mr. Se.xton. The same was 
done for ninety-five shippers in the present year 
(1879). The lots of the several shippers are sepa- 
rately graded in Boston, and an accurate account- 
sales is rendered to each, and the results in both 
1878 and 1879 have been so satisfactory that these 



shipments to the East by Patrons are likely to be 
continued and largely increased in the future. 

Besides the granges which were represented by 
their delegates at the organization of the council 
in 1873, a number of others (including some from 
adjoining counties) have since been admitted to 
its membership. Those located in Livingston 
County which joined the council have been the 
Conway, Oceola, Hartland, Oak Grove, West 
Handy, and Brighton Granges. Of those which 
have at some time held membership, some hav^e 
withdrawn to unite with other organizations and 
some have ceased to e.xist. The granges which 
are now (August, 1879) in membership with the 
council are: Oak Grove, No. 57; Conway, No. 
114; Howell, No. 90; West Handy, No. 613 ; and 
Brighton Grange. The total individual member- 
ship of the council is now three hundred and 
thirty. Their meetings are held at Knapp's Hall, 
in Howell village. 

rOPULATION OF THE COUNTY AT DIFFERENT 
PERIODS. 

It has been stated, on what appears to be excel- 
lent authority, that the entire population of Liv- 
ingston County at its organization, in the spring of 
1836, did not exceed five hundred and fifty persons 
of all ages. But it was augmented to more than 
six times that number by the unprecedented immi- 
gration of that year, and the increase continued to 
be rapid during several successive years. The 
population of the county at different periods from 
1837 to 1874 is shown by the several censuses to 
have been: in 1837,* 5029; in 1840, 7430; in 
1845,10,787; in 1850,13,485; in 1854,14,141; 
in i860, 16,851 ; in 1864, 16,160; in 1870, 19,336; 
in 1874, 20,329. 

* The population of tlie several townships in that year being 
as follows : 

Byron, now Oceola 317 

Deei field 369 

Genoa 361 

Gieen Oak 1435 

Hamburg 490 

Hartland 404 

Howell (including Handy, Conway, and Cohoctah) 442 

Marion 202 

Pulnnm 367 

Unadilla 642 

Tolal 5029 



H I S T O R \ 



T 



OF THE 



VILLAGES AND TOWNSHIPS OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



The incorporated village of Howell, the county^- 
seat of Livingston, embraces within its boundaries 
an area of territory equal to three square miles, 
lying in the form of a parallelogram, two miles 
long by one and a half miles wide; its longer lines 
running east and west, and its southeastern corner 
being the territorial centre of the county. A fine 
sheet of water, known as Thompson Lake, forms 
part of its eastern boundary. The old Grand 
River road passes diagonally through it in a north- 
westerly direction, and forms the principal business 
street, which is named after the old territorial 
thoroughfare. The limits of the village, as estab- 
lished by the legislative act, which erected it a 
town corporate in 1863, were made to include the 
whole of sections 35 and 36, and the south half of 
sections 25 and 26, of the township of Howell. 

The names of the original purchasers from the 
United States of the lands embraced within these 
limits, and the dates of their respective purchases, 
are here given : 

On Section 35. 

C. C. Trowbridge, of Detroit, the east half of 
the southeast quarter, June 26, 1833. 

John D. Pinckncy, of Dutchess Co., N. Y., the 
east half of the northeast quarter, Dec. 3, 1833. 

George T. Sage, of Washtenaw Co., Mich., the 
west half of the northwest quarter, the west half 
of the northeast quarter, the east half of the south- 
west quarter, the west half of the southeast quarter, 
and the east half of the northwest quarter, Dec. 3, 

1833. 

Benjamin Babbit, of Livingston County, the re- 
mainder of the section, — being the west half of 
the southwest quarter, — July 8, 1834. 

On Section 36. 

John J. Eama.i, of Jackson Co., Mich., the west 
half of the southeast quarter, Oct. il, 1S33. 

John D. Pinckncy, the southwest quarter, the 
east half of the .'■outhcast quarter, and the south- 
west quarter of the northwest quarter, Dec. 3, 1S33. 



Moses Thompson, of Herkimer Co., N. Y., the 
east half of the northwest quarter. May 15, 1834. 

Morris Thompson, of Oakland Co., Mich., the 
we.st half of the northeast quarter, Aug. 5, 1834. 

William Rood, of Montgomery Co., N. Y., the 
northwest quarter of the northwest quarter, Oct. 

3. '835- 

Moses Thompson, of Livingston Co., Mich., the 
east half of the northeast fractional quarter, May 
26, 1S36. 

On Section 25. 

Moses Thompson, of Herkimer Co., N. Y., the 
west half of the southeast quarter, May 15, 1834. 

Elizabeth Thompson, of Oakland Co., Mich., 
the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter, 
July 10, 1835. 

Moses Thompson, the east half of the south- 
west quarter, July 10, 1835 ; and the west half of 
the same quarter, Sept. 3, 1835. 

Morris Thompson, of Livingston Co., Mich., 
the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter, 
July 9, 1847. 

On Section 26. 

John Haze, of Oakland Co., Mich., the north- 
west quarter of the southwest quarter, Feb. 1 3, 1 834. 

William McCreery, of Washtenaw Co., Mich., 
the east half of the southwest quarter, Dec. 2, 1834. 

Thomas West, of Niagara Co., N. Y., the west 
half of the southeast quarter, July 17, 1835. 

Jonathan Austin, of Herkimer Co., N. Y., the 
southwest quarter of the southwest quarter, Aug. 

8, 1835. 

Moses Thompson, of Livingston Co., Mich., the 
east half of the southeast quarter, Aug. 18, 1835. 

FIRST SETTLEMENT AND EARLY SETTLERS. 

The first actual settlements within what is now 
the village of Howell were made by George T. 
Sage, John D. Pinckncy, James Sage, and David 
Austin, in the year 1S34. 

John D. Pincknc)- was a native of Dutchess Co., 
N. Y., and remained a resident of that county until 

135 



ii6 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



the year 1833, being then located with a wife and 
two children, at the village of Hughsonville, en- 
gaged in the business of his trade, which was that 
of butcher. Having determined to emigrate to the 
West, he started in the year named, and came by 
the Erie Canal and Lake Erie to Detroit, and 
thence to Salem, Washtenaw Co., where his father 
and brothers were then living. At that place he 
also found George T. Sage, who was, like himself, 
desirous of purchasing eligible government lands 
on which to establish a farm and a home. With 
that object in view, these two men, accompanied 
by Mr. Pinckney's brothers, struck out towards tiie 
northwest, over the Indian trail, into the wilderness 
of Livingston, which had then recently been erected 
a county, though not yet organized as such. 

Whether they were in any degree influenced in 
their explorations by the prospect of future advan- 
tages to arise from the probable location of tlie 
county-seat is not known, but it is certain that 
about the end of the second day's journey they 
found themselves at the geographical centre of the 
county, as shown by the surveyors' marks and 
numbers, and were soon engaged in prospecting 
among the inviting oak-openings which stretched 
away from the shores of the little lake, over and 
beyond the present site of Howell village. On 
or near the spot now occupied by the residence of 
Hon. Mylo L. Gay, in the western part of the 
village, they hastily built a rude, temporary shelter 
— a bark-roofed cabin — in which they slept, and 
made their headquarters for about a week, while 
engaged in exploring the neighboring region and 
choosing the lands for location. It was almost 
wholly a matter of choice with them, for all the 
lands in the vicinity were open for entry (except 
the two eighty-acre tracts which had previously, 
in the same year, been entered by C. C. Trowbridge 
and John J. Eaman, on sections 35 and 36, respec- 
tively), and nowhere in all the region was there 
any sign of clearing or settler, nor any traces of 
the work of human hands, except the blazingsand 
marks left by the government surveyors. 

Having made and noted their selections of lands 
the party returned to Salem, and thence Pinckney 
and Sage proceeded without delay to the land-office 
in Detroit, where they entered and purchased the 
tracts, as above noticed, on sections 35 and 36. 
Mr. Pinckney then went to his home in the East 
(where he arrived after an absence of nearly two 
months), and Mr. Sage returned to Salem; and 
both began their preparations for removal and set- 
tlement on their new lands in Livingston County. 

In the month of Maj', 1834, George T. Sage and 
his father, James Sage, with their fanu'lies, came 
up from Salem and settled upon the lands pur- 



chased by the former in the previous year, — James 
Sage building his log house on or near the spot 
where the mansion of William McPherson, Jr., 
now stands, and opposite this, on the south side of 
the Grand River road (which was then but a mere 
trail), stood the primitive dwelling of George T. 
Sage. Its location is said to have been directly 
in the present track of Grand River Street, which, 
by straightening, was afterwards made to pass over 
the site of the old Sage cabin. These two families 
were the pioneer settlers in what afterwards became 
the village of Howell, as they were also the ear- 
liest in the township. The date of their arrival 
here was May 14th, in the year named. The sons 
of James Sage were George T., James R., and 
Chester A. The last two were but boys at that time. 
Chester is now dead, and James R. is living in Ann 
Arbor. James Sage, the father of the family, died 
June 29, 1839. 

George T. Sage died in Marion township Aug. 
21, 1852. At the time of his settlement here he 
was but recently married to Miss Louisa Austin. 
Their son, George L. Sage, was the first person 
born in the village or township of Howell. The 
date of his birth was Jan. 23, 1835. He became a 
printer, and carried on that business for some time 
in Howell. He is now living in Albion, Mich. 

On the 1st of June following the arrival of the 
Sage families, David Austin, from Salem, Wash- 
tenaw Co. (but previously from East Bloomfield, 
Ontario Co., N. Y.), came in with his family and 
settled about half a mile west of Sage's, on the 
west half of the northwest quarter of section 35, 
a tract which had been entered by his son-in-law, 
George T. Sage; the place where Mr. Austin lo- 
cated being the same where Mr. Fishbeck now 
lives. On that firm he spent the remainder of his 
life, and died there Feb. i , 1 847, at the age of sixty- 
seven years. His wife survived him about one year. 
Their children were five in number, viz., David 
(who never came to settle in Michigan), Jonathan, 
Louisa, Malvina, and Sally T. The last named 
became the wife of Merritt S. Havens ; Malvina 
became Mrs. George Sewell ; Louisa was the wife 
of George T. Sage, and after his death was mar- 
ried to the Rev. George Jenks, She is now living 
in Brighton. 

Jonathan Austin, who had reached the years of 
manhood when he came witl" '"'~ ^-'^hf^rto J^ 
purchased and settled on t'..\ 
section 35, the land which is 
Gilk. His name appears free 
the records of school district 

Marion. He remained here lor many years, but 
finally removed to the Lake Superior region of the 
State. 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



137 



During the winter and spring of 1834 Mr. John 
D. Pinckncy had completed his preparations for 
enii<^rating, and in May of that year lie left ids old 
home in New York, with his family, and again 
turned his face towards the West. They came by 
the Erie Canal to Buffalo, then by steamer on Lake 
?2rie to Detroit, and thence by wagon to Salem, 
where Mr. Pinckney left his family at the house of 
his father, and then came on to Livingston County, 
to clear and prepare his lands and build a house. 
Not having come into the new country empty- 
handed, as was the case with many of the pioneers, 
lie brought with him from Salem two men (one of 
whom was his brother Thomas, who afterwards 
settled in Genoa) to assist in the heavy preliminary 
labor on the land, and in the erection of his house. 
He also brought with him four yoke of oxen and 
a team of horses, with harnesses and a wagon ; all of 
which he had purchased in Detroit. These horses 
were the first which were brought into the town- 
ship of Howell.* Mr. Pinckney had, of course, no 
trouble in keeping his cattle, during the summer, 
on the abundant feed and browse of the openings, 
and in anticipation of the coming winter, he cut an 
ample supply of the rank grasses growing along 
the margin of the lake, and stacked the hay thus 
easily obtained for use in the season of frost and 
snow. 

From the several entries of lands made by him 
in 1833, he selected the eighty-acre tract in the 
southeast corner of section 36 for the location of 
his farm and home, and built his house at a point 
near the east line of the township, a considerable 
distance to the north of the present Grand River 
road, and between it and the southern end of 
the sheet of water now called Thompson Lake ; 
the spot being dircctls' east of the Livingston 
County Agricultural Society's fair-grounds, and a 
part of what was known in later years as the 
" Wilber farm." The trail at that time, bending 
north from the present line of the road, passed di- 

♦It is stated, in Mr. Smith's historical sketch of Howell, that 
the first team of horses in the township were those brought 
in l)y Moses 'Ihompson; but this is entirely disproved by a 
recollection of Mrs. John Pinckney, who is now a resident of 
Howell vilKige. She remembers that on the occasion of sickness 
in the family of Georije T. Sage, at the birth of his son, George 
L. Sage, Jonathan Austin, brother of Mrs. Sage, came to the 
house of Mr. Pinckney to borrow one of his horses, to ride to 
Kensington, to jirocure the services of Ur. Curtis, of that place ; 
but as llie horses were away, at Salem, he was compelled to make 
the journey to Kensington on foot. As the date of the liirih of 
George L. S.age was },in. 23, l8j5, and as Moses Thompson, in 
coming out to make settlement liere, did not reach Detroit until 
M.ay 25ih of that year, and did not arrive in Livingston County 
until several days later, it seems clear that Mr. Pinckney was 
working his horses here several months liefore Mr. Tlioinpson 
came. 

18 



rectly by the house. In the December next fol- 
lowing their arrival in Michigan he moved his 
family up from Salem and occupied the dwelling 
which he had pre[)ared for them. It was similar 
to other homes of pioneers at that time, — a log 
house of a single room, — and was without floor, 
door, or window when they first took possession, 
blankets being hung over the apertures, and a fire 
being lighted before the cabin at night to keep 
away wolves. The bo.xes in which their house- 
hold articles had been brought from the East were 
used as tables and a bedstead was made of tama- 
rack-poles. The family of Mr. Pinckney at that 
time were : his wife, Margaret (daughter of Alex- 
ander Fraser, of whom further mention will be 
made), and two daughters. — Alice, aged seven 
years, and Gertrude, aged three years; also Sea- 
man Fraser, Mrs. Pinckney 's brother, a sickly 
youth of about eighteen years of age, who re- 
mained here a few years and returned to die in 
New York City. After Mr. Pinckney 's settlement 
here his family was increased by the birth of three 
daughters, two of whom (now Mrs. Knapp and 
Mrs. Goodrich) are living in Howell, and the third 
(unmarried) is living in Jackson, Mich., with her 
elder sister Alice (now Mrs. Elmore Dennis). The 
daughter Gertrude died unmarried in Howell. Mr. 
Pinckney died Feb. ii, 1861, in Howell village, 
where he had removed from his farm in 1842. 
Mrs. Pinckney is still living in Howell, being the 
only resident in the village or township who came 
here prior to 1835. 

LIVINGSTON CENTRE— SETTLERS OF 1835. 

When the families of Sage, Austin, and Pinck- 
ney made their settlement here, the locality be- 
came quite extensively and generally known as 
" Livingston Centre," though (until the arrival in 
the following year of other itninigrants, who set- 
tled on the west part of section 36) the name 
seems to have had more particular reference to the 
farm and house of Mr. Pinckney, not only because 
it was very nearly on the actual centre of the ter- 
ritory of Livingston, where it was believed by 
many that the county-seat would be established, 
but because he was in a manner compelled (much 
against his inclination) to furnish shelter and ac- 
commodation to the rapidly-increasing swarm of 
land-seekers, to whom his house thus became an 
objective point from which they pushed their ex- 
plorations on towards the west and north. 

The )car 1S35 brought important accessions to 
the settlement of Livingston Centre; not so much 
on account of the number of the immigrants 
(though the popul.ition of the two sections and 
two half-sections was fully trebled during that sea- 



1^,8 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



son) as because tliey included among their num- 
bers tliose who came prepared to establish a mill 
and other necessary enterprises, and others who 
took the first steps towards the founding of the 
village which was to become the count)'-seat of 
Livingston. 

The first of the settlers who arrived hei-e in that 
year was Moses Thompson, with liis numerous 
family. His previous home had been in Herkimer 
Co., N. Y., from which place he came to Michigan, 
in 1833, pro.specting for lands, but from some 
cause made no purchases in this region, and re- 
turned East for the winter. He again came West 
in 1834, and purchased on sections 25, 35, and 36 
in this township, as has been noticed. He also 
purchased other lands in the township outside the 
limits of the present village. In the following 
year (1835), in the month of April, he set out 
from Herkimer County with his son, Lewis Thomp- 
son, and his daughters, — Rachel and Lucinda, — 
on their way to a home in Michigan ; it being 
arranged that the remainder of the family should 
follow a few weeks later. Crossing the Niagara 
River, Mr. Thompson, with his son and daughters, 
made the remainder of the journey to Detroit 
through Canada, traveling in a lumber-wagon 
drawn by a pair of large, strong horses, and 
reaching Detroit on the 25th of May. 

The remainder of Mr. Thompson's family, con- 
sisting of his wife, their sons, Morris and Edward, 
their daughters, Maria, Elizabeth, and Jane, with 
Mr. Thompson's nephew, Ezra J. Mundy, left Her- 
kimer County for Michigan on the 29th of May, 
traveling by the Erie Canal and steamer on Lake 
Erie, and on the 7th of June arrived at Detroit, 
where they found and rejoined the family party 
who had preceded them by the land route. On 
the loth of June they started out from Detroit 
with the horse and ox-teams (Mr. Thompson hav- 
ing purchased five yoke of oxen in Detroit) and 
went to Lyon, in Oakland County, where the 
family remained several days, and then came on 
to Livingston Centre, arriving on the 23d of June. 
Mr. Thompson had preceded them by several days, 
and commenced the construction of a log house 
on his land, in section 25. A part or all of the 
family lived at George T. Sage's while their house 
was being built, but it was soon completed, and 
they moved into it between the 1st and the 4th of 
July, 1835. The location of this house was where 
Mr. E. J. Mundy now lives, and a part of the log 
structure is still standing there. 

Moses Thompson was a man of energy and en- 
terprise, — the projector and owner of the first mill 
in the village and township. He was honorable, 
upright, and generous, and was always held in 



high esteem by his fellow-townsmen. He lived 
only about seven years after his settlement here, 
and died Dec. 2, 1842. His son Edward was also 
a man of enterprise, and the proprietor of one of 
the additional plats in the village of Howell. He 
died April 16, 1852. His brother, Lewis Thomp- 
son, was the first mail-messenger between Howell 
and Detroit, and served in that capacity through 
several of the earlier years of the existence of the 
village. He was never married, but lived a bach- 
elor at the homestead, with his mother, after his 
father's death. Hon. Jerome W. Turner, who, 
from the days of his boyhood in Howell, remem- 
bers Lewis Thompson and his mother, mentioned 
them in a recent address, as follows : " And there, 
too, was Lewis Thompson, an old bachelor, who 
had the Thompson farm, by right of primogeni- 
ture; a strange, silent, unfashionable old man, 
who did not say much to little boys, or they to 
him, for he left them with the impression that he 
belonged to the family of Elisha, and possibly had 
fourteen bears near by to devour too familiar chil- 
dren. There, too, was his old mother, a large and 
fleshy woman, kind and motherly, and I remem- 
ber that, after passing Lewis in the lane, and get- 
ting into the kitchen where she was, I felt per- 
fectly safe, and I knew instinctively that she would 
guard me from all the bears in the world. . . . 
Shortly after I left the county, I learned that 
Lewis Thompson was found dead on a seat under 
a tree near the old farm-house, and somehow his 
death in that especial way did not seem to me to 
be unexpected, and I listened to it as though I had 
been familiar with it beforehand. He died right 
out in one of the ways and attitudes of the living, 
and his death made no more sign than his qm'et, 
unostentatious life. His mother fell from a chair 
in the garden, and, by reason of her great weight, 
injured herself so that she died. The two seemed 
inseparable, and I have often thought that, while 
sitting on his seat in the yard, he caught sight of 
her, and finally went to join her, as he would have 
moved through the soft grass of his pastures to 
milk his cows." Morris Thompson, the other son 
of Moses, became engaged in milling. He was 
for a time the sawyer in the mill which his father 
built, and afterwards, with others, he erected a 
flour-mill above, on the same stream. He lived 
many years in Howei 

Of the daughters o 
ried Alvin L. Critte 
Ezra Frisbee. 

Alexander Eraser, ' — j ^. 

Pinckney, came to Livingston Centre in December, 
1835. He was a native of Scotland, but emigrated 
eailv to Ainerica, and went into business as a coal 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



139 



merchant in the city of New York. As early as 1824 
he bought a country-seat seven miles from Pougli- 
keepsie, N. Y., where he was accustomed to spend 
the summer season with his family, and where his 
daughter Margaret became the wife of Mr. Pinckney. 
When Mr. Eraser came to Livingston County, in 
1835, he first lived with his daughter and son-in- 
law in their house near the south end of the lake. 
He afterwards built a good house of hewn logs, on 
the south side of the road, near the southeast 
corner of section 36, but never occupied it, as it 
had been his intention to do. This house after- 
wards became known as the Shope house, and 
later was kept as a tavern by S. B. Sliter. Mr. 
Eraser had an interest in, and in fact was under- 
stood to be the owner of, most of the lands entered 
by John D. Pinckney in 1833. He liked the 
country at and around Livingston Centre, but never 
made his permanent residence here on account of 
liis wife's disinclination to .leave her Eastern home. 
He remained in Michigan some four or five years, 
and then returned to the city of New York, where 
lie died, at the age of si.xty-si.x years. 

Another who came to Livingston Centre in 1835 
was Alvin L. Crittenden, though he did not per- 
manently settle here, but after a stay of about a 
year purchased and located upon lands in the 
township of Howell, a short distance north of the 
village. He is still living, a widely-known and 
respected preacher of the Gospel. In a short ad- 
dress made by him before the Livingston County 
Pioneer Society, at its latest meeting (June 18, 
1879), he related the incidents of that first journey 
of his to Livingston Centre, and how the place 
appeared to him in 1835. He said, — 

" 111 the fall of 1S35 I left the Stale of New York to seek a home 
ill the West, weiuling my way to the then Tenitory of Michigan, 
aivl on the 161I1 of November I passed through the village of Ann 
Aibor, and that night put up at a log tavern six miles north of it. 
Having some acquaintances in Livingston County, I left the hotel 
on the inorning of the 17th for Livingston Centre, the county-site 
of Livingston County. I was afoot and alone. P.issing north, in 
the course of a few hours I came to the Huron River, but theie 
was neither bridge or bo:it,and it was necessary for me to gain the 
opposite shore. I suited myself to the situ.ition as well as I could. 
I pulled off my boots and socks, rolled up my pants as far as pos- 
sible, and waded in. I succeeded in reaching the north shore of 
the river without getting my clothes wet. Readjusting my clothes, 
I walked on and called at a house some miles from the river to 
inquire the way; received directions th.at when I got to a certain 
place 1 was to take an Indian trail; and on inquiry found it was 
nine miles to the next house. There was but one incident that 
occurreil during llie nine miles' travel that made any particular 
impression on my mind that I now recollect. When I h.id trav- 
eled a long time, or so it seemed to me, I began to look at every 
turn of the trail for the house. I saw a man coming towards 
me, and when he came within hailing distance he called out 
and said, ' Hallo, friend, it looks good to sec a man ! How far is 
it to a house ?' I replied, ' I think it must be nine miles, for they 
told me at the List house I passed that it was nine miles to a house, 
an 1 I think I hive tr.rveled that distance; how far is it the other 



way to a house?' He answered, ' I think it must be about nine 
miles.' After talking with e.ach other for a few minutes we con- 
cluded that we must be about half-way tlirougit, and I thought 
afterwards that we were. We separated, and each of us traveled 
on. Arriving within about a mile of the present village of How- 
ell, I came to a wagon-tr.ick, — it could hardly be called a roail, 
for it went crooking around the trees and swamps. I soon came 
to a log house, which I afterwards learned was occupied by Mr. 
John D. Pinckney and family. Here I was directed to t.ake the 
left-hand roaii near the lake. Traveling about a mile, I came to 
a house in the midst of the woods, several large trees standing 
near enough to have fallen on the house if they had fallen in the 
right direction. [This was Amos Adams' tavern-house, men- 
tioned below.] I went to the place for a door, and shoved aside 
some boards that were set up for a door, and inquired of some 
mechanics at work on the inside of the building for the county- 
seat of Livingston County, and received the reply that it was right 
here. I inquired for some old friends who had settled near there, 
and was informed of their whereabouts ; but the men thought I 
would find them half a mile west raising a barn. 

"Going out of the house, I looked around, and there was not 
another building in the village. There were plenty of stakes 
standing in the woods in every direction to designate the several 
blocks, lots, and streets of the vill.ige, which was afterwards 
named Howell, for its yet the town was not organized or the vil- 
lage named. Leaving the vill.age, I traveled westward about half 
a mile, and found nearly all of the men of the region round about 
busily engaged in raising a log building [at Sage's]. Finding 
my old acquaintance, I spent a few days very pleasantly visiting, 
and then hired to George T. Sage for one year, and commenced 
work for him on the 24lh day of November, 1835." 

THE CRANE AND BROOKS PURCHASE-HOWELL 
VILLAGE. 

On the 2d of July, 1835, the west half of the 
southwest quarter and the southwest quarter of 
the northwest quarter of section 36, in township 
3 north, of range 4 east (Howell), were sold and 
conveyed by Alexander Eraser (the lands having 
been entered by John D. Pinckney for Eraser, to 
whom the duplicates were assigned) to David 
Wetmore and Edward Brooks, of Detroit. On 
the 17th of September, in the same year, Edward 
Brooks and wife and David Wetmore (the latter 
by Charles G. Hammond, his attorney) sold and 
conveyed one undivided third of both the above 
tracts to Elavius J. B. Ciane, of Detroit ; and on 
the 29th of October following, David Wetmore, 
by his attorney, Hammond, conveyed his remain- 
ing interest to Edward Brooks. 

By these transfers,* Crane and Brooks became 
joint proprietors — the former having a one-third, 
and the latter a two-thirds, interest — in the above- 
described tracts, upon which they proceeded to 
survey and lay out a village plat, — the original 
plat of the village of Howell, — and to file the 
same in the office of the Register of Oakland 
County.f The acknowledgment upon the plat is 
as follows : 



* On the l8lh of July, 1836, John D. Pinckney and wife deeded 
whatever interest they h.ad in these lands to Crane and Brooks. 

•f- In the erection of Livingston County, in 1S33, the north half 
of it (in which Howell is situated) was ta';en from StiTawassee ; 



I40 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



"Michigan, ■. 
" Wavne County, ) ^^' 

'• On this loih clay of November, 1835, personally appeared be- 
fore me Edward Brooks and Flavins J. B. Crane, proprietors of 
the we>t half of the southwest quarter and the southwest quarter 
of the northwest quarter of section 36, in township 3 north, of 
range No. 4 east, and acknowledged that they had signed the an- 
nexed or above niaj) or j'llat of a pait of said land lying north and 
south of the Grand River Road, so-called, which is designated on 
said plat as Grand River Street, and declare that the s.iid streets 
and square shall be and remain open for the use of the public as 
laid out on said map. 

"AsiiER B. Bates, J. P. W. C. .M. T." 

The territory embraced in this original plat of 
the village was bounded as follows: on the west 
by the west line of section 36; on the east by a 
north and south line drawn through the centre of 
the southwest and northwest quarters of the same 
section ; on the north by Higgins Street and the 
north line of the southwest quarter of the north- 
west quarter of the same section; and on the south 
by Livingston Street. The "pubh'c square," which 
was laid out by the proprietors (doubtless with the 
expectation that the county buildings of Livingston 
would be located upon it) to "be and remain open 
for the use of the public,"* was the square or 
block of land bounded by Grand River, Walnut, 
Sibley, and Centre Streets. 

The prospective village thus laid out by Crane 
and Brooks was named by them Howell, in honor 
of Thomas Howell, a friend of Mr. Crane, and a 
son of Judge Howell, of Canandaigua, N. Y. The 
name, however, did not immediately come into 
general use, and the place continued to be known 
as Livingston Centre for a considerable time after- 
wards. The first building erected within the limits 
of the village plat was a two-story frame house, 
built by the proprietors in the fall of 1S35, the 
lumber for its construction being hauled through 
the openings from Evert Woodruff's mill in the 
township of Green Oak. At the time of their pur- 
chase of the land from Fraser and Pinckney (the 
latter being understood to be a party interested in 
the sale), they had agreed to erect a tavern-house 
upon their tract, to relieve Mr. Pinckney's family 
from the necessity of furnishing food and lodging 
(as they had in a manner been compelled to do) 
for the ever-increasing throngs of land-seekers. 
It was in pursuance of this agreement — though 
probably quite as much for the purpose of giving 

but that county, although " laid out" by Governor Cass' proclama- 
tion, in September, 1822, had never been organized, and its terri- 
tory therefore remained attached to Oakland. In the same manner 
the part which Livingston had taken from Shiawassee remained 
attached to O.^kland until the organization of Livingston in 1S36. 
'■■■ This public square, not having been used for the puiposes for 
which it w.is donated, and " the public" having performed no 
act constituting a legal acceptance of the gift, revened to the ori'- 
in.il proprietor-, or their repie->eiitalives, many ye.trs afterwards. 



a start to their village — that Crane and Brooks 
built the frame building above mentioned on the 
southeast corner of Grand River and Walnut 
Streets, and caused it to be opened as a public- 
house. This was the " house in the midst of the 
woods" mentioned by Mr. Crittenden, where he 
found the mechanics engaged upon its inside work 
on his first arrival at Livingston Centre. The first 
boarders in the " Eagle Tavern," as it was called, 
were F. J. B. Crane and Alexander Fraser, and its 
lodgers and transient customers were the crowds 
of men who came to Livingston in search of gov- 
ernmeut lands. 

The landlord who opened this house about 
December i, 1835 (who was also the first settler 
within the boundaries of the village plat), was 
Amos Adams, who came here in the autumn of 
that year from Geneseo, Livingston Co., N. Y. 
On the organization of the town and county he 
was elected one of the first justices of the peace, 
and also county treasurer and surveyor. The last- 
mentioned office he held in the county for a num- 
ber of years, having several times been re-elected. 
Judge Turner makes mention of him as "our old 
surveyor who made for us these imaginary yet im- 
passable lines in the wilderness, which bounded 
our property, and divided all the unfilled soil, — a 
brave man and true, who took upon himself such 
labors here in our young county as perhaps no 
one else would have been adapted to perform." 
He kept the " Eagle" for only about two years, it 
being sold to Joseph H. Steel in 1837. Mr. Adams 
afterwards became proprietor, with Joseph Porter, 
of a saw-mill on the Shiawassee River, on section 
27 in Howell township, and also built a frame 
house, which he opened as a tavern on the south 
side of the Grand River road, near the bridge 
which crosses the Shiawassee, and on the west 
side of that stream. In this house he died, May 
14, 1855. His son, Amos S. Adams, also became 
a hotel-keeper in the village, and at one time held 
the office of Register of Deeds of Livingston 
County. Another son, John Q. Adams, is now 
living in California. Of the daughters of Amos 
Adams, Abigail, who was the first school-teacher 
in Howell, married Enos B. Taylor, and removed 
with him to California, where she is still living. 
Angeline, another daughter, is also living in Cali- 
fornia, unmarried; and Eveline, their sister, — now 
Mrs. Metcalf — is living in the village of Fowler- 
ville. 

An important and most interesting event, occur- 
ring in the year 1835, at Howell (or Livingston 
Centre, as the place was still called), was the com- 
mencement of religious worship, — the first public 
religious observance, not only in the village, but 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



141 



in the township. It was brought about by tlie 
efforts of Deacon Israel Branch, a pious man, who 
had settled on the northeast quarter of section 2, 
in Marion, on the town line, about half a mile south 
of the centre. The story of that first gathering 
for divine worship is tlAis told by the Rev. A. L. 
Crittenden : 

" Ue.-icon Ui-.-mch ihought lie could not live without religious 
nieelings, even in the wiUleiness, .nnil hence he took it upon him- 
self to ci'mmence iheni. He went to Esquire .Vtlams, our nolile 
landlord, who kept the hotel in the village, — for by this time the 
house was nearly finished, and Amos Adams occupied it for a 
hotel, — and obtained consent to have religious meetings held in 
the sitting-room, the only building in llie village. Notice was ac- 
cordingly given, and on Sabbath morning (I cannot give the date, 
but I think it was in the month of December, 1835) the people 
assembled, some coining four or five miles, and the sitting-room was 
pretty well filled. Deacon Branch conducted the meeting, read- 
ing one of Dr. Payson's sermons. At the close of the services, he 
called for a volunteer to close by pr.ayer. No one came to his 
help, but the deacon was not discouraged. He gave notice for a 
meeting the next Sabbath. On the second Sablwth I volunteered 
to close the meeting with prayer. Thus it happened that I was 
the second person who took a part in a religious meeting in Howell. 
After that, if the deacon had to be away from the meeting any 
Sabbath, he brought to me a volume of Dr. P.iyson's sermons, with 
a request that I should conduct the services, which I did several 
times that year." 

And so the close of that year saw Howell vil- 
lage established at Livingston Centre, with defined 
streets, a public square, a hotel, and a number of 
settlers enjoying the privilege of religious worship ; 
the observance of which has been continued Horn 
that time without interruption. 

PROGRESS IN 1836. 
The spring of 1836 opened auspiciously for the 
village of Howell. Its dignity was greatly aug- 
mented by the establishment, on the 15th of Jan- 
uary in that year, of the Howell post-office, with 
Flavius J. B. Crane as its first postmaster, who 
located the office in the tavern of Amos Adams. 
About the 20th of March a mail-route was estab- 
lished between this village and Kensington, on the 
west border of Oakland County, and soon after 
the route was extended westward from Howell to 
Grand Rapids. The mail-contractor for the former 
I'oute was Lewis Thompson, who carried the mails 
on horseback. The first mail -carrier between 
Howell and Grand Rapids was James R. Sage, 
then a youth of about seventeen years, who on 
his first trip lost his way (there being only a bridle- 
path or trail to guide him), and was compelled to 
pass the night in the woods. The mail-service 
between Howell and Kensington was weekly; tiiat 
over the western route was bi-weekly ; but even 
this was a vast improvement on the transient and 
uncertain manner in which the settlers had pre- 
viously received and forwarded their letters. 



Nearlj' simultaneously with the establishment of 
the post-office and the mail-routes the Legislature 
had passed (March 24th) an act to organize the 
county of Livingston, and there could be no rea- 
sonable doubt that the county-site would be per- 
manently located at Howell, though the claim to 
its location was vigorously advanced by the people 
of Brighton, and was never wholly relinquished by 
them until the county buildings had been actually 
erected in this village, twelve years later. But not- 
withstanding all opposing claiins, Howell at once 
assumed the dignity of the county-seat. The elec- 
tion of county officers was held in May, 1836, and 
resulted in the choice of Justus J. Bennett for 
sheriff, F. J. B. Crane for county clerk, Ely Bar- 
nard for register of deeds, and Amos Adams treas- 
urer and surveyor. Of these offices, three were 
held by residents of the village, and Mr. Barnard, 
the newly-elected register of deeds, immediately 
became a citizen of Howell by removal here from 
Genoa. The election of township officers was also 
held at the same time, and, although Howell then 
comprised three-eighths of the territory of the 
county, a majority of the officers elected were 
residents within the present corporation limits. 

The erection of the first mill and the opening of 
the first store and the first blacksmith-shop in 
Howell, in 1S36, were events of no small conse- 
quence to the settlers at the county-seat and in its 
vicinity. A saw-mill, to supply building lumber, 
was an indispensable adjunct to the projected vil- 
lage, and a store is considered almost a necessity 
in such places, while the finst blacksmith-shop — 
always an important establishment in new settle- 
ments — proved doubly so in this place, from the 
fact that one of the two blacksmiths who opened 
the shop in that year (and who may properly be 
termed the first of the trade in the town, because 
he was the first who permanently located here) 
became a leading citizen of Howell, — one who, 
during a subsequent honorable career of forty-three 
years in this place, has benefited the village in a 
hundred ways, and placed himself at the head of 
her wealthiest and most respected men. This pio- 
neer blacksmith of Howell was William McPher- 
son, a native of Scotland, who einigrated to 
America in 1836, and soon after his arrival in 
the country came to Howell, with his wife, their 
daughter, Isabella (now Mr.s. H. H. Mills), and 
their two sons, William and Alexander, these 
being all of his family at that time. They arrived 
on the 17th of September, and boarded with the 
family of James Sage, while Mr. McPherson and 
his sons built a dwelling for their use. This 
house (a log structure) was built on a lot in the 
west part of the village plat, where William Cooper 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



now resides, and was finished and occupied by the 
family before the closing of winter. 

On the same lot and adjoining Mr. McPherson's 
house, the blacksmith-shop before alluded to had 
been built, during the summer of the same year, 
by Andrew Riddle, who was also a Scotchman 
and a blacksmith, and was the father of Mrs. Mc- 
Pherson. After having settled his family' in tlieir 
new house, Mr. McPherson commenced work in 
this shop with his father-in-law, and continued to 
do so until the following spring, when Mr. Riddle 
removed from Howell to settle upon lands which 
he had purchased in Byron (now Oceola). His 
son, William, remained in Howell, being em- 
ployed in the Register's office. He was after- 
wards one of the principal merchants of Howell, 
and is now a merchant in Detroit. After the 
removal of Andrew Riddle and family, Mr. Mc- 
Pherson occupied the shop alone and carried on 
the blacksmithing business for a time; but his 
]iealth became poor, and he removed temporarily 
to Oceola, but soon after returned to Howell. In 
1841 he, in partnership with Josiah Turner, opened 
a small mercantile business, and continued in it for 
nearly a year. After this he carried on black- 
smithing for a short time, and again embarked in 
merchandising, — this time in partnership with F^nos 
B. Taylor. At the end of about two years Taylor 
withdrew, and Mr. McPherson, alone at first, — 
afterwards with Mr. Riddle, for four years under 
the style of McPherson & Riddle, and lastly in 
partnership with his sons, — has continued in the 
business until the present time, the firm being 
now known as William McPherson & Sons. He 
has been uniformly successful, and as uniformly 
honest, hononble, liberal, and public spirited. 
Howell has every reason to be proud of her 
pioneer blacksmith. 

The store referred to above as having been 
opened in Howell in this year was hardly entitled 
to be called such. Mr. F. J. B. Crane had brought 
in a small lot of goods and opened them in a room 
of Mr. Adams' tavern, but the business was too 
small to support itself, and after two or three 
months it was closed, and the remnant of the 
" stock" was stored in the attic. 

The saw-mill above mentioned as ha\'ing been 
put in operation in 1836 was built by Moses 
Thompson, on the northwest quarter of the south- 
east quarter of section 25, on the stream which 
forms the outlet of that body of water which is now 
called Thompson Lake in his honor. Originally 
here were three small lakes or ponds, connected 
by a marsh and stream, but the building of the dam 
across the outlet by Mr. Thompson raised the 
water, submerged the marsh, and formed the 



present lake. He had purchased the adjacent 
land wi'Ji the intention of building a mill here, and 
having that object in view, had brought with him 
the necessary mill-irons and gearing when became 
from Herkimer Co., N. Y., in the previous year. 
He dug the raceway and finished the dam during 
the spring and summer, but the mill was not com- 
pleted until some months later. The millwright 
employed was Joseph Porter, who had entered 
lands in section 7, Howell township, in July, 1834, 
and came into Livingston from Washtenaw County. 
He received from Mr. Thompson for his services 
as millwright the sum of ^3 per day, which in 
those times was regarded as a very large if not an 
extravagant price. He finished the mill and put 
it in successful operation about the beginning of 
winter, and the very first boards sawed were pur- 
chased by Mr. William McPherson for the purpose 
of laying a floor in his new log house. Mr. 
Thompson, when entering his lands in 1834, had 
the foresight to secure not only a mill-seat, but 
also a considerable quantity of lands in section 34, 
which were covered with pine-timber of excellent 
quality. He well understood that when he should 
get his saw-mill in operation, these tracts, being 
the only pine-lands in this region, and located near 
the county-seat, must prove convenient and valu- 
able. The result showed the soundness of his 
calculations; the pine-lands, besides being profit- 
able to their owners, facilitated building operations 
in Howell village, by furnishing large quantities of 
lumber of a kind and quality which before the days 
of railroads was an exceedingly scarce article in 
nearly all parts of Livingston County. 

An event of some interest, if not of any great 
importance, to the few inhabitants of Howell at 
that time, was a wedding, — the first which occurred 
in the village or township. This was the marriage 
of Merritt S. Havens to Sally T. Austin, daughter 
of David Austin, which took place at the house of 
Mr. Austin, in the evening of the 15th of January, 
1836; the ceremony being performed by Kinsley 
S. Bingham, J. P., afterwards Governor of Michigan. 
It will be noticed that this wedding was not cele- 
brated in what was then known as the village of 
Howell ; and it is proper to mention here that this 
history of the village is intended to be a narrative 
of past events within all the territory now embraced 
in the corporation limits, and not merely to apply 
to the compactly-settled portion of it. 

Among the immigrants of 1836, besides those 
already named, were Enos B. Taylor, Sherburn 
Crane, Joseph H. Steel, Peter B. Johnson (located 
on village lot No. 116), John Russell, Watson G. 
Thomas, Oliver Reed (section 35), Simon P. Shope, 
Gottlieb Schraft, Jacob Schraft, Giles Tucker, and 




Residence: of SOLOMON HILDEBRANT, Howell, Livingston Co, Mich 




Residence OF W" MS PHERSON .J.", Howell, Michigan. 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



143 



Joseph Tucker. The last two here named were 
carpenters by trade, and on tliat account were 
very useful accessions to the village population. 
Giles Tucker afterwards became a merchant in 
Howell, and sheriff of the county of Livingston. 
He is now (or was recently) living in Eaton Co., 
Mich. Joseph Tucker died in 1862. Simon P. 
Shope located on section 36, on land purchased 
from Alexander Eraser, and lived in the house 
which Mr. Eraser had built for his own use. The 
two Schrafts were unfortunate Germans who paid 
to Shope their small savings in the expectation of 
becoming proprietors of lots in an imaginary vil- 
lage which the latter pretended to be about to lay 
out in the southeast corner of the section. They 
soon became objects of charity, and were assisted 
by Moses Thompson and others until they were 
able to leave the place. W. G. Thomas contracted 
for village lots, but did not become a permanent 
settler, and is said to have left the village in a dis- 
creditable manner soon after. Mr. Steel made per- 
manent fettlement here, and in the following year 
became proprietor of the hotel built by Crane and 
Brooks. He was afterwards landlord of one or 
more of the other public-houses of the village. 
He died here more than a quarter of a century 
after his first arrival, having been constantly a 
resident of Howell, excepting some five or six 
years, during which he lived in Oceola. E. B. 
Taylor married Abigail, daughter of Amos Adams, 
and became a merchant and somewhat prominent 
man in the village. Afterwards he removed to 
California, and died there. 

David H. Austin, who had come into the town- 
ship in 1835, and made some preparation to settle 
on section 20, removed to the village in 1836, and 
took a small tract of land on section 35. He was 
not a relative of David and Jonathan Austin, near 
whom he located. He remained here for several 
years, held some public offices, and was quite a 
prominent man in early school matters. From 
Howell he afterwards removed to Farmington, 
Oakland Co. His son, George Austin, lives in 
the southwest part of Howell township. 

SETTLEMENTS AND OTHER MATTERS, 1837 TO 
1840. 

By the township assessment roll of 1837 the 
tax-payers then resident within the present bound- 
aries of tlic corporation are shown to have been 
the following : 

David Austin, 60 acres on section 35. 

Junatlian Austin, 140 acres on sections 35, 26, anil 27 ; resilience 

on section 35. 
David H. .\uvlin, 30 acres on section 35; valuation, S120; value 

of personal property, $20. 
Amos Adams, lot and lavern-house in village plat, S550. 



F. J. B. Crane, various parcels of land amounting to 380 acres, 

S1200. 
Benjamin BabbiU's heirs, 80 acres on section 35. 
Alexander Fr.iser, village lots Nos. 117 and 121. 
I'eter B. Johnson, village lot No. 1 16. 
William Mcl'herson, village lot No. 129. 
James .Sage, 1 12 acres on sections 35 and 23, S516; residence on 

section 35. 
George T. Sage, 200 acres on section 35. 
Simon P. Shope, 412 acres in townships of Howell, Oceola, and 

Marion ; residence on section 36, Howell. 
Moses Thompson, 1280 acres on sections 25, 26, 36, 12, and 13; 

residence on south part of section 25. 
Morris Thompson, 120 acres on sections 34 and 36; residence on 

south part of section 25. 
Watson G. Thomas, village lots Nos. 17, 31, 32, ^^, and 49. 

Besides these there were 137 village lots as- 
sessed to non-residents, showing that at least that 
number, in addition to those held by residents, 
had been sold by the proprietors of the plat. 
These lots were assessed at a uniform price of ^25 
each. The other lands included in the above list 
were assessed at $4. per acre, where not otherwise 
specified. The list above given, having been made 
in the spring of 1837, does not, of course, include 
the immigrants who .settled here during that year. 

Mr. Edward F. Gay, a native of Connecticut, 
who had emigrated thence to Michigan, and set- 
tled at Ann Arbor in 1831, left the latter place 
early in the spring of 1837, and on the 1st of 
April, in that year, arrived .and located with his 
family on a farm which he had purchased of the 
heirs of Deacon Israel Branch, then recently de- 
ceased ; this farm being about half a mile south 
of the Crane and Brooks settlement. It was the 
same property which was afterwards known as the 
" Isbell farm," and located south of the Howell 
line, in the township of Marion; but as Mr. Gay 
was from the first entirely identified with Howell, 
and afterwards removed here, and lived and died 
in the village, it seems proper to include him in 
the mention of the early settlers of the place. 
How he came here on his first prospecting tour 
in the previous autumn, and what and who he 
found here, when he removed with his family, was 
narrated by him in an address before the Pioneer 
Society in 1872, in these words : 

" I entered the county at Hamburg. From thence I was to pro- 
ceed on horseback upon the 'Strawberry Point Trail' to Howell. 
But i soon lost the trail, and after wandering for some time among 
the bluffs, I brought up at Brighton. After spending the night 
with mine host, Ben. Gushing, at his log hotel, situated on the 
hill, I again started for Livingston Centre, on a plainer path. The 
old adage ' there is no gre.it loss without some small gain' was here 
verified ; for I soon came upon two former residents of Ann Arbor, 
who had left there in my debt. To their honor I would say that 
each paid me; one being the venerable Robert Bii^ham, the other, 
Dr. Fisher, who had studied medicine with Dr. Denton, and wish- 
ing to get married, I had trusted him for a weilding-suit, but had 
not till now learned his location. 

"But one house now intervened between Uncle Robert's and 



144 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



my destination, to wit, ' Feet's Log Hotel' in Genoa, some seven 
miles east of Howell. At sundown I liad arrived within three 
miles of that place. . . . About dark I approached a log house, 
situated on the plain some distance east of the Wdber residence, 
towards the lake, and inquired for the renowned Livingston Cen- 
tre. This house was occupied l)y John Pinckney, and was owned 
hy old Mr. Fraser (then recently from New York), together with 
the farm known as the Fraser farm, alias the Shope farm, after- 
wards the Wilber farm. 

" Though now becoming anxious to reach the ' Centre' I was 
doomed slill to wander on the verge. I was on the trail, though 
among brush, and meandering the lake. Beholding a light, hope 
revived, but to be again extinguished, for before it was reached, 
the light disappeared, for the very good reason that Mr. Moses 
Thompson and family had retired to bed. Not lieing willing to 
be thwarted in this, my second day's attempt to reach Livingston 
Centre, I hallooed for light under difiRculties. The old gentleman 
soon put me upon the right trail again, saying that after crossing a 
ravine and again rising the bluff I would behold the light at the 
Centre, which had so often guided the lost and weary traveler. 
I found it as he had said, and .soon beheld Livingston Centre, in 
the person of fhat noble landlord and life-long hotel-keeper, Amos 
Adams. One single frame building as a hotel, without a barn, 
togethef with three or four log houses, constituted Livingston Cen- 
tre. My horse was fastened to a small oak-tree, against which a 
log was lying, with troughs cut in the side to feed the grain. . . . 
The only families which I now recollect, then residing in Howell 
or vicinity, besiiles the Adams family, were Mr. McPherson, Wat- 
son 0. Thomas, Mr. Sage and son, David Austin and son, Mr. 
Fraser, Mr. Pinckney, David H. Austin, S.irdis Davis, Huram 
Bristol, and Moses Thompson. The single men were Lewis, 
Morris, and Edward Thompson, Mr. Crittenden, Mr. Frisbee, Fly 
Barnard, John Russell, and Conrad Woll." 

Some of these, mentioned by Mr. Gay, although 
living within what might be termed the neighbor- 
hood, were outside the Hmits of the present village; 
as, for instance, Huram Bristol, who lived on sec- 
tion 34, Sardis Davis, whose location was across 
the township line in Marion, and Conrad Woll, 
who also lived on the south side of the Marion 
town line. Ely Barnard first settled in the town- 
ship of Genoa, but having been elected register 
of deeds at the first election of county officers 
(1S36) had removed to the county-seat imme- 
diately afterwards. While residing in Howell he 
purchased village lots, and on one of these (at the 
not thwest corner of Grand River and hlast Streets) 
built a small house. Afterwards he returned to 
his farm in Genoa. 

Mr. Gay had been a merchant in Ann Arbor 
from the time of his settlement there until 1S36. 
He commenced in the same business in Howell in 
1837, immediately after his arrival here, and his 
was the pioneer store of the village, though he did 
not bring in the first lot of goods. In the address, 
before referred to, he said, — 

" It has been believed that I opened the first goods at Howell, 
and that I had the honor of being the first merchant heie. This 
is not so. I found $300 or SS400 worth of dry-goods in the garret, 
at the tavern, brought hereby Mr. F. J. B. Crane. I afterwards pur- 
chased these, together with $1600 worth more of Messrs. Ward 
& Jewelt, making a stock of S2000 worth, Iresh from New York, 
inasmuch as they had not been opened since they were packed, 



as their remnant, in Western New York. I found it easy, with such 
an ample stock, to take frequently gioo a day, but I was not so 
easily sure that the [' wild cat'] money would be worth one dollar 
the next morning, and was quite sure it would no/ be when Lewis 
Thompson arrived with our weekly horseback mail from Detroit. 
The store I built was the second frame building put up in Huvvell, 
and is now [1872] standing, and occupied by Mr. Samuel Bal- 
com as a dwelling. It has done good service, having served at 
one time as store, lawyer's office, post-office, and shoe-shop, and at 
another lime as store, minister's residence, place for holding reli- 
gious meetings, etc. ; no school-house being yet built." 

This first store in Howell, referred to as having 
been built by Mr. Gay, stood (and still stands in a 
changed form) on the south side of Sibley Street, 
a little west of Centre Street, and nearly opposite 
— diagonally— to the southwest corner of the old 
" public square." John T. Watson, who was one 
of the settlers who came to Howell in that year, 
was employed by Mr. Gay as clerk in the estab- 
lishment. He was a good citizen and a resident 
of this village for some years. He afterwards 
moved to Hartland and died there. 

Richard Fishbeck, a shoemaker by trade, came 
to Howell in 1837, and was the first to establish 
that business in the village. James White, a 
cabinet-maker, also came in that year, and built 
a shop in which he worked at his trade. He built 
the dwelling-house on Clinton Street, which was 
afterwards owned by Abram Rorabacher, and is 
now the property of Mrs. Margaret Pinckney. 

Orrin J. Field and Josiah P. Jewett were among 
the settlers who came to the village in 1837, as 
was also George W. Jewett, who becatiie one of 
the leading citizens of Howell. Mr. Jewett was a 
native of Durham, Conn. The family, whom he 
brought with him to Michigan, were his wife and 
three children, one of whom died at Ann Arbor 
before reaching their place of destination. The 
two who survived and came with their father to 
Howell were Sarah (now Mrs. Z. F. Crosman) and 
William B. Jewett, both of whom are still residing 
in the village. Mr. George W. Jewett was elected 
to the office of county treasurer in 1838, and to 
that of register of deeds in 1 840, and filled other 
positions of honor and trust in county and town- 
ship. He died in Howell, Feb. 12, 1851, at the 
age of fifty years. 

Ebenezer West and Matthew West were among 
those who came to Howell in 1837, the)' settling 
on the southeast quarter of section 26, now the 
place of Mr. A. V. Holt. The name of Matthew 
West is found frequently among the township and 
school district officers of Howell, — particularly 
among the latter. He died Jan. 9, 1849. Ebenezer 
West died a few months later in the same year. 

Howell's first school-house was built, and first 
district school opened, in 1837. The school-house 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



145 



was erected on a lot (No. 36 of the plat) which had 
been donated by Mr. Crane for the purpose. In 
this school was opened in the summer of that year 
by Amos Adams' daughter, Abigail. She was 
succeeded in the teacher's office by Justin Durfee. 
It is not, however, improbable that Miss Adams 
had taught a few scholars in her father's house 
before the building of the school-house. 

The first term of the court in Howell was held 
in the new school-house of the village on the 8th 
of November in the same year. This was re- 
garded as quite an important event, and a step 
towards the firm establishment of Howell as the 
county-seat of Livingston. The school-house be- 
came not only the usual place for the holding of 
the courts, but also for the religious services of 
all denominations, and for elections and other 
public meetings of every kind. 

After 1837 the settlers became too numerous 
for all to be mentioned here individually and in 
detail, especially as many of them were transient 
persons, not heads of families, and did not remain 
here permanently. 

In the early part of 1838 two church organi- 
zations — the Presbyterian and the Baptist — were 
formed, in addition to the one (Methodist) which 
had been formed in the spring or summer of 1836. 
All these small congregations held their worship 
in the frame school-house built in the preceding 
year. 

The village gained additional consequence, and 
assumed more of the appearance of a county-seat, 
by the arrival and settlement here of its first at- 
torney, Wellington A. Glover, who opened his 
office in Mr. E. F. Gay's store building in 1838. 
The court for the county, which had first convened 
here in the school-house in the previous year, now 
held its terms regularly in the village. 

Another event of considerable importance to 
the people of Howell and vicinity was the settle- 
ment among them of their first resident physician. 
Dr. Gardner Wheeler, who also came in 1838. 
Before this they were compelled to go to Oakland, 
or Washtenaw County, or at least to Brighton, 
where Dr. Fisher had then recently located, to 
obtain medical attendance when it became neces- 
sary. The second physician of Howell, Dr. Charles 
A. Jeffries, came in the following year. Both these 
gentlemen are mentioned more fully in the account, 
elsewhere given, of the early physicians of Liv- 
ingston County. Dr. Gardner Mason also came 
here from Salem, Washtenaw Co., in 1838, and 
made his first location in the village, living near 
where is now the residence of William McPher- 
son, Jr. His health was poor, and he did not 
practice his profession. After a comparatively 
19 



short residence here he removed to the "Six Cor- 
ners," in Howell township. During all his resi- 
dence in the village and township he was one of 
the most prominent and useful members of the 
Baptist Church. 

The Rev. Henry Root, from Ann Arbor, be- 
came pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Howell, 
and settled here in 1838. The Rev. Thomas Baker, 
from Highland, Oakland Co., became pastor of the 
Baptist Church here in the same year. 

Almon Whipple — afterwards, for nearly forty 
years, a well-known and highly-respected citizen 
of Howell — removed to this village from the town- 
ship of Handy in 1839, he having been elected in 
the preceding autumn to the office of county clerk. 
He was born in Hard wick, Mass., in the year 1800, 
and remained in that State until the year 1825, 
when he removed to Otsego Co., N. Y. There he 
carried on a mercantile business from 1828 till 
1835, when his health became poor, and he emi- 
grated to Handy, in this county, in 1837. In 1838 
he opened a store in that town, and in the follow- 
ing year removed to Howell, as mentioned above. 
On the 14th of January, 1840, he married Mary 
Curtis (daughter of Victory Curtis), with whom 
he lived for nearly thirty-seven years. Upon his 
settlement in Howell, he engaged in mercantile 
business in partnership with John Curtis, under 
the firm-name of Curtis & Whipple. They pur- 
chased the business of Edward F. Gay, and be- 
came his successors in the store built by the latter, 
near the southwest corner of the old public square. 
His partner died in 1841, and Mr. Whipple after- 
wards removed to the main street of the village, 
and remained in the business of merchandising 
until i860, when he retired from it, but continued 
to engage in real estate and other operations dur- 
ing the remainder of his life, and was successful 
in amassing a comfortable fortune. Besides the 
office of county clerk he also held that of county 
treasurer, and was for some years postmaster of 
Howell. He died Feb. 14, 1878. " He was one 
of the early settlers of Livingston County, and ever 
manifested an active interest in the welfare of his 
adopted State. His record was honorable, and he 
enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all who as- 
sociated with him. He was ever the poor man's 
friend. Honesty, generosity, and charity were his 
marked characteristics." 

Rev. Edward E. Gregory became a resident in 
this village in 1839. He says he lived at first in 
Rev. Henry Root's unfinished house, " and cooked 
by a stump in the street," and he adds, " I farmed 
it at arms' length three miles away, but found old 
Nature in her soil more stubborn than I antici- 
pated. So ' what I know about farming' is quick 



146 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



told, and yet deficient ; as it is, it may allow me 
to rank among the pioneer farmers as doing the 
best I could, though I never got rich by it." Mr. 
Gregory became pastor of the Presbyterian Church 
in Howell in I.S44, and remained in that charge for 
a term during that year and 1 845. He has lived in 
Howell since his first settlement here, except an 
interval spent at Owosso. He is now among the 
oldest, as he is also among the most respected, of 
the citizens of Howell village. 

Joseph B. Skilbeck, an Englishman by birth, is 
another of the residents of Howell who came here 
to settle in 1839. He was b}' trade a shoemaker, 
and followed that business here for several years. 
Afterwards he became one of the merchants of 
the place, and finally retired from business on a 
competency. One of his daughters is Mrs. An- 
drew D. Waddell. Mr. Skilbeck, although the 
owner of a good farm, is still residing in the 
village, whidi has been his home for the past forty 
years. 

John R. Neely and Joseph Rowe became settlers 
in Howell in the same year as Mr. Skilbeck. Mr. 
Neely was a mason, and the first of his trade who 
settled here. Mr. Rowe was a tailor, and imme- 
diately after his arrival commenced business in 
that line, — his being the first tailor-shop opened 
in the village. 

Early in the year 1840, Josiah Turner, then a 
young and aspiring lawyer, now well known to 
nearly every adult citizen of Livingston County as 
Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, came to 
Howell to establish himself in the business of his 
profession. At first he lived, with his family, at 
the public-house of Shubael B. Sliter, on the Grand 
River road, east of the village, and had his office 
in the wooden building that stood on the north- 
east corner of the old public square, but soon after 
he occupied a log house near the present Methodist 
church, and later built a dwelling-house and office, 
the latter being a small building which stands on 
the west side of East Street, a little north of Grand 
River Street, near the engine-house. In this and 
in the former office on the square he did so flour- 
ishing a law business that he still speaks of the first 
eight or ten years of his practice in Howell as being, 
pecuniarily, the most prosperous period of his pro- 
fessional life. Besides the practice of his profession 
in those years, he was at different times engaged 
in mercantile business; first in partnership with 
William McPherson, and afterwards with Nelson 
G. Isbell. But these merchandising enterprises 
were of comparatively short duration, and he finally 
relinquished that business altogether. Of the offi- 
cial positions which he has since filled, and of the 
evidences of their respect and confidence which his 



fellow-citizens have shown him during nearly forty 
years of public life in Livingston County and adjoin- 
ing portions of the State, a more full account is to 
be found in a short biographical sketch on another 
page of this history. 

Judge Turner recollects that when he first came 
to Howell, the village — by which term was then 
meant only the cluster of buildings on Crane & 
Brooks' plat and in its immediate vicinity — was 
spoken of as containing but thirteen families; and he 
enumerates the heads of these families as follows : 
Dr. Gardner Wheeler, George W. Jewett, William 
McPherson, Joseph B. Skilbeck, Dr. Charles A. 
Jeffries, Richard Fishbeck, Orrin J. Field, Wel- 
lington A. Glover, John Curtis, Edward E. Gregory, 
Rev. Henry Root, Enos B. Taylor, Allen C. Weston. 
This recollection of the judge, however, doubtless 
has reference to the time when he came here (prob- 
ably in the last days of 1839 or very early in 1840) 
on a prospecting visit, preliminary to bringing his 
family here from Ann Arbor; and this will account 
for the omission of the name of Almon Whipple, 
who, prior to the 14th of January, 1840, was not 
the head of a family, but became such at that time 
(the date of his marriage), and was certainly a 
merchant in the village of Howell at that time. 
There were also during that year a very consider- 
able number of other persons living in the village 
(though probably not all, or nearly all, house- 
holders), as appears by the following transcript 
from the township assessment roll for 1840, which 
was probably made out considerably later in the 
year than the time when Judge Turner arrived 
here : 

" Owners and lesiclenls* of village lots in the village of Howell — 
Charles A. Jefl'ries, Wellington A. Glover, Ely Barnard, Allen 
C. Weston, Richard Fishbeck, Joseph Rowe, Enos B. Taylor, 
Oriin J. Field, Elijah Coffren, Curtis & Whipple, John Curtis, 
Aliram Korabacker, Mary Curtis, Edward F. Gay and Henry 
Rout, Brown & Clark, William Butler, Joshua Boyer, Richard 
Carlton, Augustus Chaston, Joseph H. Cobb, Robert W. 
Dunn, Harriet W. Elwell, Francis Eldridge, I'eries Ellis, 
Alfred Tanner, Augustus GoodcU, Samuel Goodell, Edward 
E. Gregory, Willis S. Garrison, Charles Holder, James M. 
Hawley, Daniel O. Hager, Robert Hilton, John Habercorn, 
Walter Hubbell, Jason G. Jackson, William M. Johnson, 
John R. Kellogg, Henry Leroy, Thomas M. Ladd, H. Mc- 
Laughlin, Henry M. Miller, Chauncey Morse, David Prindle, 
William Phillips, Gideon Paul, Carl PolLard, Nathaniel Prouty, 
Patrick Pierce, John J. Peterson, Theobald Ungerer, Corne- 
lius Rierson, Frederick Reiihle, Samuel Reed, Thomas Shally, 
John Scott, Samuel Smith, R. Emerson, Silas Titus, George 
B. Turner, David Thorn, William Waycott, Joseph Waid, 
Alpheus White, Cornelius Ward." 

* Although this purports lo be a list of resident taxpayers (there ■ 
being another and entirely separate list of »/o«-resident taxp.ij-ers 
on the same assessment roll), it seems evident that not all those 
named in this list were actual residents in Howell in the year 
1S40. 







""^•■"^ 



'^mm^m^: 



RESIDENCE OF SEYMOUR E. HOWE, HOWELL, LIVINGSTON CO.. MICH. 




Rlsioence OF M. L. &AY, Howell, Mich 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



147 



By the same assessment roll the resident tax- 
payers on lands outside what was then known as 
the village, but within the present limits of the 
corporation, were (in addition to the Sages, the 
Austins, the Thompsons, and Mr. Pinckney, as 
enumerated above, from the roll of 1S37) as fol- 
lows : 

Gardner Wheeler, on section 35; Joseph B. Skilbeck, on section 
26; Shuhacl 15. Sliler, on section 36; Matthew West, on sec- 
tion 26; George W. Jewett, on section 35, and al-o taxed on 
village lots 24 and 194. 

Amos Adams had then removed from the vil- 
lage, and was a resident taxpayer on section 27, 
Howell township. 

VILLAGE EXTENSION. 

About eight years after the survej' and location 
of the plat of Howell, by Crane and Brooks, the 
village began to e.xtend eastward beyond its origi- 
nal limits; not because the number of actual set- 
tlers was too great to be accommodated with lots 
upon the plat which was first recorded, but owing 
largely to the fact that speculators — among whotn 
were many who were supposed to be of the far- 
seeing kind, like Peter J. Desnoyers, of Detroit, 
and others — had absorbed a large number of the 
lots here, with no intention of settlement, but in 
the expectation of realizing a handsome advance 
on their investments at the county-seat of Living- 
ston. So, in the year 1S43, Mr. Peter A. Cowdrey, 
who had acquired the title to the east half of the 
southwest quarter of section 36, platted and laid 
out that tract as an addition to the village of How- 
ell,* 'and commenced the sale of lots. On the 14th 

* This plat — known as the " first Cowdrey Addition" — was not 
recorded, however, until Jan. 4, 1848. It emhraced the remain- 
der of the southwest quarter of section 36, not included in the 
original pl.at, joining that plat on the east, and also joining the 
south side of Thompson's Addition to the Village of Ilowell, 
which had previously been plaited by Edward Tliompson, propri- 
etor of the ea'it half of the northwest qunrter of section 36, which 
had been entered by his father, Moses Thompson, May 15, 1834. 
Thompson's Addition was platted on the southwest part of the 
land above described, and the plat was acknowledged and offered 
for record by its owner Feb. 27, 1847. 

Cowdrey's Second Addition, being a plat "of the division of 
the east half of the northeast quarter of section 35," was surveyed 
Nov. 16, 1852, and filed by the administrator of the estate of P. 
A. Cowdrey Oct. 26, 1853. This addition, containing 49 acres, 
has its west boundary on the byron road, its north on the north 
line of the quaiter-section, its east on the east line of section 35, 
and its south on Grand River Street. 

Wilcox's Addition lies south of Livingston Street, and contains 
32 lots. This w.is laid out by Joseph H. Wilcox, and by him 
offered for record Aug. I, 1867. 

Two additions have been laid out on the east side of the village, 
on lands of Almon Whipple, in the west half of the southeast 
quarter of section 36. The first of these, lying on the north side 
of Grand River Street, and bounded by Cowdrey's first addition 
on the west, and by the Livingston County Agricultural Kair- 
Grounds on the east. This addition is dated Jan. 27, 1868. The 



of August, 1844, he advertised his addition in the 
Livingston Courier, as follows : 

" LOTS AT HOWELL FOR SALE. 

" The plat of the eastern part of the town, and in which the site 
of the county buildings is located by an act of the Legislature, can 
be seen at the store of A. Whipple, with the prices and terms. 

" P. A. Cowdrey." 

The act of Legislature referred to in this adver- 
tisement was that (approved March 20, 1841) which 
extended the limits of the county-site so as to 
embrace all of the west half of section 36. The 
result of this enactment, together with Cowdrey's 
timely platting of " the l']!astern Part of the Town," 
was to extend the settlement eastwardly along 
Grand River .Street, and eventually to carry the 
business of the village away from the "public 
square," around which the projectors had expected 
to see it located. 

HOWELL IN 1844. 

Within a period often years from the time when 
the Sages, the Austins, and John D. Pinckney 
built the first cabin here, Howell had increased in 
size, and attained the proportions of a very re- 
spectable village, not only in population, but in 
regard to the business transacted within it, as will 
be seen from the following summary of its principal 
business and business men, as they were in the 
autumn of the year 1844. 

First in importance on the list here (as at all 
county-seats) come the lawyers. Howell's first 
attorne)', Wellington A. Glover, had died in 1843, 
but five others were here at the time named, of 
whom the senior (with respect to date of estab- 
lishment in the county) was Josiah Turner, whose 

second Whipple Addition, dated Sept. 4, 1871, lies opposite the 
first, on the south side of Grand River Street, and also has its 
west boundary on Cowdrey's first addition. 

Jewett's Addition lies in the west part of the platted portion of 
the village, being on both sides of Washington Avenue, and 
bounded on the east by the original plat. This addition, contain- 
ing 64 lots, was laid out by the heirs of George W. Jewett, and 
offered for record May 23, 1868. 

Mcl'herson's First and Second Additions extend from Mill 
Street, on the west, to the lake and Oak Grove Cemetery, on the 
east. The first dates April 17, 1S6S, and the second Aug. 24, 
1874. 

Mcl'herson's first and second Prospect Place Additions were 
laid out and ofi'ered for record in .\ugusl, 1874. The first men- 
tioned lies north of Grand River Street, and west of the Byron 
road, and the latter is on the south side of Grand River Street, 
opposite the first. Cardell's Addition lies a<ljoiiiing the second 
Prospect Place Addition on the east. 

T. W. Mizner's Washington Heights Addition to the village of 
Howell contains nineteen blocks, situated on the east half of the 
southe.-tst quarter of section 36, north of Grand River Street, near 
the fair-grounds, d.aled Sept. 23, 1875. Two additions to the vil- 
lage have been laid out adjoining the corporation, but outside its 
limits, in the township of Marion. These are William and .'\lex- 
ander Mcl'herson's Addition, Feb. i8, 1S71, and Joseph B. Skil- 
beck's Addition, M.iy 30, 1874. 



148 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



business card announced liim as "Attorney and 
Counselor-at-La\v, Master in Chancery, County 
Clerk, and Justice of the Peace ; Office, north side 
of the Pubhc Square." Tlien, there were L. H. 
& L. K. Hevvett, "Attorneys and Counselors-at- 
Law, and Soh'citors and Counselors in Chancery;" 
Richard B. Hall, "Attorney and Counselor-at-Law 
and Land-Agent ;" and James H. Ackerson, "At- 
torney and Counselor-at-Law." 

Of physicians residing and practicing here there 
were Dr. Gardner Wheeler, the pioneer practitioner 
of Howell; Dr. William Huntington, successor to 
the office and practice of Dr. Charles A. Jeffiies 
(who had removed), and Dr. E. F. Olds, " Physi- 
cian and Surgeon, — Residence at Morris Thomp- 
son's Office, at E. B. Taylor's store," his adver- 
tisement having been issued and dated while Mr. 
Taylor was alone in business, before his partnership 
with Mr. McPherson. 

The tailors of the village were Mulloy & Har- 
rington, whose shop was located on Main Street. 
They guaranteed good fits and low prices in 
clothing. 

Andrew L. Hill was carrying on " Wagon-Mak- 
ing in all its branches, from an ox-yoke to Buggies 
of a superior kind, at the old Stand, west of the 
Presbyterian church," and he also announced that 
" he designs in future to keep constantly on hand 
and make to order Cabinet- Ware of every descrip- 
tion ; and from much experience and practice he 
feels assured that both in Style and durability his 
work will compare with that done at the East." 

Eli Carpenter announced "to the City of Howell, 
and the inhabitants of the surrounding Country, 
that he is prepared to furnish Saddles, Bridles, 
Martingales, Trunks, Valises, and Harness of every 
description." 

Hickey & Galloway had then just commenced 
the foundry business, and manufactured stoves, 
agricultural castings, etc. Their foundry-building 
was located on East Street, north of the main 
thoroughfare. 

The Livingston Courier, having been established 
in Howell for about a year, was then enjoying a 
good patronage. Its office of publication was on 
Main Street. Proprietor, Nicholas Sullivan ; Edi- 
tor, L. H. Hewett. Job printing-office connected 
with the establishment. 

The Howell Lyceum was in full tide of success- 
ful experiment, and weighty questions were being 
discussed at stated times by the ablest disputants 
to be found among the citizens of the village. 

The old frame school-house on lot 36 had over- 
flowed, and other rooms were then rented for the 
use of the surplus sciiolars who could not be ac- 
commodated within its walls, but no select schools 



had yet been established in the village, as they 
were a year or two later. 

There were three church organizations, — 
Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian; but only the 
last named had a house of worship, — the others 
holding their services in the village -school-house. 
These churches will be found more particularly 
mentioned in following pages. 

Of merchants, the senior was Almon Whipple, — 
he having commenced the business in Massachu- 
setts in 1825, and in Howell in 1840. He, with 
his partner, John Curtis, had been the successors 
of Edward F. Gay, at the store southwest of the 
public square, but Mr. Curtis had died in 1841, 
and not long after, Mr. Whipple had abandoned the 
old store as a business stand, and had removed to 
a wooden building standing where is now the store 
of George Greenaway & Son, at the northeast cor- 
ner of East and Grand River Streets. At that 
time the name of " Grand River Street" — although 
so designated on the Crane & Brooks plat — ap- 
pears not to have been in use by the people of the 
village, as the advertisements of merchants and 
others located on it invariably mentioned their 
places of business as " on Main Street, Howell." 

Riddle & Hinman's store was in a building 
known as the " Old Fort," which stood on the 
south side of the main street, where S. V. Hub- 
bell's block now is. This mercantile firm was 
composed of William Riddle and Derastus Hin- 
man. The firm had previously been styled Wil- 
liam Riddle & Co., and was then composed of 
Riddle, Hinman, and L. K. Hewett; but Hewett 
retired from the partnership, April 15, 1844, leav- 
ing the firm as above named. 

The store of Taylor & McPherson (Enos B. 
Taylor and William McPherson, successors to E. 
B. Taylor) was on the north side of the main 
street, at or near the corner of Walnut Street, and 
a short distance west of the present store of Wil- 
liam McPherson & Sons. 

The firm of Turner & Isbell, composed of Jo- 
siah Turner and Nelson G. Isbell, were then in 
business here as merchants, the partnership hav- 
ing been formed September 25th in that year. In 
their first business card, issued at that time, they 
announced themselves as " general merchants, and 
dealers in drugs and medicines, in the store lately 
occupied by Josiah Turner;" and they pledged 
themselves "to sell as low for cash or produce as 
can be bought this side of Lake Erie." Their 
store (where H. C. Briggs' jewelry-store now is) 
was the same in which Judge Turner and Mr. Mc- 
Pherson had commenced merchandising in 1S41, 
with a small stock of goods which they purchased 
of Wellington A. Glover, who had himself been a 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



149 



mcrcliant here in a small way, and for a short 
time. Turner & McPhcr.son had sold out, after 
a few months of unsuccessful business, to Giles 
Tucker, who removed the stock to Shiawassee 
County. Mr. Turner had commenced again (alone) 
in the same business and same building, in the 
early part of 1844, and received Isbell as a partner 
in September of the same year, as above stated. 
Mr. Isbcll had arrived in Howell in the preceding 
summer, from Charleston, Saratoga Co., N. Y. 

At the same time (the fall of 1844), William R. 
Melvin, besides being engaged in the business of 
blacksmithing and carriage-ironing, was also a 
merchant in the village, and announced himself in 
liis business advertisement as " Dry Grocer, Main 
Street, Howell." His store was on the north side 
of the street, where H. H. Mills is now doing 
business. He was succeeded at that place a few 
months later by " Chester Hazard, Dry Grocer," 
as is learned from the business card of the latter, 
dated in the following April. 

The mercantile firm of Lee & Brother (George 
W. and Frederick J. Lee) had not commenced 
business in Howell in 1844, but was established 
here in the following year. With them, as a clerk 
in their store, came Leander C. Sinith ; and all 
three of these gentlemen achieved pecuniary suc- 
cess, and became leading citizens of Howell. 
Among all the residents of the village, from 1835 
until the present time, few have done as much 
towards its prosperity and the advancement of its 
material interests as Col. George W. Lee. He has 
since removed, and is now a resident of Washte- 
naw County. Mr. F. J. Lee and Mr. L. C. Smith 
still live in Howell, both widely known and 
wealthy. 

Of public-houses in Howell, at the time men- 
tioned, there were three, including one on the 
Grand River road, something more than a half- 
mile east of the centre, but still within the limits of 
the village, and two more were added during 1845. 
r^urther mention of these public-houses will be 
found below. 

HOWELL THE HOME OF HIL.'^RITY. 

It was about this time, and during the other 
years of the decade which succeeded 1 840, that 
the village of Howell acquired much of the repu- 
tation which seems to have been universally ac- 
corded her of being the home and headquarters of 
unlimited and unrestrained fun and jollity. The 
Hon. Jerome W. Turner, in the address from 
which a quotation has before been made, said, — 

" Howell W.1S a town from the start, with a grin on its counte- 
nance, which never rela.xed l)Ut conlinually flowereil '\nlo guffaws. 
Men from the E.ist, who had no design of sellliii^ here, staged it 



out from Detroit, or over from Dexter, to spend a few days in 
laughing. One man I know, who resided in the city of New 
York, who has since told me that he was accustomed to travel 
through almost every town in the United States large enough to 
hold a meeting-house, without finding one that could equal Howell 
for fun. There was an abandonment about it, too, that gave it 
zest; men laughed in hearty, deep-chested tones here in the woods, 
and assembled to see the perpetration of a practical joke in more 
numerical strength than they did at a funeral. Nobody was in a 
hurry; no one was careful, or troubled about many things; we 
had actors and an audience. Men forsook what little business they 
had for simple sjiort. One man I knew — Elijah Coffren, who now 
lives in Greenville, Montcalm Co., a carpenter and joiner by trade 
— who would come down from the roof of a promising job to 
join in a little hilarity, and not be able to get away from it so that 
he could return in a month. The super-urgent business was fun ; 
that was a complete plea to any declaration for damages on account 
of delay in work. Even 'shows,' wliich are supposed to carry 
about with them a sort of stereotyped humor which can make an 
hour passable, were lame concerns here in these early days, and 
it was two to one that something laughable would happen to them 
before they left the place. Subjects of mesmerism underwent 
copious inundations of cold water; the mngic-lantern cuirass sud- 
denly grew cloudy with ink, and the return of pewter and tin six- 
pences astonished the showman when he counted up after the per- 
formance. Apropos of this, there were at an early day, organized 
in Howell, companies of 'squirters,' armed with pint and quart 
squirt-guns, with which they deluged all bibulous individuals. A 
man could get on a drunk in the daytime, but he had need to 
watch the sun veiy closely, and not lie seen around after niglitfall. 
" Some of the subjects of this sport were somewhat ugly; for in- 
stance, Levi Bristol, a square fighter, a man who would have lieen 
known as an athlete among the Thebans, but who usually got 
' corned' when he came to town. He was emphatically an ugly 
customer, and he asserted, in all forms of forcible inelegance, that 
' the first man who squirts any water onto me '11 get his head 
knodied off.' I remember, as though it were but yesterday, his 
standing one afternoon nearly in front of Mills' dry-goods store, — 
present location, — and he looked like one of Dumas' ' colossal 
wrestlers' in the Olympic ring, as he dared the whole town to fur- 
nish him an antagonist who should come bearing a tin squirt-gun. 
Boy as I was, I had read the story of Goliath of Gath, and when 
I saw a single person, a stripling in size, emerge from a building 
on the street, with a quart tin squirt-gun at 'present arms,' and 
advance towards this gawk, I must confess I thought I could see 
a complete repetition of that historical incident. I do not know 
that I was certain then, or that I am entirely positive now, who 
the lad was who went out against him, but he had a wonderful 
similarity to one Leander Smith, who once lived in Howell, so 
similar as to puzzle people as to the question of identity. A fine 
stream from the youth's gun struck Bristol fair and square in the 
eyes ! Bristol plunged down like a kingfisher, and whirled Inm- 
self along in knots and spirals through the dirt of the street, utter- 
ing the most abominable yells that ever issued from human lips. 
He did not seem to know where he was going, or to have the 
least care. He burst through the front door of Elisha Hazard's 
grocery, knocking over the counier, and roaring like a bull of 
Bashan ! Well, whisky and pepper-sauce, in equal parts, is not a 
very pleasant eye lotion, and Bristol's visits to Howell became 
more and more infrequent, and of a less turbulent character. . . . 
The general store was the rendezvous, and its mammoth stove 
became somewhat of a social shrine. There the people gathered, 
and there they brought out their jewels, like the to.ads, after dark. 
The>e jewels served our purpose then, let us hope they may not 
be entirely unregarded now." 

Another phase of the peculiar jocularity which 
reigned in Howell in the early days is thus de- 
scribed by Judge Turner : 



ISO 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



*' There lived here, a good many years ago, a man who was 
familiarly called 'Old Cuff Simons,' of genial good-nature, but 
who was prone to take too much liquor. The boys, on certain 
occasions of his intoxication, would deluge the old man with 
water to an extent wliich would satisfy any reasonable Thomp- 
sonian. One evening they were engaged in this pastime in a 
hotel kept by George Curtis, in this place, and an elderly stranger, 
who happened to be present, thinking it to be an imposition on 
the old man, strongly remonstrated with the boys against what he 
termed 'such shameful conduct.' But what was his surprise when 
Simons turned upon him with an open jack-knife, saying, ' You're 
a transient person (hie), mind your own (hie) business; the boys 
are going (hie) to have their sport.' In New York or Boston such 
interference might have been regarded as timely by a besieged 
drinker, but at Livingston Centre it was resented by the victim 
with far more warmth than by his persecutors." 

To many people of the present day it will doubt- 
less seem like a very questionable compliment to 
a village or a community to say of its people that 
they " forsook what little business they had for 
simple sport," or that they collected in numbers to 
witness the perpetration of that most objectionable 
of all forms of " fun," — a practical joke. It might 
have been more profitable as well as more credit- 
able to the early residents of this village if, instead 
of assembling in force to witness the persecution 
of a poor unfortunate drunkard, they had devoted 
half the amount of time to bring about his re- 
formation, and the other half to attending to 
" what little business they had." And as to the 
mechanics of the place, it cannot be denied that 
if, instead of abandoning promising jobs for a 
month at a time, for the sake of " hilarity," they 
had continued steadily at work it would have been 
better for themselves, their families, their employers, 
and the community. 

The sport — such as it was — frequently took 
place at the village stores, or perhaps quite as 
often at the public-houses ; as in tlie case of 
" Cuff Simons," above narrated, and as in another 
instance, of a less pitiable and more ridiculous 
character, which is related by Hon. J. W. Turner, 
as follows : 

" In those early days ' court week' was the occasion of the new 
county. Everybody was at court. The crowd that gathered at 
Sliter's at such times was far Ijeyond all his limited sleeping accom- 
modations. His bar-room was literally covered with jurors and wit- 
nesses during the nights. One night, when the floor was about as 
densely populated as it could be with sleepers, two lawyers (rumor 
says from Ann Aibor) crawled out the back way, and by induce- 
ments, in the shape of Indian corn, succeeded in calling two large 
hogs to the bar-room door, and gelling them inside. They then 
started Sliter's bull-dog after the hogs, and quietly but swiftly re- 
tired to their beds by a rear passage. If Sliter's dog ever had any 
failings they could not be urged against his persistence as a biier. 
Some canines you can call off, but Sliter's had to be choked o^. 
His dental grip was in every way thorough. The scene that ful- 
lovi'ed would probably baffle description. The squealing of a cap- 
tured porcine is always very thrilling, but when dinned into the 
ears of sleeping men at the dead of the night, and accompanied 
by various kicks and thumps on their bodies, il is alarming. It was 
no doubt a night of great watchfulness, — at least after this occur- 



rence. It is said that the innocent causes of this nocturnal dis- 
turbance were George Danforth, a man of pleasant memoiy, and 
Olney Hawkins, E^q., yet living. I regard the statement, how- 
ever, as calumnious.'' 

PUBLIC-HOUSES IN HOWELL. 
SLITER'S. 

The old Sliter Tavern, mentioned above as the 
scene of the swine-hunt among the sleepers, was 
situated about three-fourths of a mile east of the 
centre of the village, on the south side of the 
Grand River road, where Charles Wilber after- 
wards lived. The landlord, Shubael B. Sliter, a 
native of Antwerp, Jefferson Co., N. Y., emigrated 
from that place to Michigan as early as 1835, and 
located at Ann Arbor. From thence he removed, 
in the fall of 1839, to this place, and purchased 
from Simon P. Shope a tract of land which in- 
cluded the house which Shope had purchased 
from Alexander Fraser, and which the latter had 
built for his own occupancy. To this Sliter built 
a log, and afterwards a frame, addition, and made 
of it the well-known pioneer tavern, which, al- 
though located at so considerable a distance from 
the " Centre," and approachable onlj' " by crossing 
about as bad a specimen of corduroy-road as ever 
was traveled," became one of the well-known " in- 
stitutions" of early Howell, and, as appears, was 
well patronized, and frequently even overcrowded, 
particularly during sessions of the Circuit Court, 
and on occasions of other public gatherings. On 
such occasions a free carriage of some sort was run 
by Sliter between his tavern and the court-room. 
Mr. Turner, in describing its landlord, says, — 

" Shubael was a man who turned his quid of tobacco slowly in 
his mouth, as though a too sudden and abrupt removal would dis- 
turb the continuity of his ide.as. To all ajipearances he was a 
slow-moving man ; it was only apparent, however. He adopted 
Sir Francis Bacon's maxim for his motto : ' Let us go slow, that 
we may get there the sooner.' He seemed to loaf, as sporting 
men say of a horse who lingers along the track ; and yet he was 
the paradox of rnpitlity. He moved like the seemingly-spent 
cannon-ball, which takes off the foot, if it is reached out to stop it. 
Aside from his sharpness at a trade, which was universally con- 
ceded, he was famous as a litigant. Sliter was either plaintiff or 
defendant in more suits, at an early day in Howell, than all the 
rest of the men combined. L. K. Hewett was his attorney, and 
to him he went, simply asking him to write down what was neces- 
sary for him to prove. The residt was that somebody else always 
paid the costs, because Sliter invariably proved it." 

Mr. Sliter, however, was never a man of any 
prominence, and would now hardly be mentioned, 
or even recollected as among the pioneers of 
Howell, but for his proprietorship of the well-re- 
membered old tavern-stand. Soon after iS5ohe 
removed to Deerfield, and afterwards to Kent Co., 
Mich. Recently he came to Howell to revisit the 
scenes of his earlier years, and he died here Octo- 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



151 



bcr 20, 1S79. The old house whicli he once kept 
as a tavern was eventually destroyed by fire. 

THE EAGLE HOTEL. 

The erection of the old Eagle Hotel (or tavern) 
by Crane and Brooks, and its opening as a public- 
house by Amos Adams, in 1835, has already been 
mentioned. Originally it was about 20 by 40 feet 
in size, but was afterwards increased by additions 
until it became, during its day, the largest public- 
liouse in Howell. Besides its legitimate purpose 
as a house of entertainment, it was made to do duty 
in its early years as a place of holding elections, 
public meetings of various kinds, and religious 
worship, and at different times it also contained 
the post-office of the village, some of the county 
offices, and a store, the last named being kept in 
it by Mr. F. J. B. Crane, who put in an exceed- 
ingly meagre stock of goods, and, after continuing 
for a very short time, abandoned the project. The 
tavern was sold in 1837 to Joseph H. Steel, who 
became its landlord. His successors in the pro- 
prietorship were George Curtis and Hezekiah 
Gates; after which Gates retired, and the house 
was carried on by Curtis alone. After Mr. Curtis' 
death (Oct. 4, 1848) it was managed by Mrs. Curtis 
and her brother, Marvin Gaston ; then by Mr. Gas- 
ton alone ; then by William E. Huntley; and later, 
by W. E. Huntley & Son, under whose proprietor- 
ship it was burned September, 1857. 

THE OLD .ST.\GE HOUSE. 

The hotel known as the old " Stage House," 
and located on the south side of Grand River 
Street, about midway between East and Walnut 
Streets, was commenced to be built in 1840, by 
Allen C. Weston, who was the proprietor of a stage- 
line, or of some kind of public conveyance run- 
ning between Detroit and Howell, and which he 
had established in the fall of 1838. Before the 
completion of the house, however, Mr. Weston's 
eyesight had become so badly impaired as to in- 
capacitate him for business, and he exchanged the 
stage house and stand with Benjamin J. Spring, for 
property owned by the latter, on section 15, in 
Howell. Spring moved to the village in 1841, 
completed the house, and opened and kept it for 
the purpose intended by Mr. Weston. He also 
ran a stage-line between Howell and Detroit, mak- 
ing three trips per week (Weston's line had made 
but one trip per week). He built and put upon 
this line a clumsy open stage-wagon, which he 
named the " Red Bird," and which became well 
known, and somewhat famous in its day. This is 
described by Hon. J. W. Turner as having been 
" a vehicle of a bright and tawdry red color, — 



compactly built, for it had to serve not only as a 
stage on dry land, but also to perform the office of 
a yawl, through what was known as ' the rapids,' 
in the vicinity of Detroit." His pet, " Red Bird," 
was often driven by Spring himself, who was not 
a little proud of his skill as a reinsman; though 
his pride in this particular received a heavy blow 
from a circumstance which occurred in the summer 
of 1844, — in this way: He was returning from 
Detroit on tiie " bo.x" of the " Red Bird," and arriv- 
ing at Howell rather late in the evening, drove his 
horses directly into a hole which had been dug 
during his absence, for the reception of a flagstaff 
to be reared on the following day, in honor of the 
Democratic Presidential candidates, Polk and Dal- 
las. The hole, which was near the front line of 
the present Court-House Square, had been left un- 
guarded, and it was not, perhaps, through careless- 
ness or lack of skill in the driver that the accident 
occurred, but it furnished an opportunity for the 
perpetration of innumerable jokes at Spring's ex- 
pense, and much to his disgust. He finally sold 
his stage-line and hotel, and the latter being after- 
wards devoted to other purposes than that of a 
public-house, was burned in the great fire of Sep- 
tember, 1857, — the same which destroyed the Eagle 
Hotel. 

After Mr. Spring abandoned keeping the Stage 
House as a hotel, he became landlord of a public- 
house in Novi, Oakland Co., where he remained 
three years, and then returned to Howell. Later, 
he removed to a part of the James Sage farm, which 
he had purchased or contracted for, and where he 
spent the remainder of his life. During his palmy 
days he was noted among the people of the village 
and far-famed through all the surrounding country 
for his inimitable wit, and as a chief promoter of 
the fun and jollity for which Howell was so much 
celebrated. And to this day the survivors of the 
old settlers, who knew him in his prime, warm up 
at the mention of his name, or of the scenes in 
which he was a principal actor; and they declare, 
with unanimous voice, that there never lived a man 
gifted with keener wit or more mirth-provoking 
qualities than Benjamin J. Spring. He died at the 
Sage house, west of the village, on Christmas-day, 
1S53. His widow married Elislia Case, and now 
resides in Brighton. 

THE TEMPER.\NXE HOTEL .VXD ITS PROPRIETOR. 

The next two public-houses opened in Howell 
were the Temperance Hotel, built by Edward F. 
Gay, and the Union Hotel, by Hezekiah Gates. 
Both these houses were built in the .spring and 
summer, though several citizens of Howell feel 
confident that Mr. Gay's house (if not the other) 



152 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



was built earlier. But all these doubts are set at 
rest by a paragraph which is found in the Living- 
ston Courier of April 30, 1845, to this effect : 

" The enterprising spirit now being exhibited by the citizens of 
Howell is truly commendable. Building after building is daily 
going up, and the clink of the mason's hammer, together with the 
constant thumping and sawing of the carpenter and joiner, is the 
music with which our ears are constantly filled. Our friends, 
Messrs. G.ites and G.ay, are each putting up large and commodious 
tavern-houses that would grace any of our Eastern cities. Mr. 
Gates' is 50 by 80 feet. Mr. G.iy's will be of brick, but not quite 
so large on the ground. Several dwellings and stores are going 
up in the course of the season. All is noise and bustle in 
Howell." 

This fi.xes conclusively the date of the building 
of the two hotels named. The location of the 
Temperance Hotel was on the south side of Grand 
River Street, adjoining the site of the present Na- 
tional Hotel on the west, and directly fronting the 
street which bounds the west side of the Court- 
House Square. It was the first brick building 
erected in the village and township of Howell, 
and has been mentioned as the first of that kind 
in the county of Livingston. It was certainly the 
first public-house operated on temperance princi- 
ples, not only in the county, but in all this section 
of the State. The bricks for it were burned on 
the farm of Mr. Gay, south of the village, and the 
lime for mortar was furnished from the kiln of Mr. 
Z. M. Drew, near the Marion line. 

It seemed rather strange that Mr. Gay, who 
had had no experience in hotel-keeping, and who, 
moreover, had very little inclination towards the 
calling, should have suddenly commenced the 
erection of a public-house ; but the matter has 
since been explained by himself (in his address 
before the Pioneer Society, before quoted from), 
and the reasons whicli he gave show pretty clearly 
that he did not regard the practical jokes and 
roystering which were then prevalent in Howell 
as being very creditable to the place. He said, — 

** Perhaps at no time has our town suffered more on account of 
intemperance than at this period. Whisky ran riot through our 
streets. It was about the time of the settlement of the city of 
Owosso, and as many of the early settlers of that town were fonner 
residents of Ann Arbor, their transit to and from those places was 
through Howell, and they thus came in contact with our hotels, 
kept by Spring, Gates, and others. These passing travelers, many 
of whom were my former acquaintances, made bitter complaints to 
me of our hotels, saying that they were sometimes obliged to resort 
to the street for safety or quiet on account of the noisy riot within, 
and quite frequently would resort to my house, half a mile away, 
to spend the night, in order to avoid the hotels of Howell. To 
these old acquaintances I was indebted for the first suggestion to 
build a temperance hotel in Howell. I will here say that, in 
common with my fellow-citizens, I liked to make money and be- 
come rich, but I liked something else far better. I liked to have 
a sober and intelligent community. To help promote this oliject 
alone induced me to build, and then keep, the Temperance Hotel. 

"In undertaking thi-, I was to meet some opposition. Secre- 
tiveuess w.as never a prominent ch.aracteristic of inine, and when 



I had determined upon this undertaking, and chosen my location, 
it was natural for me to talk the thing over among our citizens, 
saying I intended to go to Detroit the next morning to purchase 
said corner lot for the purpose of building the hotel. Neighbor 
Gates was soon apprised of my intention, and sprang his trap on 
me, for the next morning I learned he had gone in the night to 
Detroit and purchased the corner. The only thing for me to do 
then was to take the next best, and I then purchased and built 
npon the site of the present Weimeister block the first brick 
building erected in our town, if not in the county, and opened 
and kept it as a hotel for some eight years, until a better state of 
things came about. Meanwhile, G.ites commenced building on 
his corner lot, but failed while it was yet unfinished. ... It is a 
pleasure to me to say that, though never sailing imder false colors, 
the Temperance Hotel never suffered for want of patronage. The 
patronage given to this hotel, though, might not in all cases be 
credited to temperance men ; for, notwithstanding the prominence 
given to its character by its glaring sign, * Libertv and Temper- 
ance,' still there was sometimes evidence found in the private 
rooms of the guests that they had made provisions for the dilemma, 
in the shape of a private brandy-bottle." 

The builder and landlord of the Temperance 
Hotel was a brave and noble man. The Hon. C. 
C. Ellsworth,* who knew him well, mentions him 
as " one who, standing almost alone in the new 
Western life here, raised his standard of reform and 
nailed his flag to the mast. You will never forget 
his motto, for he kept it flying in the face of the 
wild life of this new country when the popular 
breeze was in the opposite direction. But he never 
furled his flag for friend or foe, but bravely faced 
the music, howe'er the winds did blow. ' Liberty 
and Temperance,' — grand words ! Sentiments for 
which men have dared to die ! When freedom 
to the slave was all unpopular, and bondage was 
the fate of millions in our land; when it required 
the pluck and bravery of a Garrison, of a Wendell 
Phillips, to declaim against the crime of crimes, 
then Howell had a man who was true to a royal 
nature and fearlessly proclaimed his hatred of the 
great national sin ; and, thank God ! the brave old 
man lived to behold the great iron doors of the 
house of American bondage swing wide open and 
God's burning light of truth pour in upon the 
poor benighted creatures who had only known 
imprisonment and stripes before. Temperance, 
too, was a forbidden theme, and unpopular in our 
new world ; and yet the banner of reform was 
kept steadily to the breeze, and every man, woman, 
and child who passed the unpretending Temper- 
ance House had sounded in their ears the holy 
truth which that sign proclaimed. The very air 
was laden with the silent influence of those thrill- 
ing words, Liberty and Temperance, and they have 
told for good. God would not have it otherwise ! 
Eternity will reveal their saving power!" Many 
others who were intimately acquainted with Mr. 

* Now of Greenville, Mich., formerly a prominent lawyer of 
Howell. 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



153 



Gay have borne testimony to his admirable traits 
of cliaractcr and sterHng virtues. As an index of 
tlic high estimation in which he was held by his 
fellow-citizens the following incident has been re- 
lated. In the spring of 183S, in the course of a 
conversation between several persons in Howell in 
reference to the chances of success between the 
two political parties at the then-approaching town- 
ship election, Benjamin J. Spring remarked that he 
believed the Whigs would be successful, for that 
tiie votes of such men as E. F. Gay (who was an 
uncompromising Whig) would go a great way. 
He was reminded that Mr. Gay lived in Marion, 
and could have no vote in Howell. " But for all 
that," replied he, " iiis very sliadotv will carry a 
good deal of influence." And certainly Spring 
could not be suspected of any undue personal bias 
in favor of the man whom he thus eulogized. 

Mr. Gay kept the Temperance Hotel until 1853. 
He resided for a short time at Grass Lake, Mich., 
but returned to Howell and spent the remainder of 
his life upon a farm which he purchased near the 
present residence of Alexander McPherson, Esq. 
He died there April 22, 1873. The Temperance 
House, after Mr. Gay's retirement from it, became 
known as the " Livingston Hotel," but was still con- 
ducted on temperance principles, and was kept 
successively by Nathaniel Smith, J. H. Peebles, 
and Charles Barber. After them came Elbert C. 
Bush, who called it the Bush House, and kept it 
until 1869, when it was demolislied to give place 
to a brick block built by John Weimeister. 

UNION H.\LL. 

The public-house before mentioned as having 
been in the course of construction in the spring of 
1845 was built by Hezckiah Gates, upon the south- 
east corner of East and Grand River Streets; this 
being the location on which Mr. Gay had intended 
to.build the Temperance Hotel, but which Gates 
had purchased away from him. This house was 
known as Union Hall. Its first landlord was Mr. 
Gates. Then the house came into possession of 
Taylor & McPherson, and was carried on by E. B. 
Taylor for a short time. The next proprietor after 
Taylor was S. S. Glover. Those who succeeded 
Mr. Glover in the proprietorship were James Law- 
ther, 1850; George Wilber, J. Smith & Son, Smith 
& Marble, William E. Huntley & Son, Elisha E. 
Hazard, V. R. T. Angel, B. R. Smith, Jonathan 
Price, and Roberts & Beach. The building was 
burned during the occupancy of Mr. Beach, in the 
year 1871. 

SHAFT'S HOTEL. 

The hotel now known as the Rubert House, 
situated on the southeast corner of Court and 

20 



Grand River Streets, was built some thirty or more 
years ago, by William C. Shaft, who at one time 
ran a line of stages — such as they were — between 
Howell and Detroit, in opposition to Benjamin J- 
Spring. The writer of this has no knowledge of 
the standing of the house kept here by Mr. Shaft, 
but an allusion to it has been found in the shape 
of a scrap of rhyme, forming one of a series of 
verses, entitled " Bangle's Stroll about Town" {i.e., 
the village of Howell), which was printed in the 
year 1849, in "The B'lioys if^r^/i'," published at 
Ann Arbor. It was understood that " Bangle," the 
author of the " Stroll," was a gentleman who was 
then a law student in Howell, since then a member 
of Congress, and now a resident of Greenville, 
Mich. The verse relating to Shaft's ran as follows : 

" We'll befjiii down at Shafl's, 

He keeps Wilbei's best; 
His. house is the place 

Where the scalawags nest. 
The flower of the rowdies 

May be seen g.ilhered there. 
Week in and week out, 

To drink, gamble, and swear." 

The next landlord of the house after Mr. Shaft 

was Elmer Holloway. After him came Van- 

derhoof, who was its proprietor at the time of the 
great fire of 1857. Vanderhoof was succeeded by 
W. E. Huntley & Son, who had been burned out 
from the Eagle Hotel in that fire. After Huntley 
came Amos S. Adams, who was keeping the estab- 
lishment in i860 as the " Adams House." Adams 
was s:icceeded by Jo.seph H. Steel, who was fol- 
lowed by the brothers Cyrus and Handel Winship, 
who named it the Winship House, and were keep- 
ing it as such in 1865. A short time afterwards 
the property was purchased by Benjamin H. Ru- 
bert, who added a third story to the building, 
named it the Rubert House, and has continued as 
its proprietor to the present time. 

THE MELVIN HOUSE. 

The hotel located on the northwest corner of 
East and Sibley Streets was opened as the Melvin 
Hou.se, by William R. Melvin, in 1869. The 
building had been erected by him in i86i,tobe 
used for mechanic shops, and was remodeled and 
enlarged for hotel purposes at the time mentioned. 
In 1874, after Mr. Melvin's death, it came into 
possession of R. M. Johnston, who carried it on 
for a time as the Melvin House, and then changed 
the name to that of Johnston House. After him 
it was carried on under the same name by A. H. 
Gibbs, George Lovely, F. S. Davis, and John M. 
White, the present proprietor, who has recently 
changed the name to that of Commercial Hotel. 



154 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



The National Hotel, on the south side of Grand 
River Street, opposite the Court-House Square, 
was built by John Weimeister in 1875 ; was opened 
as a public-house Jan. i, 1876, and has been con- 
ducted successively by J. P. Hodges, Funston & 
Trombley, and the present proprietors, Messrs. 
Gaines & Bell. 

A small public-house was kept for a time by 

Olds, on the south side of Grand River 

Street, where Gilbert's harness-shop now is; and 
a house known as the Barlow House was kept in 
recent years — for a short time — on the east side of 
East Street, north of the main thoroughfare. A 
small house is now kept as a hotel at the railway 
station. 

MILLS AND MANUFACTORIES. 

The pioneer nianufacturing enterprise of Howell 
was the saw-mill built by Moses Thompson in 
1836. From his ownership it passed to that of his 
son Morris. In the year 1849, Morris Thompson, 
in partnership with George W. and Frederick J. 
Lee, commenced the erection of a grist-mill, on 
the same stream, above the saw-mill. This, known 
as the Howell Grist-Mill, was completed and put 
in operation in 1850. A few years later this, with 
the old saw-mill property, came into the sole pos- 
session of George W. Lee, who afterwards sold to 
William Williamson, who was the owner of the 
mills and privileges in 1865, and who in that year 
manufactured more than looo barrels of flour, in 
addition to the custom work of the mill, and at 
the same time did a very thriving business in the 
saw-mill. Mr. Williamson sold the mills to Zeb- 
ulon M. Drew, whose successor in their proprietor- 
ship was Thomas Birkett, of Washtenaw County. 
Since Mr. Birkett's occupancy the mills have been 
owned and operated successively by William Y. 
Munson and Calvin Wilco.x', Munson, Wilcox & 
Co., and Thomas Hoyland, the present proprietor. 
As the work required of the mill became much 
greater in latter years than formerly, and as the 
supply of water in the stream constantly decreases, 
a steam-engine was added to the machinery of the 
mill, and is now in use as an auxiliary to the 
water-power at times when the latter is insuffi- 
cient. 

The Howell Steam Saw-Mill, the location of 
which was upon the site of the present City Mill, 
was built in 1850; the proprietors in its erection 
being D. D. T. Chandler, George \V. Kneeland, 
and Shubael B. Sliter. Mr. Sliter states that the 
enterprise was conceived and commenced by him- 
self, and that the interests of Messrs. Chandler & 
Kneeland were sold by him to them. However 
this may have been, he (Sliter) soon retired from 
it, and the establishment was owned and operated 



by Chandler & Kneeland, and theirs are the names 
which appear on the assessment rolls of that time 
as the proprietors. The mill was destroyed by 
fire in i85i,andwas rebuilt by Judge Kneeland. 
A large amount of work was done here in saw- 
ing plank for the Detroit and Howell and Lansing 
and Howell plank-roads, which were in process 
of construction about this time; and it was largely 
in anticipation of this work that the first mill was 
erected. The establishment passed from Judge 
Kneeland to the ownership of Aiken HoUoway, 
who was running it in 1858; and from him to 
John Hoyt, who was operating it in 1861. The 
engine by which its machinery was driven was 
one which had then recently been built for Mr. 
Hoyt by B. C. & H. B. Curtis, and was the first 
steam-engine ever built in Howell. The mill 
afterwards passed into the hands of J. R. Axtell, 
and from him to John I. Van Deusen. In 1865 it 
had been refitted, and was carried on by Taylor & 
Van Deusen, who, in addition to its legitimate 
business, had added that of the grinding of sor- 
ghum sugar-cane for the manufacture of syrup. 
This enterprise was neither long-lived nor very 
successful. A few years afterwards stave-, head- 
ing-, and shingle-mills were added, and these 
were in operation about 1871 by Van Deusen & 
Whipple. In 1874 the mill was remodeled into 
a grist- and flouring-mill, with two run of burrs. 
It was owned and operated in 1875 by Latson & 
Wright, who added another run of stones, and im- 
proved it to its present excellent condition. It is 
now run by Mr. Wright. Its location is in the 
southwestern angle of Walnut and Westmore 
Streets. 

FOUNDRfES AND MACHINE-SHOPS. 

The first iron-working establishment in Howell 
was the foundry of Hickey & Galloway, which was 
located on the lot now occupied by the residence 
of Hon. A. D. Waddell, East and North Streets. 
This foundry was built in 1844, and made its first 
castings on Wednesday, Oct. i6th, of that year. 
Its work was " the manufacture of bo.x, cook, and 
parlor stoves, plows and hollow-ware," and all 
kinds of agricultural implement castings. Hickey 
& Galloway sold to Lemuel Spooner and Edward 
Thompson, whose successor in the business was 
W. O. Archer. Mr. Archer sold to Abijah W. 
Smith, with whom De.xter Filkins had an interest 
in the establishment. A few months after coming 
into Mr. Smith's hands it was destroyed by fire, 
and was never rebuilt. 

The " Phcenix F'oundry and Machine-Shop," 
located on the west side of East Street, south, 
was built in 1S57 by A. W. Smith, above men- 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



iSS 



tioned as the Ust proprietor of the old Hickey & 
Galloway foundry. The Phoenix started in blast 
about the 15th of May in the year named, and on 
the 25th of the same month "Smith & Co.," the 
proprietors, announced to the citizens of Living- 
ston County and the surrounding country that 
their foundry and machine-shop was then in full 
operation, — that they were making the celebrated 
Starbuck, Wayne County Improved, Livingston 
County, and Michigan Straight- Line Plows; also 
the double-team plows known as the Bathgate, the 
Curtiss (several sizes), the North Bend, and "the 
celebrated Seventy-Six," and " every kind of corn- 
plows that may be wanted." In this line of busi- 
ness the foundry continued until Feb. 22, i860, 
when the works were destroj-ed by fire, — the loss 
being estimated at ;$7200, about two-thirds in- 
sured. 

The establishment was rebuilt on the same site 
by Benjamin C. and Henry B. Curtis in the same 
year. These proprietors were engaged, more than 
Mr. Smith had been, in the manufacture of ma- 
chinery, and in 1861 built the first steam-engine 
ever manufactured in Howell, — it being built for 
the Howell Steam Saw-Mill of Mr. Hoyt, and 
placed in operation in that mill in October of that 
year. Mr. Hoyt, in his advertisement of the re- 
fitting of his establishment, spoke of this engine 
as " comparing favorably with the best engines 
made in the State of Michigan." 

In 1862, Curtis sold to Floyd S. Wykoff, who, 
in 1865, was doing business at the place as a 
" manuf;icturcr and dealer in all kinds of agricul- 
tural implements, — reapers, mowers, threshing- 
and wood sawing machines, cultivators, field-rollers, 
plows, and every variety of castings." After Mr. 
Wykoff, the foundry and machine-shop was owned 
by John H. Galloway, and later, by Henry B. Cur- 
tis, of the firm of Curtis & Son, who are the present 
owners. 

The " Howell Foundry," situated on the north 
side of Grand River Street, west of Centre Street, 
was built in 1849 by Stephen Clark. The busi- 
ness carried on by him was the manufacture of 
stoves and agricultural castings. In 1859 the es- 
tablishment came into possession of George W. 
Taylor and George L. Clark. In 1864, Taylor 
sold his interest to John H. Galloway, and the 
firm became Clark & Galloway, who, in 1865, were 
doing, in addition to the work of the foundry, a 
business in mowers and reapers, horse-pitchers, 
and every kind of agricultural implements. In 
the spring of 1867, F. S. Wykoff and Hudson B. 
Blackman were added to the firm, which afterwards 
was changed to Wykoff, Clark & Co. (William 
Williamson being interested). In October, 1874, 



the firm became Wykofif, Clark & Imman, and in 
December, 1876, the business was purchased by 
J. M. Clark, the present proprietor. 

WAGON-SHOPS. 

The first wagon-shop in Howell was that opened 
by Andrew L. Hill, in 1842. He announced him- 
self as a manufacturer of every kind of wagons for 
farm or other use, " also Buggies, Buffalo Wagons, 
and Sleighs," all of which he promised to build for 
customers in a manner and style as thorough and 
workmanlike as could be procured in any shop 
east of Lake Erie. The first cutter built in How- 
ell was made by Mr. Hill for Philander Glover, 
from whose estate it was purchased in 1844 by 
Judge Turner, and used by him during several 
winters. 

The next wagon-shop, after Hill's, was opened 
by W. R. Melvin and James Lawther, blacksmiths, 
in 1846. After Lawther withdrew from his part- 
nership, Mr. Melvin continued in the business for 
many years, and as late as 1868 was carrying it on 
at his " Arcade Shops," on East Street, where the 
Commercial Hotel now stands, — tliis hotel being, 
in fact, the old Arcade shop-building remodeled. 
Benjamin Scofield was another of the early wagon- 
makers, having his shop on the north side of Grand 
River Street, west of the present store of William 
McPherson & Sons. 

William Sowle was also engaged in wagon- 
making in the village at an early date, and since 
the time of these early manufacturers there have 
been a number of others engaged in the business 
in Howell, but none of these establishments have 
been on a scale sufficiently extensive to require 
especial mention among the manufacturing indus- 
tries of the village. The same is true of those 
above noticed, and they have only been mentioned 
because they were among the earliest, and, during 
the time of their existence, were relatively more 
important than they could have been regarded 
among the business enterprises of later years. 

HOWELL PLANING-MILL. 

John W. Wright built the first planing-mill in 
Howell village in 1869, commencing business on 
the first of August in that year. This mill was 
located on Clinton Street between Centre and 
Walnut. It was destroyed by fire, April 27, 1875. 
Soon after this he built the present Howell Plan- 
ing-Mill, on East Street, in the extreme southern 
part of the village, below the railroad track. The 
business of this mill is the manufacture of sashes, 
doors, blinds, mouldings, and the dressing of lum- 
ber for building purposes. It is still owned and 
operated by Mr. Wright. 



156 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



EDUCATIONAL. 
THE HOWELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 

It is evident that tlie first settlers in Howell 
moved promptly and energetically in the matter 
of providing the means of education for their 
children. It was in April, 1836, that the organi- 
zation of the township was perfected by the elec- 
tion of its first officers, among whom were F. J. B. 
Crane, Jonathan Austin, and Joseph Porter, school 
inspectors. Before the 2 1 st of the following month 
School District No. i (embracing the village of 
Howell) had been laid out, and on that day a 
meeting of the taxable inhabitants of the district 
was held at the house of Amos Adams, at which 
meeting a district organization was effected by the 
election of David H. Austin, Justin Durfee, and 
Amos Adams as Directors, Jonathan Austin as 
Clerk, F. J. B. Crane as Treasurer, and John D. 
Pinckney as Collector of the District. Ten days 
after this meeting another was held at the same 
place, "for the purpose of deciding upon a Cite for 
a school-house for said district. . . . Whereupon 
the following proceedings were had : F. J. B. 
Crane, a resident of said district, offered as a 
present Lot No. 36, in the village of Howell, upon 
condition that said district should cause to be 
erected a frame school-house thereon. On mo- 
tion of Mr. Adams, Resolved, unanimously, that 
the district accept the offer made by Mr. Crane;" 
after which the meeting adjourned, to meet on the 
5th of June at the same place. At the adjourned 
meeting " David H. Austin was appointed Chair- 
man, and Jonathan Austin was present as Clark. 
Resolved, That 350 Dollars be raised in said dis- 
trict for the purpose of erecting a frame school- 
house, and completing the same." 

But for some une.xplained reason the school- 
house was not built until the following year. 
Probably the reason of the delay was the lack 
of funds, and the difficulty of obtaining lumber, 
which could not then be procured nearer than 
Green Oak or Hamburg. Moses Thompson's 
mill had then just been commenced, and there 
was a prospect of its early completion and of a 
consequent facility for obtaining the necessary lum- 
ber. This may or may not have had an influence in 
causing the postponement of building operations. 

In the spring of 1837 the school-house was 
erected on the lot donated by Mr. Crane. Sardis 
Davis was the master-carpenter, and hewed the 
timber for the frame. The lumber was sawed by 
Morris Thompson. The siding and interior finish, 
desks, and other fi.xtures, were of vvhitewood, 
hauled from Salem or Plymouth. The building 
was completed during the spring months, and on 



the 17th of June, 1837, there was held in it a dis- 
trict-meeting, of which David Austin was chair- 
man and Jonathan Austin clerk. At this meeting 
David H. Austin was elected moderator of the dis- 
trict, Ely Barnard assessor, and Edward F. Gay 
director; and having made such election, it was 

" Rcsok'eil, That this meeting expect that the director they 
have chosen will use eflforts to have a school commenced in this 
di->tiict without longer tlelay." 

The person who first wielded the teacher's rod 
in Howell was Miss Abigail Adams, daughter of 
Amos Adams, though whether her first teaching 
was in the school-house, or in a private house 
before the school- house was completed, is not 
entirely certain. There is little doubt, however, 
that she was the first teacher in the school-house 
in the summer of 1837. The first male teacher 
in the Howell school was Justin Durfee. Mr. E. 
F. Burt taught here for four years, commencing in 
1838. Later came William Pitt Glover, who had 
the reputation of being unnecessarily severe in the 
infliction of punishment on his pupils. Among 
the earliest of the female teachers, besides Miss 
Adams, were Miss Farnsworth, Miss Waterman, 
Miss Clarissa Rumsey, and Mrs. Joseph B. Skil- 
beck. The male teachers who succeeded Mr. W. 
P. Glover, and taught in the old frame school- 
house, or in rented rooms, until the completion of 
the first brick school-house, were William O- 
Archer, winter terms of 1845-46 and 1846-47; 
Henry H. Harmon, winter terms of 1847-4S ; John 
S. Di.xon, winter terms of 184S-49. 

The school-house built in 1837 appears never to 
have been satisfactory to the people, or adequate 
to the wants of the school. In the second year 
after it was built the sum of forty dollars was ex- 
pended in repairs upon it, and repairs to a greater 
or less e.xtent were made upon it in every year 
until its final abandonment as a school-house. At 
a school meeting, held in the evening of the first 
Monday of October, 1845, it was "voted to raise 
two hundred Dollars for the purpose of Erecting 
a School-House ;" and at an adjourned meeting 
held on the first Monday in the next following 
month, it was "voted to Locate the School-House 

on Lotts Nos. ;"* and at the same time it 

was voted that " the Board be instructed to rent 
the meeting-house for the purpose of a district 
school." But at a special meeting of the district 
held Dec. 15, 1845, " the vote passed at the annual 
[October] meeting to raise Two Hundred Dollars 
for the purpose of building a School-House was 
reconsidered ; and also the vote for Having two 
schools was reconsidered." 

* The numbers of the lots are illegible fn the record. 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



•57 



From that time until the spring of 1847 the 
school-house question seems to have been less agi- 
tated ; but at a meeting held March loth in tlie 
year last named, it was 

f!fsok'ed, " That in Ihc opininn of this meeting the (tistiict 
ought to build a new school-house, and that said house should 
be thirty I)y forty, and one slory hiyh." 

A committee of five was appointed " to draft a 
plan of said house, internal and external, and to 
select a suitable site on which to place it ;" and J. 
H. Rasco, E. E. Gregor)', J. Peterson, William 
McPherson, and H. S. Hamilton were constituted 
such committee. This committee, at a ineeting 
held on the 24th of the same month, reported a 
plan for a brick school-house forty feet long by 
thirty feet wide, one story, with side walls twelve 
feet high and one foot thick, with two doors in 
the front as principal entrances, and (after a long 
specification of other particulars) " the whole to be 
crowned in the centre of the roof with a small 
belfry." This report was unanimously adopted, 
and J. H. Rasco, Edward F. Gay, George W. Jew- 
ett, Alvin L. Crittenden, and Stephen Clark were 
appointed a committee " to locate a site for said 
house and ascertain the value thereof" 

There is no record of the result of the labors of 
this committee; but at a meeting held on the 9th 
of September in the same year, William E. Hunt- 
ley, N. J. Hickey, and Matthew West were ap- 
pointed " a conmiittee of three to select a site for 
a school-house," and it was " voted to raise a tax 
of three hundred dollars per year for three suc- 
cessive years for the purpose of building a school- 
house; voted to build said house of brick." And 
at a meeting held on the 27th, it was " voted that 
the report of the committee be accepted, and that 
the location be accepted that is recommended by 
the committee;" though what that location was 
does not appear upon the record. 

On the 25th of September, 184S, a meeting was 
held at the school-house, and at this meeting it 
was, on motion of R. P. Bush, 

" Jiesolved, That the district l)oanl be and tliey are hereljy 
aiuhorized to sell the district school-house within Isventy days, 
provided it will sell for five dollars; and proviiled further, that 
the said hoard can procure a suitable place for a school the 
ensuing winter." 

And at an adjourned meeting, held on the 28th, 
it was " voted that the district board be and they 
are hereby authorized to engage the room known 
as the Howell Academy room, for the use of the 
district, for a school the coming winter, upon the 
terms proposed by Mr. Clark, to wit, at the rate of 
forty dollars per annum." At the satne meeting it 
was voted to raise gioco " for the purpose of build- 



ing a school-house for said district; the said amount 
to be raised in three successive years (commencing 
with the present year), one-third in each year;" 
and also the sum of $zoo was voted to be raised, 
" to be appropriated in purchasing or procuring a 
site for the school-house," and $100 was raised for 
the purpose of "inclosing the school-house site 
and erecting necessary outbuildings;" also, $50 
(to be raised in the following year), " for the pur- 
chase of a bell for the district school-house." 

The proceedings of this meeting seem very 
obscure and hard to understand, for after the pas- 
sage of the above mentioned votes, the meeting, on 
the same evening, proceeded to vote " that a com- 
mittee of three be appointed by the chair to desig- 
nate a site for the school-house, with instructions 
to report at the ne.xt adjourned ineeting of the dis- 
trict," and the chair appointed as such committee 
Messrs. George W. Lee, William McPherson, and 
Elijah Coffren. Another committee was ordered 
to prepare a plan for a school-house, and H. S. 
Sparks, R. P. Bush, and Elijah F. Burt were ap- 
pointed as such committee ; whereupon the meet- 
ing adjourned for four weeks, "to meet in the 
Howell Academy Room." 

At the meeting held pursuant to the above-men- 
tioned adjournment, on the 26th of October in the 
same year, it was " voted that the action of the 
District Board in selling the old School-House be- 
longing to the District, and appropriating the pro- 
ceeds arising therefrom to the paj'ment of the rent 
of the room engaged for a winter school, and to 
repairs of the same, is hereby approved ;" which 
shows that Howell had no longer a public school- 
house, but was dependent on the accommodations 
of a rented room for the holding of the sessions of 
its school. At the same meeting the committee 
to whom was referred the selection of a site for a 
school-house reported, " recommending that the 
site be located upon the old j)tiblic square, pro- 
vided a title to the same can be obtained." This 
report was laid upon the table, " after considerable 
time spent in disctissing the subject," and a new 
committee of five was appointed, charged with the 
duty of designating a site ; the committee so ap- 
pointed being L. H. Hewett, Fred. C. Whipple, 
H. S. Sparks, William McPherson, and Nelson G. 
Isbell. This committee, at a special meeting held 
for the purpose (Nov. i, 1848), made two reports: 
" one recommending that the site of the school- 
house be removed from its |)resept location on lot 
No. 36, Crane & Brooks' Plat, to land adjoining 
said lot, offered by Mr. Jewett ; and the other re- 
commending that it be removed to the Northwest 
Corner of the Court-House Square;" but both 
these reports were rejected by the meeting, and a 



158 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



new committee, consisting of E. F. Burt, George 
W. Jewett, L. K. Hewett, N. J. Hickey, and Josiah 
Turner, was appointed, charged with the same 
duty. Two weeks later, at a meeting held pursu- 
ant to adjournment, this committee asked and re- 
ceived leave to hold another session, but the 
meeting afterwards unanimously 

" Resolved, That Ihe district board lie and tliey are hereby au- 
thorized and directed to purchase for ihe district lots Nos. 15 and 
iS on Crane & Brooks' plat, provided they can obtain the same at 
an expense not to exceed ISijo." 

These lots form the site of the present Method- 
ist church, on Walnut Street. But at the next 
meeting, held December 8th, the vote directing 
the Board to purchase them was rescinded; and, 
at the same time, upon Mr. Galloway's offering a 
resolution to the effect " that the school-house site 
be removed from its present location on lot 36, of 
Crane and Brooks' plat, to the north end of the 
Court-House Square, provided eight rods in width 
across the north end of said square can be ob- 
tained without expense to the district, except the 
expense of making the necessary papers," the 
chairman (George W. Jewett) said he could not 
entertain it, and resigned the chair ; whereupon 
Edward E. Gregory was made chairman, and put 
the question, which was decided in the negative. 

It may be objected that the above is an unneces- 
sarily minute account of the various proceedings 
had by the district on the subject of a change of 
site and erection of a new building, but it lias been 
given for the purpose of showing the long series 
of tribulations through which the psople of Howell 
passed before attaining the object they had in view. 

Finally, the question of the location of the 
school-house site was definitely settled at a meet- 
ing of the qualified voters of the district, held 
Dec. 15, 1848. At this meeting, of which Dr. 
Gardner Wheeler was chairman, it was 

" Resolved, Tliat the site of tlie school-house )je removed from 
lot No. 36 of Crane & Brooks' plat, and located upon the block 
upon said plat comprising eight lots nuniliered as follows, to wit, 
lots Nos. 173 to 180, inclusive; and that ihe district board be di- 
rected to purchase the said lots for that purpose." 

Upon the first vote being taken on this resolu- 
tion, it was lost, the necessary number not voting 
in the affirmative; but this action was afterwards 
reconsidered, and a second vote taken, which re- 
sulted in its adoption by 50 yeas to 17 nays. 
Thus the school-house site was established, — it 
being the ample grounds (bounded by Hubbell, 
McCarthy, Crane, and East Streets) which are 
now occupied by the noble edifice of the Howell 
Union School. 

A site being now definitely fixed upon, a meet- 



ing was held pursuant to public notice, " at the 
district school-room," Jan. 19, 1849, "for '^'"^ P"-""" 
pose of adopting a plan for a school-house for said 
district ;" and at that meeting it was, on motion of 
Mr. Jewett, 

" Resolved, That the district board be and they are hereby in- 
structed, authorized, and empowered to erect or cause to be 
erected a brick school-house on the site located for that purpose, 
38 feet by 48 feet, two slories high, with a cellar under so much 
of the same as they shall deem necessary, and finish and prepare 
for use so much of said building as the money already voted to be 
raised [;Jlooo] will accomplish." 

This resolution was adopted by the requisite 
number of votes, but the end was not yet; for, on 
the 1 2th of February next following, George W. 
I-ee and thirty-eight others, taxable inhabitants of 
the district, addressed to the board a written re- 
quest that a meeting be called " for the purpose of 
taking into consideration the propriety of building 
a Castle for a school-house, and, as the District 
Board complain that ive do not direct thcin, we 
will ask them to listen to us for once._ and see what 
the district thinks." Thereupon a meeting was 
called, and held on the 19th of February, and at that 
meeting the resolution previously adopted " was 
reconsidered and indefinitely postponed." A res- 
olution was then adopted by the necessary vote, 
authorizing and directing the board to cause a 
school-house to be built on the established site; 
"said iiouse to be erected upon a suitable founda- 
tion, to be built of brick, two stories high, to be 
twenty-si.x by thirty-si.x feet on the ground, and 
ten feet between joints, and finished complete." 
This vote was final, and, under the authority con- 
ferred by it, the " brick school-house" was built 
in the summer and fall of 1S49, on the site now 
ocupied by the Union school-house. 

The contract for building the house appears to 
have been awarded to Elijah Coffren, at ^lOOO, 
though the contract price is not mentioned in the 
district record. The building was nearly or quite 
completed in September ; and at a district meeting 
held in the Presbyterian meeting-house, in Howell, 
on the 24th of that month, it was " voted that the 
sum of six hundred and seventy-eight dollars and 
seventy cents be raised the present year upon the 
taxable property of the district for the following 
purposes, to wit : 

To pay E. Coffren on contract for building school-house.. J>333.oo 

To make ihe payment due for site "7-7° 

To inclose site and purchase a bell 100.00 

To pay accounts allowed, and for rent 48.00 

For extras of school-liouse and steeple 65.00 

For sloves and pipe 15.00 

Total $678.70 

The last payment on Coffren's contract, and also 
the final paj-ment on the school-house site, were 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



IS9 



provided for by a vote passed in the following year 
to raise the necessary amounts. 

In 1849, a law was passed by the Legislature 
(approved March 31st), enacting that, "in districts 
containing more than one hundred scholars between 
the ages of four and eighteen years, the district 
board may be enlarged by adding thereto four trus- 
tees, provided the district determine to do so by a 
two-thirds vote at any annual meeting." And as 
this district contained more than that number of 
children prior to its annual meeting in September, 
1849 (^'^^ '''*^' '^'^''^ before the occupation of the 
brick school-house), it was at that meeting " voted 
to elect a board of trustees agreeable to act No. 
183, of the session laws of 1849;" and the meet- 
ing then proceeded to elect George W. Jewett, R. 
P. Busii, James Lawther, and William McPherson 
as the first Board of Trustees of the district. 

At the same time a resolution was passed au- 
thorizing the district board "to offer Mr. John S. 
Di.xon the sum of three hundred dollars for his 
services as teacher of the district school for one 
year." But it appears that Mr. Di.xon did not 
accept the ofier, for the board soon after employed 
Mr. Willis Wills, who assumed authority as the 
first teacher in the (then) new brick school-house. 
But he proved unsuccessful as a teacher, and is 
represented as having been incompetent and ex- 
ceedingly cruel. The result was that the school 
was broken up before the completion of his winter 
term of 1849-50. 

It became apparent very soon after the first occu- 
pation of the new school-house that it was inade- 
quate to the needs of the district, and that it would 
perhaps, after all, have been better to build the 
" Castle" as at first proposed. At a district meet- 
ing, held Sept. 30, 1850, less than a year after Mr. 
Wills had opened school in the new building, it 
was 

"Resolved, Th.it the district lioard l)e authorized, in their dis- 
cretion, to rent another Room, and employ one or more Teachers 
in addition to the present number, for the Winter .Schools." 

A room was accordingly rented from Mrs. Frink, 
at S32.50 per annum, as appears from the record of 
bills allowed at the annual meeting in 1851. Again, 
in 1852, the board was authorized to procure ad- 
ditional room for the winter school, and the sum of 
$\i, was allowed to Josiah Turner for room rent ; 
and at an adjourned meeting, held Oct. 3, 1853, a 
resolution passed "that seventy-five dollars be 
raised to procure and furnish necessary school- 
rooms for the ensuing year." The audited ac- 
counts' of the district for the same year show that 
over S^So was spent for repairs on the school- 



house, and that Josiah Turner and Almon Whip- 
ple received ^25 each for rent of school-room. 

In September, 1854, at the annual meeting, a 
committee was appointed consisting of F. C. Whip- 
ple, N. G. Isbell, Elijah F. Burt, John H. Galloway, 
and W. A. Clark, " to report some feasible plan for 
enlarging the present school-house or building a 
new one ;" and at a special meeting, convened on 
the 2 1st of April, 1S55, for the purpose, this com- 
mittee presented their report: 

"That there is immediate and pressing necessity for further 
school accommodations, and without these, it is impossible to carry 
out the plan of a Union School with success. Of this there can 
be but one opinion, .and the only question is, how best to se- 
cure them, with due reference to economy, at the earliest practi- 
cable periotl." 

They then proceeded to recommend the en- 
largement of the house 

" by extending it south, in the s.anie form and size of the present 
building, foi ly-eight feet, by t.aking out the south gable end of the 
present building, down to the bottom of the upper story; the present 
school-room in that story can then be enlarged to any desirable 
extent, with room for one or two recitalion-roonis at the south end. 
And the lower story of tlie propo-ied addition can be conveniently 
divided into two school-room; of suitable size for small children. 
By cnrrying out this plan, ample accommodations will be afforded 
for all the scholars of the district for a long time to come. It is 
deemed of equal importance to the perfection of a Union School 
tlint the same, in all its departments, should be under the immedi- 
ate supervision and control of one principal teacher. This cannot 
well be done unless the dep.iriments are all under the same roof." 

The cost of the proposed addition, including 
necessary furniture and fi.xtures, was estimated at 
giooo; which sum the committee recommended 
to have raised in the (then) present year, and that 
the building be contracted for and commenced 
with the least possible delay. The report was 
accepted, and, on motion of F. C. Whipple, was 
adopted "after an animated discussion by a num- 
ber of persons." The meeting then voted to raise 
the sum of $1000 to be placed at the disposal of 
the board, who were authorized and instructed 
to contract for the proposed enlargement of the 
school-house, to be completed on or before Dec. 
I, 1855, at a cost not exceeding ^1200. 

The above proceedings and the remarks of the 
committee on the enlargement of the house are 
given more at length, because they have refer- 
ence to the inception of the project for establishing 
and maintaining a Union School, — an institution 
which has since been brought to a high degree of 
excellence in Howell, and of which the people of 
the village are now so justly proud. 

The vote to raise $1000 for the enlargement of 
the school-house was afterwards (Sept. 24, 1855) 
reconsidered, and it was voted to raise, instead, the 
sum of S750 for the purpose, and the board was 
instructed to contract for the erection of the addi- 



i6o 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



tion to the building on the plan before adopted, the 
work to be completed and ready for occupancy by 
the 1st of October, 1856, and the whole to cost not 
exceeding §1500. 

The contract to construct the building was given 
to John B. Kneeland, in whose favor orders were 
drawn in March, 1856, for the whole amount ($755) 
voted to be raised in 1855, viz., on Treasurer of 
Howell for $666.32, and on the Treasurer of Marion 
(in which a part of the district was embraced) for 
$83.68. The building was completed, ready for 
use, before the specified time, and then, for a few 
years, the people of the district experienced com- 
paratively little trouble for lack of accommodations 
for the schools. 

But in less than ten years from the time when 
the old brick school-house was enlarged by an ad- 
dition considerably more extensive than the origi- 
nal building, it became evident that the erection of 
a large and commodious edifice could not be much 
longer delayed. The subject then began to be dis- 
cussed with a good deal of warmth, and although 
a strong opposition was elicited at first, this gradu- 
ally decreased, so that finally, at the annual dis- 
trict-meeting, held Sept. 3, 1 856, when a resolution 
was ofifered by Hon. Sardis F. Hubbell " to author- 
ize the officers of said district, and to direct said 
officers, to issue bonds against said school district 
to the amount of fifteen thousand dollars, said 
bonds to bear an' interest not exceeding seven per 
cent, per annum ; the funds so raised to be used 
for the purpose of erecting a school-house in said 
district, and that the sum of one thousand dollars 
be paid annually, with the interest, until the whole 
amount is paid," the measure was adopted by 
the meeting, by the decisive vote of 52 in the 
affirmative to only two votes in the negative. A 
building committee was then appointed, consisting 
of H. C. Briggs, Sardis F. Hubbell, Wm. McPher- 
son, Sr., J. I. Van Deusen, and Joseph M. Gilbert. 
Mr. Hubbell soon after resigned as a member of 
the committee, and John H. Galloway was ap- 
pointed in his place. 

A year elapsed after the passage of this meas- 
ure without any further decisive action being 
taken; but at the annual meeting for 1867 (Sep- 
tember 2d) it was voted unanimously, " That there 
be raised on the taxable property of the district 
the sum of five thousand dollars as a building 
fund, to be raised at the rate of one thousand 
dollars in each year, with the interest; and the 
bonds to be issued in such sums as above stated, 
after the fifteen thousand dollars voted at the last 
annual meeting; said bonds to bear interest not 
exceeding ten per cent per annum." A finance 
committee was then appointed, consisting of Alex- 



ander McPherson, L. D. Smith, and William Wil- 
liamson. 

Proposals for building the house after a specified 
plan were advertised for and received ; and on 
these being opened and compared on Feb. 29, 
1868, the contract was awarded to B. B. Rice, of 
Detroit, to erect and complete the building in a 
thorough and workmanlike manner, according to 
the plans and specifications, for the sum of 
$15,650, with $700 in addition for finishing the 
third story, which last-named item had not been 
contemplated in the original plan. This contract 
price did not include the brick, stone, rough lum- 
ber, and some other building materials, which were 
furnished by the district. The unsuccessful com- 
petitors with Mr. Rice for the contract were 
Messrs. Kilmer, Co.xburn & Ryan, of Jackson ; P. 
Marshall, of Holly ; Thomas Lunn & Son, of Pon- 
tiac ; I. N. Bush, of Lansing ; Gassmere & Tooker, 
of Lansing; Palmer & Gee and Woodrow & Son, 
of Detroit. The old school-house was demolished 
and removed in the following March, and the work 
of erecting the new one was commenced with en- 
ergy. The contract called for the completion of 
the building on or before the ist of November, 
1868, but it was not entirely finished until about 
six months after the time specified, as is shown by 
the record of a special district-meeting, held on 
the 16th of April, 1869, "to take action respect- 
ing the raising of money to pay the outstanding 
indebtedness of said district, and to raise money 
for the necessary completion of the new Union 
School Building" ; at which time it was voted to 
borrow $4000 for the purpose named. The build- 
ing was, however, occupied by the schools for the 
winter term of 1869. 

Its total cost, including the materials furnished 
by the district, and all extra expenditures, was 
more than $31,000. It is an exceedingly solid and 
imposing edifice, being of brick, three stories high 
above the basement, with a French roof, and a 
tower one hundred feet in height. The house is 
divided into rooms by appropriate halls. The first 
story has two halls ; one is fourteen feet in width 
and sixty-five feet in length, the other is eleven 
feet in width and thirty-five feet in length. There 
are three school-rooms, and each room is twenty- 
five feet by thirty-five ; two wardrobes each six feet 
by sixteen. 

The second story has two halls, one fourteen 
feet in width and sixty-five in length, the other is 
eleven feet in width and thirty-five in length; three 
school-rooms, each twenty-five feet by thirty-five; 
one room, twelve feet square, for philosophical in- 
struments, and one recitation-room, the same size; 
two wardrobes, each six feet by sixteen. 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



i6i 



The third story has one hall, fourteen feet in 
width and sixty-five in icngtli ; one lecture-room, 
thirty-five feet by sixty-five; one school-room, 
twenty-five feet by thirt)'-five; one room for the 
director, twelve feet square; and one recitation- 
room, the same size. The first and second stories 
of the building are thirteen feet and two inches 
high in the clear. The third story is sixteen feet 
high in the clear. 

The old brick school- house, from the time of 
its first occupation until its demolition, had been 
in use for a period of nearly nineteen years. Of 
the principal teachers who were emptoyed within 
its walls during that period, it has been found im- 
practicable to make a list absolutely complete, be- 
cause the district records are defective in this 
particular, and the recollections of different per- 
sons, apparently equally reliable and well informed, 
who have been applied to for information, have 
proved to be entirely at variance with each other 
on the subject. A list, however, is given below, 
which is nearly complete for the first few j-ears, 
and is believed to be entirely so for the remainder 
of the time. It is as follows : W. Wills, — first 
teacher in the school-house, as before stated, — 
term of 1849-50; John S. Dixon,— successor of 
Mr. Wills,— 1850 to 1852; Seth Beden, term of 
1853-54; J. S. Houston, term of 1855-56; W. 
F. Munson, 1857; L. Barnes, 1858-59. The 
school had previously been graded into primary, 
intermediate, and grammar departments. Mrs. 
Barnes, the wife of the professor and a graduate 
of Albion Female College, took charge of the 
intermediate department. D. Cramer, 1859-60; 
Prof Charles W. Bo wen, i860 to 1862. The 
schools were regraded under Prof Bowen. Ru- 
fus T. Bush, 1862-63. The first course of study 
for the high school, adopted by the board, was 
prepared by Mr. Bush. Mrs. Bush was also em- 
ployed as a teacher in the school. Michael Mc- 
Kernan, engaged July 11, 1863; resigned, by 
request, March 10, 1865. S. S. Babcock, 1865- 
66; Joshua S. Lane, 1866-67; L. S. Montague, 
engaged Sept. 9, 1867, for a term of twenty weeks. 
At the close of Mr. Montague's term the old school- 
liouse was demolished to make room for the new 
building. 

When the new house was first occupied by the 
schools, they were in charge of Prof S. S. Babcock, 
who was employed as principal teacher, at a salary 
of S1500 per annum. Upon the expiration of the 
time for which he was employed, he demanded an 
increase of salary, which was not acceded to by the 
board, who then employed Prof T. C. Garner, at the 
same salary. He remained in charge of the school 



until 1873, when Prof E. W. Schreeb was em- 
ployed as principal, at a salary of S1200. He in 
turn was succeeded, in 1874, by Prof W. Cary 
Hill, who remained until 1877, when he was suc- 
ceeded by Prof Elihu B. Fairfield, who has re- 
mained in charge until the present time. 

The Howell public schools are organized in 
three departments, primary, grammar, and high 
school, each of four years, aggregating twelve 
years in the entire course. 

The grades of the school culminate in the high 
school. Nearly every pupil who enters a primary 
or grammar grade expects, eventually, to become 
a pupil in the high school, and hopes to graduate 
therefrom. Its stimulating influence upon all the 
grades below is too wide-spread and deep-reaching 
to admit of computation ; nor is it any less difficult 
to estimate its influence upon the community which 
sustains it. The graduating exercises excite a 
larger influence among the people of Howell than 
any other educational event of the year. 

The present teachers are Elihu B. Fairfield, B.S., 
Superintendent; Mrs. Jennie K. Hill, Preceptress; 
Miss Jane E. Neely, Eighth Grade; Mrs. J. M. 
Clark, Seventh Grade; Miss Emma W. Lamb, 
Sixth Grade; Miss Matlie Kerns, Fifth Grade; 
Miss Mary Parsons, Fourth Grade; Miss Jennie 
E. Naylor, Third Grade ; Mi.ss Mary Williamson, 
Second Grade ; Miss Celia E. Sprague, First Grade. 

The following are statistics of this school dis- 
trict for the year ending June 27, 1879: 

Population of the district (estimated) 3000 

Casli value of school property 535,000 

Amount of money received from local tax.ition : 

Two mill tax Sgoi.31 

Voted on properly 6,229.05 

Amount received from inteiest on permanent funds 296 16 

Amount receiveil fioni tuition fees 38333 

Library fund 18 19 

Total receipts §7,828.04 

Cost of superintendence and instruction $4,030.00 

Amount paid Principal 1,000.00 

Cost of incidentals 1,349.48 

Amount paid for bonds and interest 2,700.00 

Amount paid for permanent improvements and 

building "9-55 

Number of children in district between five and twenty 

yeais of age 617 

Actual enrollment in each department, exclusive of 
those received by transfer : 

Primary Ucpartment 281 

Grammar Ucpartment 197 

High School Department 52 

Received by transfer in Grammar Department 29 

Average daily attendance: 

Piimary Department 175 

Gramniar Department 148 

High School Department 29 

Total 352 

Non-resident pupils : 

Prim.ary Department 7 

Grammar Department 23 

High School Departnaent 24 



1 62 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



The school officers for 1879 are Edward P. 
Gregory, Director; Harry J. Haven, Moderator; 
L. C. Smith, Treasurer. Board of Trustees, Harry 
J. Haven, term expires 1880; A. D. Waddell, term 
expires 1880; Mylo L. Gay, term e.xpires 1881; 
Ale.xander McPherson, term expires 1881 ; Edward 
P. Gregory, term e.xpires 1882; L. C. Smith, term 
expires 1882. 

PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN HOWELL. 

Various private institutions of learning have had 
their existence in Howell at different periods, but 
chiefly during the ten or twelve years immediately 
preceding the establishment of the graded system 
in the public schools of the village. 

The earliest of these educational enterprises was 
the " Howell Select School," commenced in 1845 
by Theodore Bridgman, who advertised that "par- 
ticular attention will be paid to those desirous of 
qualifying themselves for teaching, and no pains 
will be spared to render this school (so far as the 
teacher is concerned) both pleasant and profitable." 
The duration of this school has not been ascer- 
tained, but it was taught for a time in the old 
Presbyterian meeting-house, and was remarkable 
chiefly for the total failure of its principal to per- 
form any of the promises which he made at the 
time of its commencement. 

In December of the same year in which Mr. 
Bridgman had commenced his school, a " Classical 
Select School" was opened in Howell by the Rev. 
G. F. McEwen. The principal was a gentleman of 
good ability and highly educated, but his school 
was neither long-lived nor very successful. 

A select school was opened April 6, 1846, by 
Mrs. Maria L. Charles, " on Grand River Street, 
one door East of the Courier Printing-Office." 
It is said to have been a good school of its grade 
during the time of its continuance. 

On the 1st of x\pril, in the same year, William 
Pitt Glover opened a school which he named "The 
Howell Academy." Mr. Glover announced in his 
prospectus that he was prepared to teach orthog- 
raphy, reading, penmanship, arithmetic, geography, 
grammar, history, political economy, mineralogy, 
zoology, botany, physiology, geology, astronomy, 
chemistry, philosophy, algebra, optics, physics, 
rhetoric, criticism, logic, and the Greek and Latin 
languages. Also that 

" Declam.itioii and composition will be attended to. Lectures 
on different moral and scientific subjects will be given at proper 
intervals. Particular attention will be paid to the moral, as well 
as the intellectu.il culture of those committed to his care; and 
whilst the number to be admitted will not e.Nceed the limits of a 
private academic-il family, subject to the rules of a well-ordered 
domestic economy, the circle and range of instruction, the subjects 
of stiiily, and the progress to be made in them, will have no other 



limits than the choice of the student, or his friends, and the meas- 
ure of time, capacity, and. diligence which he can bring to their 
prosecution. . . . To persons desiring to pursue a collegiate 
course of education, or to prepare for the practical duties of life, 
he pledges his efforts to make this institution worthy of future 
confidence." 



The institution, however, never became cele- 
brated, and after a brief and rather a languishing 
career it ceased to exist. 

A number of private schools have had their day 
in Howell since those above mentioned. Among 
the most noticeable of these was the " Howell 
Select School" of Mrs. Rosina L. Dayfoot, which 
was in successful operation as early as 1857, and 
so continued for several years after that time. It 
was taught in the house now owned and occupied 
by Ira Preston, on Walnut Street, in the southwest 
part of the village. In 1861 this school was con- 
ducted by Mrs. Dayfoot as Principal ; Miss Fanny 
M. Lyon, Assistant Principal ; and Mr. L. A. 
Westphal, Music Teacher. It is said to have been 
one of the best schools of its kind ever taught in 
Howell. After leaving here it was established in 
Fentonville, Genesee Co. 

The " Howell Academy," a prospective institu- 
tion of learning (bearing the same name as Mr. 
W. P. Glover's school of 1846, but having no con- 
nection with it), was incorporated by act of Legis- 
lature, approved March 27, 1848, with an authorized 
capital of $I0,000, in shares of $5 each; the cor- 
porators named in the act being Josiah Turner, 
F. C. Whipple, Elijah F. Burt, Alvan Isbell, Gard- 
ner Wheeler, George W. Lee, John Ken}'on, Jr., 
Almon Whipple, and Edward E. Gregory. Beyond 
the procurement of this act of incorporation, 
nothing was ever done in furtherance of the pro- 
ject. 

LITERARY ASSOCIATIONS. 

Several literary associations have existed in 
Howell at various times. The first of these was 
the " Howell Lyceum," which was organized as 
early as 1 843, and in that year elected as its offi- 
cers George W. Jewett, President ; William Mc- 
Pherson, Vice-President; Owen W. Griffith, Sec- 
retary. The Lyceum was reorganized in November, 
1857, with A. D. Waddell as President; John M. 
Clark, Vice-President ; F. W. Munson, Secretary ; 
H. C. Briggs, Treasurer. Besides the Lyceum, tliere 
have been the Ciceronians (a debating society ex- 
isting at least as early as i860), the Young Men's 
Lecture and Library Association, the Ladies' 
Library Association (elsewhere mentioned), and 
others, — all aiming at literary improvement, and 
all accomplishing, in greater or less degree, the 
object for which they were formed. 




FRANCIS MONROE 



was one of the earliest settlers of Livingston County. 
He passed through what is now the village of Howell 
before a building had been erected there. His father, 
Lemuel Monroe, was one of the heroes of the Revolu- 
tion. He served through that memorable war ; partici- 
pated in the battle of Bunker Hill ; was present at 
Burgoyne's surrender, and in many other engagements. 
He also served in the war of 1812. Was three times 
married, and was the father of eighteen children, sev- 
enteen of whom grew to maturity. In his old age he 
came to Howell and made his home with his son Fran- 
cis, at whose residence he died at the advanced age of 
ninety-seven years and two months. 

Francis Monroe was the eldest of six children by the 
third wife of his father. She resided atMendon, N. Y. , 
when her husband was serving in the war of 1812,'and 
for several years thereafter. There Francis was born 
Aug. 8, 1813. When a lad he was indentured until 
he was twenty-one years of age, at which time he re- 
ceived the customary one hundred dollars and two suits 
of clothes. This important event occurred Aug. 8, 
1834, and on the i8th day of September of that year 
he was married to Miss Luana Hicks, of Bristol, N. Y. 
Her father had died, and from his estate she received 
one hundred dollars upon her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. 
Monroe then had a joint capital of two hundred dol- 
lars, and plans were soon matured for securing a home. 
They resolved to go to the then Territory of Michigan, 
and within a week Mr. Monroe started on a tour west- 
ward. 

After prospecting through Eastern Michigan, he lo- 
cated on the southwest quarter of section 28, now the 
town of Howell. Returning to Bristol he worked by the 
month some two years, and in the spring of 1837, with 
his wife and two children, moved on to his land, and 
commenced the task of creating a home from the un- 
broken forest. With limited means and few neighbors, 
he was thrown upon his own resources to procure the 
necessaries of life. He worked out by the day. The 



first fall after his arrival he went twelve miles to dig 
potatoes (for one La Grange, in Unadilla), receiving in 
payment a bushel of potatoes for a day's work 1 Money 
was a thing almost unknown. To pay taxes and the 
twenty-five cents postage on a letter from the East, were 
grave questions to the pioneer. Wolves were plenty, 
and soon a bounty of seventeen dollars was offered for 
their scalps. This was most fortunate for Mr. Monroe, 
who gave them considerable attention ; he took as many 
as three in a week, which rendered him material finan- 
cial relief. 

The progress of the pioneer under these adverse 
circumstances was necessarily slow; but after the log 
house was built, the clearing was continued. Year by 
year improvements were made and other lands added ; 
the small clearing expanded to broad and fertile fields, 
and the log house has long since given place to a large 
and commodious brick residence, with such surround- 
ings as indicate the thrifty farmer. 

By his first wife he had ten children, viz. : Henry 
O., is a farmer in Wisconsin ; F. N., is a hardware 
merchant in Howell; James M., is a farmer in Ingham 
County; Norton M., is living on the old homestead ; 
George W., also on a farm in Ingham County ; Mary 
L., married William Bezan, and died at Howell; Lu- 
ana A. and Helen M., both died unmarried; William 
H., is a farmer in the town of Howell; Lucinda M., 
became the wife of B. B. Morgan, a portrait painter and 
inventor, and resides at Ann Arbor. The present Mrs. 
Monroe was a Mrs. Brininstoole, formerly of Batavia, 
N. Y. 

Mr. Monroe and both his wives were members of 
the Baptist Church of Howell. His first wife was one 
of the few who organized the church, and he is still a 
zealous worker in that organization. 

In 1871, Mr. Monroe left the farm in charge of his 
son, Norton M., and purchased a residence in the vil- 
lage of Howell, where he has since resided, enjoying 
a well-earned competency and the respect of all. 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



163 



THE LADIES' LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF HOWELL. 

In the winter of 1874-75, the " spelling-school" 
mania, which was at that time at its height in 
many places in tiie State, reached Howell, and re- 
sulted in the formation of a " school," which be- 
came somewhat popular, and continued long 
enough to yield a small surplus revenue above 
expenses. After its close, it was determined to 
apj)!)' this fund — supjjlemented by contributions — 
to the establishment of this association, whicli was 
accordingly organized in May, 1S75 ; the follow- 
ing-named ladies being its first officers: Mrs. 
Mylo L. Gay, President ; Miss Ella Burt, Corre- 
sponding Secretary ; Miss Millie Hickey, Record- 
ing Secretary; Mrs. H. G. Fry, Treasurer; Miss 
Frank Skilbeck, Librarian. 

Only 25 volumes were purchased at first, but 
tlie number has increased to 317 volumes. Dur- 
ing the first j-car of its existence, the association 
had its rooms in the Sabin block, from which 
place they were removed to Weimeister block on 
Grand River Street, and remained there for about 
nine months, after which they were clianged to 
their present location in Hubbell block. The 
rooms are opened from three to five o'clock p.m. on 
Saturdays. 

At the commencement, the association opened 
a reading-room in connection with the library, and 
this was maintained for about one year, after 
which it was discontinued on account of an ap- 
parent lack of interest on the part of those for 
whose benefit it was designed. The present (1879) 
officers of the association are Mrs. S. F. Hubbell, 
President; Mrs. Dennis Shields, First Vice-Presi- 
dent ; Mrs. Newton T. Kirk, Second Vice-Presi- 
dent ; Miss M. Burt, Secretary; Mrs. William Mc- 
Pherson, Corresponding Secretary ; Miss Jane E. 
Neelj', Treasurer ; Miss Helen Williamson, Libra- 
rian ; Mrs. M. J. McPherson, Assistant Librarian. 

THE PRESS OF HOWELL. 

The newspapers of Howell — The Livingston 
Democrat, by Joseph T. Titus & Son, and Living- 
ston Republican, by L. C. Miller — will be found 
mentioned in the history of the Press of Living- 
ston County. 

RELIGIOUS. 

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN HOWELL. 

That the Methodist Church of Howell was the 
first religious organization effected in the village 
and township is shown by the best and most un- 
questionable authority upon the subject, — that of a 
person who took part in its formation, was one of 
its first officers, and who recollects better and 



more clearly than any other person now living 
the circumstances preceding and connected with 
that interesting event. This person is the Rev. 
Alvin L. Crittenden, from whose narrative an ex- 
tract has been given in the preceding pages, telling 
how Deacon Israel Branch, with other settlers of 
several religious denominations, held the first (in- 
formal but devout) religious services at Livingston 
Centre, in the house of Amos Adams, late in the 
autumn of 1835. In reference to the establishment 
of worship here by members of the Methodist de- 
nomination and the organization of their church 
in Howell, Mr. Crittenden proceeds as follows: 

" Til the moiuli of Apiil [ 1 83(1] I le.nrned Ihere w.is Methodist 
preaching at Ore Creek, now Bri};!iton. I left my home .it Mr. 
.Sage's, half a mile west of the village of Howell, and walked to 
Ore Creek and listened to Rev. Mr. Bibhins. He gave notice at 
the close of the services that Rev. Elijah Crane, then traveling 
Plymouth Circuit, would hold a two d.ays' meeting there in four 
weeks. After service I walked h.ick to my home; and at the 
time appointed I walked again to Brighton to attend the two days' 
meeting, where I first met and formed an acquaintance with Rev. 
Elijah Crane and Rev. John Cosart, a local preacher of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. 

"While .attending the meeting at Brighton, arrangements were 
made for Rev. Mr. Cosart to come to Howell and preach and form 
a Methodist class, and send a report to Rev. Elijah Crane, who 
would represent our wants at the ensuing Annual Conference, and 
if possible secure for us regular preaching. By some mistake the 
notice w.os given one week too soon ; we assembled, but no 
preacher came. A prayer-meeting was held, and at its close it was 
thought by the Methodists present that although we were disap- 
pointed in not having a preacher with us, we would not be disap- 
pointed in regard to having a class formed. Accordingly we or- 
ganized ourselves into a business-meeting for that purpose, by 
electing Pardon Barnard chairman, and A. L. Crittenden secretary. 
Those who had letters from the Methodist Episcopal Church passed 
them in and they were read, and A. L. Crittenden was elected 
class-leader. Thus I hail the honor to be the first official member 
of any religious organization ever formed in Howeli. But a regu- 
lar class-book could not be obtained; so I did the next best thing 
that could be done under the circumstances, — I took a sheet of 
paper and doubled it together, and recorded the names of the 
members thereon. The original book I still have in my posses- 
sion, which I exhibited at the Pioneer meeting, in June last. 

" The next S.abbath Rev. John Cosart preached in Howell, which 
was the third sermon delivered in Howell, and the first by a Meth- 
odist minister. He acknowledged our proceedings to be right, 
sent on the repoit of our society as agreed upon, and in the fall of 
1836 Washington Jackson was sent to Livingston County as a 
missionary from the Ohio Conference of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church ; for at that time all of Eastern Michigan w.as embraced 
in the Ohio Conference. 

" The names as they appear upon the original class-book when the 
class was formed are: Alvin L. Crittenden, Pardon Barnard, Eliza 
Ann Barnard, Peter Brewer, Dorcas Brewer, Sylvester Rounds, 
Polly Rounds, Asahel Rounds, M.ary Sage, and N.alhaniel Johnson. 

"Soon after, and before a traveling preacher arrived, there were 
received by letter Clarissa Johnson, Asahel Dibble, Abigail Dib- 
ble, and .\bigail Smith. No dale appears on the book except 
1836 until W.ashington Jackson arrived upon the mission ; but I 
think the cl.ass w.as formed in June of that year. The first date 
upon the book is Sept. 5, 1836. It has been said that Pardon 
Barnard had been licensed as an exhorter in the Stale of New 
York before coming to Michigan, which I suppose is correct, al- 



164 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



though his credentials were not presented to the Howell society. 
But on the 4th day of November, 1836, the society voted him and 
A. L. Crittenden license as exhorlers in the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and my license is dated as above, and signed by Wash- 
ington Jackson, missionary. 

"The first quarterly meeting held in Howell was July 15 and 
16, 1837, by Rev. \Vm. Horr, P. E., of Detroit District. Several 
changes were made in the membership of the society from time to 
time, and in the spring of 1837 the following names appear upon 
the book : A. L. Crittenden, Pardon Barnard, Eliza A. Barn.ird, 
Peter Brewer, Dorc.is Brewer, Mary Sage, Nathaniel Johnson, 
Clarissa Johnson, Asahel Dibble, Abigail Dibble, Abigail C. Smith, 
Elizabeth Thompson, Maria Thompson, Amarilla Crane, S. H. 
Crane, Matthew West; and in January, 1838, there were received 
Mary Brewer, Jane Crittenden, Sarah Baldwin, Syrena H. Crane, 
Joseph Sexton, Janette Sexton, Gertrude Butler, David Dickei-son, 
Lucy Dickerson, and Hannah Hubbard. 

" In 1840 I left Howell and moved to Hamburg, and Mallhew 
West was appointed leader, which position he held until 1S42, 
when he resigned, ami I, having moved back to Howell, was reap- 
pointed, which position I held until the fall of 1854. The names 
had been transcribed in a regular class-book before I went to Ham- 
burg, and in another while Matthew West was leader; which book 
never came back into my hands. The book containing the names 
of the Howell cl.iss from July, 1842, to 1852 is still in my pos- 
session, then.ames having been transferred to another book, which 
was left in Howell when I commenced traveling in 1854." 

Since the year 1845 the cliurch has been under 
charge of the following-named preachers during 
the years indicated, viz.: Thomas Wakelin, 1846; 

Stambaugh, 1847-48; F. VV. Warren, 1849; 

E. VV. Borden, 1850; O. D. White, 1851-52; Syl- 
vester Calkins, 1853-54; Eli Westlake, 1854-55; 

George Taylor, 1856-57; Colby and 

Green, 1858; Riley C. Crawford, 1859; E. R. 
Haskell, i860; L. H. Dean, 1861-62; A. R. 
Bartlett, 1863-64; Henry O. Parker, 1865-67; 
James T. Davidson, 1868; Thomas C. Gardner, 
1869; F. W. Warren, 1870-72; S. B. Kimmel, 
1873-75; Jesse Kilpatrick, 1876-78; John M. 
Gordon, 1879, — '^he present pastor. 

In the early years of its existence this church, 
in common with the other churches of Howell, 
held its services in the old frame school-house in 
the southwest part of the village, but occupied the 
court-house for that purpose for a few years after 
its completion in 1847. 

The church edifice of the society was commenced 
in 1850, during the pastorate of the Rev. E. W. 
Borden, and was completed in the time of Rev. 
Eli Westlake, being dedicated in March, 1855. Its 
cost was about $1500. It was enlarged and im- 
proved at a cost of about $3500 during the pasto- 
rate of the Rev. S. B. Kimmel, and was rededi- 
cated March 7, 1875. The edifice occupies an 
excellent and easily accessible site at the southeast 
corner of Walnut and Sibley Streets. The society 
owns a good parsonage at the corner of Brooks 
and Walnut Streets. The present membership of 
the society is about 260. 

Connected with this church is a flourishing 



Sabbath-school having an attendance of about 250, 
and a library of 500 volumes. The present super- 
intendent is Henry P. Spencer. There are also 
under the charge and patronage of this church 
three other Sabbath-schools, viz., one at the Si.x 
Corners (West Howell), one in the " Howe neigh- 
borhood," and one at the " Barnard school-house." 
The total number of scholars of all ages connected 
with the four schools is 547, and the whole num- 
ber of teachers having these in charge is 58. 

THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF HOWELL. 

This church antedates all the other church or- 
ganizations in Howell, excepting the Methodist. 
It is also stated, by the Rev. Mr. Crittenden, that 
the first religious services in Howell, by any regu- 
lar minister, were held here by the Rev. Jonathan 
Post, of this denomination. Referring to this 
matter, Mr. Crittenden says, — 

"In the month of February, 1836, Rev. Mr. Post, a B.aptist 
minister, of .\llegany Co., N. Y., came to Howell and spent the 
Sabbath. He preached the first sermon that was ever delivered 
here by a living minister. In March or April, Rev. Mr. Kanouse, 
a Presbyterian minister, spent the Sabbath in Howell and preached 
at the residence of Moses Thompson ; for by this time the meet- 
ings were held at various places, the people all being willing to 
open their doors for religious services." 

It is proper to say, however, that Mr. Edward F. 
Gay, who was also excellent authority, mentioned 
that the first minister who held services here was 
the Rev. Mr. Page, a Presbyterian, which will be 
found referred to in the history of that church. 
Both statements are given without any expression 
of opinion as to which is the correct one. It is, no 
doubt, a fact that both these ministers preached 
here within a few da)-s of the same time. 

In the year 1838 several persons holding letters 
from Baptist churches in New York and the New 
Etigland States, having settled in or near the village 
of Howell, felt it their duty to organize for the sus- 
taining of religious worship, and accordingly a 
meeting called for the purpose of taking this matter 
into consideration was held in the village school- 
house, on the 14th of April, in the )ear named. 
The record of this meeting shows the names of the 
following persons as present : Rev. Thomas Baker, 
Silas Dibble, Gardner Mason, Justin Durfee, Joseph 
A. Dibble, Sardis Davis, Sarah Field, Sarah Dur- 
fee, Lydia Austin, and Hannah Austin. 

These were in reality the original founders of 
the church, though their names do not all appear 
as constituent members. At this meeting, after 
uniting in devotional exercises, and a mutual ex- 
change of views on the propriety of uniting together 
in the relation of church fellowship, a resolution was 
unanimously passed, by which they were formed 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



i6s 



into a body to be subsequently recognized, accord- 
ing to tile usage of tlie denomination, as a Regular 
Baptist Church. 

A committee was then appointed, consisting of 
Silas Dibble, Gardner Mason, and Justin Durfee, to 
present at a future meeting Articles of Faitli and 
Practice, together with a Church Covenant. Rev. 
Thomas Baker was chairman and Justin Durfee 
clerk of this meeting. This was the first of the 
meetings held by what is now known as the First 
Baptist Church of Howell. From that date to the 
present regular meetings have been maintained. 

A meeting was held according to adjournment 
on the 1 2th of May following. The committee ap- 
pointed at the previous meeting made their report, 
presenting Articles of Faith and a Church Covenant, 
which was adopted. These are substantially those 
adopted by all regular Baptist churches. The 
propriety of calling a council for recognition was 
discussed, and arrangements were made to this 
end, at this meeting. The time for the council 
was fi.ved on the 2ist of June following. The 
subject of settling a pastor was brought up, and 
a committee was raised to secure the labors of 
Rev. Thomas Baker, then residing in Highland. 
Through this committee arrangements of a satis- 
factory character were made with him, by which he 
became the first pastor of this church. His time 
of service began with the first meeting held by the 
church. 

On June 21st the council, previously provided 
for and invited by action of the church, convened 
at the village school-house. It was organized by 
the choice of Rev. E. Weaver, Moderator, and A. 
N. Kemis, Clerk. The records of this council 
show a representation of four churches by dele- 
gates : Highland, E. Lee, J. Tenny ; Hartland, 
Rev. A. Lamb ; Walled Lake, Rev. E. Weaver, J. 
Coe, N. Daniels; Kensington, Rev. A. P. Mather, 
D. Seely, E. Cole, A. N. Kemis. 

Twelve persons presented letters, and requested 
recognition as a regular Baptist church. The 
names of these, as they appear on the records, are 
Silas Dibble, Aaron Sickles, Fanny Dibble, Han- 
nah Austin, Joseph Dibble, Justin Durfee, Rachel 
Dibble, Lydia Austin, Daniel Case, Anna Dibble, 
Sarah Durfee, Luana Monroe. 

Their Articles of Faith having been examined by 
the council and approved, the usual services of 
recognition were held on the same day. The 
sermon was by Rev. E. Weaver, of Walled Lake, 
from Psalms xxvi. 8 : " Lord, I have loved the hab- 
itation of thy house, and the place where thine 
honor dwelleth." The address and hand of fel- 
lowship were given to the church b\- Rev. A. 
Lamb, of Hartland, Thus occurred the memo- 



rable services by which this church took a position 
with the churches of the Baptist denomination. Of 
those who were engaged in the organization of this 
church, there arc some whose memory will be 
gratefully cherished, whose names do not appear 
among those of the original members ; but they 
will appear in the course of the first year's history 
of the church. 

The " Baptist Society of Howell" was legally 
organized Dec. 29, 1838 ; the trustees then elected 
being O. J. Field, O. F. Olds, Gardner Mason, 
George W. Kneeland, Daniel Case, O. J. Smith, 
Justin Durfee; and O. J. Field was chosen clerk 
of the society. 

The labors of Rev. Thomas Baker were closed 
in December of that year, and Rev. Erick Mosher, 
then a licentiate, was called to the pastorate. His 
salary was $100 a year, with the use of a residence. 
During the year there were added to the church, 
by letter, 1 1. The church was represented by del- 
egates in the Michigan Association, held in the 
fall of that year at Walled Lake, and on applica- 
tion was received into that body. 

The first year closed with encouraging success. 
The membership were happily united under the 
pastoral labors of Rev. E. Mosher, who was re- 
quested by the church to receive ordination. For 
this purpose a council was called on the 9th of 
May in the following year. By this council the 
pastor of the church was set apart to the work of 
the ministry in the usual order of the denomina- 
tion. Mr. Mosher continued in the work of the 
ministr\', a faithful, judicious.and successful pastor, 
up to the time of his death, which occurred while 
he was pastor of the Baptist Church of Northville, 
Mich. At the close of the second year the records 
of the church show that six had been received by 
letter and three by baptism. The first person who 
was received into the church by baptism was Har- 
riet M. Sickles, baptized April 14, 1839. Samuel 
Lyon was received by baptism at about the same 
time, and is believed by some to have been the 
first so received into the church. The total num- 
ber at the close of the year was 32. The pastor's 
labors were continued with them at the unani- 
mous request of the church. 

Up to the first of August no permanent action 
had been taken by the church respecting the elec- 
tion of deacons, the duties of that office being per- 
formed from time to time by persons specially 
chosen. At that time, however, the church having 
previously so determined, a choice of deacon was 
made by ballot. The first person appointed to 
that office was Townsend Drew. 

About this time man)' came to the church, ask- 
ing admission by baptism. Rev. J. A. Keys as- 



1 66 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



sisted the pastor in continued meetings, which re- 
sulted in large additions to the church. Sixteen 
were received by baptism and three by letter, 
making the total membership at the close of the 
year 51. This year will be remembered as one of 
prosperity to the church, closing with harmony and 
activity among the members. It was followed, 
however, by one of trials. Some became indiffer- 
ent, and for the first time in its history the church 
was obliged to resort to disciplinary action. 
Church labor was taken up with several members. 
Some returned to their walk with the church, 
while with others the final result was exclusion, 
though not during that year. In the midst of this 
Rev. Erick Mosher resigned the pastoral care of 
the church and removed to another field of labor. 
The year closed leaving the church without a pas- 
tor and embarrassed by want of harmony among 
the members. The numerical changes were addi- 
tions by letter, 7 ; the dismissions were by letter, 5 ; 
by death, 3 ; while the total membership was less 
by one than at the close of the previous year. 

In May, 1842, they called to the pastorate Rev. 
N. G. Chase, of Napoleon, Mich., who began his 
labors at once. The labors of this pastor were 
acceptable to the church. Several cases of diffi- 
culty were amicably adjusted ; one was received into 
the fellowship of the church by baptism, and several 
by letter, while one was dismissed by letter, making 
the membership at the close of the year 57. 

The church continued to enjoy the labors of 
Rev. N. G. Chase, receiving aid for his support 
from the Baptist State Convention to the amount 
of ^75. During 1843 tiiere were added to the 
church by letter, I ; and dismissed by letter, 3 ; 
excluded, i ; there being a loss of membership in 
the aggregate of 4. 

At this time the ordinary numbers at the cove- 
nant meetings were only from 6 to 8. In October, 
1844, the pastor resigned, and closed his labors 
with the body. Rev. J. H. Rasco, of New York, 
was settled witli the church in the following month. 
At the close of this year the total membership was 
the same as two )-ears previous, — 57. Two were 
e-xcluded and 5 received by letter. 

During the year 1845, Revs. A. Lamb and 
Chapin held a meeting, which proved beneficial to 
the church. Difficulties were settled, and harmony 
was restored again. Six were received by baptism 
and 4 by letter. During the early part of the year 
2 were excluded, and 4 dismissed by letter. The 
membership now only exceeded by one the number 
three years before. 

Up to this time, the society having no chuich 
edifice, the services of the church had been held 
in the old frame school-house of Howell village. 



The need of a meeting-house was severely felt, 
and the subject of building one had been earnestly 
discussed at a meeting held on the 7th of December, 
1842, and on several occasions afterwards, but 
nothing had been done to accomplish the object. 
But now (in the spring of 1S46) it had been deter- 
mined to move actively in the matter, and the 
trustees of the society took steps towards the 
building of a house of worship, " 32 by 44 feet, 
with a gallery on one end, and a proportionate 
steeple," on the present site near the northwest 
corner of the court-house square. It was not, 
however, until five years later that it was occupied ; 
and during this interval the society continued to 
hold its services in the school-house until the com- 
pletion of the court-house, after which they were 
generally held in that building. 

In the f.dl of 1846 the "Wayne Association" 
held its annual meeting with this church. The 
meeting was one of interest to the members of that 
body, and to the members of the church. The re- 
cords of the church show the additions of the year 
to be II, against 6 dismissals, making the total 
membership on the 1st of April, 1847, 61. 

There was a meeting of the church called on 
the 26th of June; 1847, for the purpose of electing 
three deacons. The persons chosen to that office 
were George T. Sage, Justin Durfee, and Ephraim 
Fowler. Application was made to the Home 
Mission Society, from whom aid was received in 
support of the pastor to the amount of S50. This 
was granted in consideration of the effort the 
church was making to build a house of worship. 

In November, the pastor, J. H. Rasco, offered 
his resignation to the church, which was accepted. 
By subsequent action of the church, his ministra- 
tions were continued until December, 1848. There 
were 7 additions to the church during this period, 
making the total membership at the close of this 
pastorate 61. The church was without a pastor 
one year and four months, during which the rec- 
ords show that meetings of the body were main- 
tained with a good degree of faithfulness, and 
especially considering their destitution of a pastor. 

In May, 1850, Rev. A. P. Howell, of Highland, 
was engaged to labor as pastor. The church at 
this time numbered 64. During the following 
summer, meetings were held in the new house of 
worship, though as yet unfinished. 

The pastoral relation of Mr. Howell with the 
church clo.sed in May, 1 85 I, covering a period of 
one year, during which there were added to the 
body, by baptism and letter, 9; dismissed by letter, 
8; died, 2; making the numberofmembers63. Sev- 
eral were granted letters this year to unite with the 
church in Marion, which afterwards disbanded. 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



167 



There now occurs in the history of the church 
another period of nearly a year when there was no 
pastor. 

In April, 1852, the house of worship was com- 
pleted and consecrated to divine worship. A 
sermon was preached by Rev. G. VV. Harris, of 
Detroit. Rev. G. Bridge, who was present and 
participated in these services, was called to serve 
the church as pastor. He accepted, and entered 
upon his labors the following month. The church 
then numbered 61, a year having passed with no 
addition to its membership. No year had been 
like it in this respect. Under Mr. Bridge 12 by 
letter and 2 by baptism were received into the fel- 
lowship of the church in the first year of his labor. 
There was also a diminution of 4, making the total 
membership in May, 1853, 71. The year following 
the letter of the church to the Association reported 
1 1 received by baptism, 9 by letter, against 6 dimi- 
nutions. The whole number now was 85. 

The labors of Rev. G. Bridge closed in May, 
1854, and he was succeeded by Rev. P. C. Dayfoot, 
who entered upon his work in May, 1855. 

In October following the church reported to the 
Association a low state of religious interest ; a year 
and a half had passed with an increase of 4 by 
letter. Again, in the fall of 1855, the total number 
was 76. The following year the labors of the 
pastor were divided between this church and 
Marion, the church in Howell only enjoying pas- 
toral labor one-half of the time. There appears to 
have been embarrassment at this time from a debt 
still unprovided for. Vigorous efforts were made 
to liquidate this debt, which were but partially 
successful. The returns to the Association in the 
fall of 1856 were 70 members. 

In April, 1857, the church was again without a 
pastor, and an unsuccessful effort was made to 
engage the services of the Rev. L. Bath, of Grass 
Lake, Mich. In May following, the Rev. P. C. 
Da}'foot was again called to serve the church as 
pastor, laboring here three-fourths of the time. 
This engagement closed at the expiration of a 
year, when the church was again left destitute. 
After the ist of May, 1858, the desk was supplied 
at different times by several clergymen, among 
whom were the Revs. Concklin, Lemon, and Tup- 
pcr. In October of 1S59 the membership was 
reported at 97. 

In May, i860, the Rev. A. M. Hunt was 
elected pastor. His labors being acceptable to 
the church, a council convened for his ordination, 
Sept. 20, i860, when he was set apart for the min- 
istry in the usual form. He continued here for 
one year, and closed his labors May i, 1861. In 
this year the membership reported was 103. 



Immediately after the close of Mr. Hunt's pas- 
torate, a call was extended to the Rev. John 
Booth, under whom the church prospered, and 
who continued to labor here until March, 1S64. 
He is mentioned as a man " to be gratefully re- 
membered by those who enjoyed his ministra- 
tions; sound and logical as a preacher, and un- 
usually correct and faithful in all matters of 
disciplinary character." 

In the August following the close of Mr. 
Booth's pastorate the Rev. William Tilley was 
engaged as pastor of the church, and under him 
there was great unity and prosperity. He re- 
mained until August, 1867, when he resigned 
the charge. During his pastorate the church 
received large accessions to its membership 
through the agency of a revival which occurred 
in the winter of 1866; the result of a series of 
meetings held here bv the Rev. J. Moxom. 
During this time, also, William C. Rumsey and 
William L. Knapp were elected to the office of 
deacon (March, 1S66). The membership of the 
church reported in the fall of 1867 was 130. 

In January, 1868, the Rev. J. S. Boyden was in- 
vited to settle with the church, and, accepting the 
call, entered on his work here on the 1st of March 
following. During that year the church edifice 
was thoroughly refitted in its interior at a cost of 
;^475, and soon afterwards was repainted outside. 
But its days were numbered and nearly finished. 
About four years later it gave place to the present 
church, which was built on the same site at a cost 
of about $11,500, and completed, dedicated, and 
occupied as a house of worship in the year 1873. 

The pastorate of the Rev. J. S. Boyden was fol- 
lowed by that of the Rev. William Putnam, who 
was succeeded by the Rev. C. H. Remington, the 
present pastor. The present deacons of the church 
are James Turner and Cyrus Holt. The member- 
ship at the present time (August, 1879) is about 
200. Connected with the church is a Sabbath- 
school, — organized in 1843, — having a present 
membership of 140 pupils, and a library of 400 
volumes. John Black is the superintendent of the 
school, and F. W. Rumsey, librarian. 

THE FIRST PRESBYTERI.VN CHURCH OF HOWEI.I.. 

The Presbyterian Church was, in point of time, 
the third religious organization formed in Howell ; 
but the ministers of this denomination were among 
the earliest, if not the very first, regularly author- 
ized preachers of the gospel who held religious 
worship in the village and township. Mr. Edward 
F. Ga)', himself an original member of this church, 
named the Rev. William Page as the first minister 
who preached a sermon here, the services on that 



1 68 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



occasion being held at the house of James Sage ; 
and that the next minister here was the Rev. 
Jonathan Post (Baptist), who preaclied at the house 
of Moses Thompson. The Rev. A. L. Crittenden, 
however, in his narrative of early meetings in 
Howell makes Mr. Post the first minister who 
preached to a congregation here ; this being in 
February, 1836. There is this to be said in favor 
of the latter statement, that at the time named, 
Mr. Crittenden was a resident of Howell, while 
Mr. Gay did not come here on his prospecting 
tour until some months later, and did not settle 
here until the spring of 1837. He may, therefore, 
have meant that Mr. Page was the first minister 
who preached here after his arrival ; but, however 
this may have been, the question of priority is an 
immaterial one. 

Hon. Mylo L. Gay, son of Edward F. Gay, in a 
paper read on the occasion of the fortieth anni- 
versary of the formation of the Presbyterian Church, 
gave his recollections of that event and of some 
religious meetings which had preceded it (he being 
but a boy at the time alluded to), as follows : 

" My first recollections of attending 'meeting' in the then new 
town d.-ite to a year and three months prior to the formation of 
this chnrch. In the spring of 1837, I remember following along 
after my father in a wimling path which led through the woods 
from the farm now known as the ' Reed farm,' down to the ' Centre,' 
then winding northward by another path through the woods to the 
Thompson log house on the bank of the pond, where meetings 
■were held once in four weeks by Elder Post, who came on horse- 
back, — I think from Plymouth. Also in a fortnight thereafter we 
followed another trail svestward to the small log house of James 
S.ige, situated on the identical vpot where now stands the resi- 
dence of William McPherson, Jr. There I think we occasionally 
listened to a Methodist preacher; and the particular impression 
here made upon my mind was the peculiar and quaint style of 
' starting the tune' by old Mr. Sage, who, although himself a Uni- 
versalist, consented to act in the capacity of chorister, and also to 
accommodate the neighbors with a place in which to hold meet- 
ings. Another impression was in regard to the peculiar bent posi- 
tion required to be maintained by the taller persons when standing, 
to prevent their heads coming in contact with the cross-beams 
above. 

"The l6th and 17th days of June, 1838, are still fresh in my 
memory, as they were memorable days in the hi>tory of the little 
liainlet then known as Livingston Centre. Those days fell on 
Saturday and Sunday, and the meetings were held in the loft of a 
one-and-a-half story building which my father had recently erected 
for a store. The floor of the room above was of rough boards, 
and the ceiling was nothing but the roof-boards and shingles, in 
close proximity to the heads of all adults; and the rough tama- 
rack rafters, with their knotty projections, were a constant reminder 
that all should humble themselves in the business in which they 
■were then about to engage." 

In the building thus described by Mr. Gay, the 
Presbyterian Church of Howell was formed by the 
Rev. Henry Root; the preliminary meeting being 
held on Saturday, the sixteenth, and the organiza- 
tion perfected on the 17th of June, 1838. Its or- 
ganization was on the union plan (Presbyterian 



N. S. and Congregational), and the following-named 
persons comprised its original membership : David 
H. Austin, Josiah P. Jewett, Horace Griffith, Arte- 
mas Mahan, John T. Watson, George W. Jewett, 
Edward F. Gay, Price Morse, Andrew Riddle, 
William McPherson, Charles Clark, Lucretia Jew- 
ett, Catharine Griffith, Polly Ann Mahan, Hila 
Mahan, Julia Mahan, Sarah Mahan, Harriet L. 
Watson, Anise P. Jewett, Clarissa L. Gay, Elvira 
Morse, Elizabeth McPherson, Mrs. Moses Thomp- 
son, Matilda Clark, Mary Clark. 

The " rotary system" was adopted in the organi- 
zation ; there were to be chosen three ruling elders, 
who were also to be invested with the office of 
deacon. The persons first elected to this double 
office were George W. Jewett, for one year ; John 
T. Watson, for two years; Edward F. Gay, for 
three years ; and George W. Jewett was chosen 
clerk. 

The " Presbyterian Society of Howell" was 
formed by the requisite legal steps on the 7th 
of July next following the organization of the 
church. The first trustees of this society were 
Edward F. Gay and F. J. B. Crane, first class, for 
one year ; Price Morse and Josiah P. Jewett, sec- 
ond class, for two years ; Wellington A. Glover, 
third class, for three years. This organization of 
the society was filed in the county clerk's office, 
Dec. 5, 1838. The earliest meetings of this con- 
gregation for religious worship (after those in 
Mr. Gay's store building) were held in the village 
school-house. But in the year 1839, the church 
having become stronger by accessions to its mem- 
bership, a small frame church building was com- 
menced (and completed in 1840), on a site which 
is described by the Hon. M. L. Gay as being 
" a little to the west of Mr. Hannah's wagon- 
shops, opposite the school-house square, and front- 
ing to the south, quite a distance off in the bushes." 
The site proved unsatisfactory, being very difficult 
of approach in wet and muddy weatiier, and on 
this account, the building was not long after re- 
moved to the old public square, near its southeast 
corner. Afterwards, on account of a debt con- 
tracted in repairing and remodeling it, it was sub- 
jected to a forced sale to the highest bidder, and 
was eventually removed from the square to the 
place on East Street where it is now in use as a 
blacksmith-shop. The interior construction and 
arrangement of this old church building is thus 
described by Mr. Gay : 

" At the light and left of the pulpit were two or three pews, the 
middle one elevated one step, and the back one still higher, and 
all at right angles with the body slips, the singers and other musi- 
cians claiming the side to the left of the preacher, and the young 
men in lire habit of attending church appropriating the right al- 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



169 



most exclusively. It was from these elevated seats that a very 
coniniarulin}; view of the congregation was to he ohiained, it heing 
also an cxceeilingly welladapleil position for the purpose of mak- 
ing a little vain display, were any so disposed, liut whether from 
compulsion or choice, those seats were always well filled liy the 
young men ; and, no doubt, I am relating the experience of many 
of the gray-heads of to-day when I aver that it was from those 
conspicuous seats, when occupied by them in youth, that their 
partners for life were chosen. From the side appropriated to, and 
occupied by ihe singers and musicians, we were wont to hear and 
enjoy good, old-fashioned tunes, sweeter by far than many of mod- 
ern days, though, perhaps, to the artistic ear, not rendered in the 
most faultless and scientific style, yet possessing a depth and power 
which neither time nor change have sufficed to efface from the 
memory." 

During the first year of its existence — that is, 
lip to the i6th of June, 1839 — the church had re- 
ceived accessions to its membership to the number 
of 17. On the 21st of September in that year it 
was resolved, by a vote of the church, "that, inas- 
much as this church is now neither Presbyterian 
nor Congregational, we hereby become Presbyte- 
rian in due form." Thereupon the plan of organ- 
ization was changed, the church adopted the Pres- 
byterian form of government, and Edward F. 
Gay, Josiah P. Jewett, and Philester Jessup were 
elected as the first board of elders under the 
change of form. 

From the organization of the church, and 
through the fifteen months of its continuance on 
the union plan, its pulpit had been filled most ac- 
ceptably by the Rev. Henry Root, and now, on 
the 25th of September, four days after its change 
in form, he was duly installed, by the usual cere- 
monies, as the first pastor of the Presbyterian 
Church. His ministration continued here until 
October, 1 842. He was an earnest Christian, a 
devoted and efficient laborer, a man of kindly and 
agreeable manner, and universally beloved. The 
foUowing-nained ministers have been his succes- 
sors in the sacred office as pastors or stated sup- 
plies of this church, viz. : Rev. Sylvester Cochran, 
March, 1843, to March, 1844; Rev. Edward E. 
Gregory, March, 1844, to July, 1845 ; Rev. Henry 
Root, — a second term, — November, 1845, to July, 
1847 ; Rev. H. H. Grannis, October, 1847, to April, 
1850; Rev. L. Mills, October, 1850, to October, 
1853; Rev. Robert McBride, October, 1853, to 
September, i860; Rev. J. A. Griffes, September, 
1 86 1, to October, 1863; Rev. J. Ford Sutton, Feb- 
ruary, 1864, to July, 1865; Rev. Joel Kennedy, 
March, 1866, to August, 1867; Rev. Gustavus L. 
Foster, December, 1867, to December, 1872; Rev. 
George M. Clark, May, 1873, to July, 1874; Rev. 
Franklin A. Spencer, March to June, 1875, — a tem- 
porary supply. Rev. Jaines Lewis, the present 
pastor of the church, began his labors July 11, 
1875, and was installed in October of the same 
year. 

22 



During the pastorate of Rev. Sylvester Cochran 
— July 29, 1843 — it was 

" Resolved, That the First Presbyterian Church of Howell be 
hereafter known and designated as the Congregational Church of 
Howell, and that this, the said church, be governed by the rules 
and regulations usually adopted in Congregational Churches." 

But on the 27th of October, 1845, nearly simul- 
taneously with the commencement of the second 
pastorate of the Rev. Henry Root, the church 
again became Presbyterian. From that time it has 
been in the Presbyterian connection, but had only 
elders-elect, each chosen for the term of three 
years, until Sept. 26, 1875, when the elders were 
duly ordained and installed. William McPherson, 
however, was ordained in October, 1842, when first 
chosen elder. 

The oldest of the ministers now living, who 
have been pastors of this church, is the Rev. 
Edward E. Gregory, who resides in Howell vil- 
lage, takes a lively interest in the welfare of the 
church, and still fills the pulpit most acceptably 
when occasion requires. 

Of the clergymen mentioned in the above list 
as having served this church at various times, the 
only one who died during the term of his pastorate 
here was the Rev. Robert McBride, who passed 
away in the prime of manhood. His death oc- 
curred on the 15th of September, i860, at Sparta, 
Wis., to which place he had gone a short time 
before on a visit to his parents, and in the hope 
of improving his declining health. A few days 
after his death the Sparta Herald — of which his 
father was editor and publisher — contained the 
following brief history of his life, and of the 
scenes and events attending his dissolution. It 
is reproduced here, because it cannot fail to be 
read with interest by many who well remember 
his ministration and his virtues. 

" Our dearly beloved son had spent but eight years in the min- 
istry — after graduating in theology at Oberlin, Ohio, in 1853 — 
before his mission on earth was cut short by an apparently untimely 
death, but even this brief period was truly and earnestly devoted 
to the service of his Divine M.astcr. 

"Consecrated in early infancy to the service of the Saviour by 
a devoted, pious mother, who led the way to Christ in death, .as 
she had ever faithfully in life, at great pei-sonal s.acrifices and 
privations to both his parents he was early placed in a position to 
fit him for the work. He pursued his studies for ten years with 
unusual assiduity, and became a ripe scholar when his term of in- 
struction closed. At the age of sixteen he surrendered his heart 
to God, during a season of revival in the institution with which 
he was connected, and from that time on was a true follower of 
Christ. In 1854 he connected himself in marriage with Miss 
Abbie Comslock, of Adrian, Mich., who was eminently fitted, in 
every respect, to aid him in the important work upon which he 
had entered. 

" His fir>t year was occupied in the Presbyterian Church at 
Parma, and the seven subsequent years in the Presbyterian Church 
at Howell, Mich., where he Labored as their pastor to the general 



IJO 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



acceptance to his people and witli good success in winning souls 
to Christ. About three months ago he was attacked with a severe 
liemorrhage, then supposed to proceed from his throat, whicli en- 
tirely prostrated jiis energies, and he was compelled to relinquish 
his labors in the desk. His vascular system from early youth 
being of a feeble, relaxed character,— though enjoying good health 
generally otherwise, — he became subject to frequent slight hem- 
orrhages, from close application as a student, but not of a serious 
nature until recently. A journey and rest was recommended, and 
with his wife and child, he came to Wisconsin about three weeks 
ago. For the first week of his arrival he appeared to recover rapidly, 
and confidently expected to return in a few weeks and resume his 
labors at Howell; but God in his providence had arranged it 
otherwise, and summoned him to a higher sphere. 

" The call was sudden and unexpected to himself, as well as to 
all his sorrow-stricken relatives and friends, but it found him with 
his lamp trimmed and burning. No .serious result was appre- 
hended from a slight fever which affected him for a week or two 
by his physician or family, until but a few hours previous to his 
death. When informed of his condition and that he had but a 
few hours to live at the most, and miglit not but for a very few 
minutes, — his pulse had ceased entirely and extremities becoming 
cold, — he received it calmly, and at once committed his soul to 
God. The distress and anguish of his wife and child impressed 
him strongly with deep emotions for a few minutes, but he soon 
resumed his composure and endeavored to soothe and administer 
comfort and consolation to the dear ones he loved with so much 
tender affection. The .Saviour graciously placed underne.ith him 
his arms of mercy, sustaining and supporting him in a remarkable 
manner throughout, so that he was enabled to converse frequently 
and freely with his afflicted wife and relatives; while in the in- 
tervals he appeared to hold close communion with his God. But 
once he .spoke of his great disappointment in being thus early cut 
olT from the sacred mission he had so much at heart, of laboring 
for souls, but expressed a cheerful submission to the will of his 
heavenly Father in this, as in all things else. 

"During a private conversation I had with him for a few min- 
utes, about three hours before his death, I asked him if he had 
any fear of death, now apparently so nigh, or doubts on his mind 
of his acceptance with God. He at once replied, ' I cannot say 
that I have any timid fears of death, but I feel that it is an awful 
realization to be thus suddenly hurried into the presence of my 
final Judge. I know that I have fallen far. short of my duty to 
God and his service on earth, but I feel great assurance that I have 
a precious Saviour who will plead for me, and while I entertain a 
well-grounded hope of an acceptance with God, I trust that I 
shall have a clearer manifestation of that acceptance before my 
departure.' About one o'clock p.m., his extreme exhaustion and 
short, quick breathing admonished him that his end was nigh. 
Having affectionately embraced his wife and child, requesting her 
to remain as calm and quiet as possible, he closed his eyes and lay 
apparently in deep communion. In a few minutes his yet clear 
eyes opened wide, and shone with peculiar lustre as he earnestly 
gazed out, as if seeing or hearing something in the far-ofif distance; 
softly but distinctly he said, ' I hear the waters roll.' In a few 
minutes after he again said, ' I see the bright river.' A placid, 
sweet smile for an instant curved over his lips, his eyes gently 
closed, two or three scarcely perceptible breaths escaped, — he was 
asleep in Christ the Saviour." 

The death of Mr. McBride was sincerely mourned 
by his church, and by the entire community of 
Howell, as that of an able preacher, a devoted 
pastor, and an excellent, influential, and Christian 
citizen. 

The accessions to the membership of the Pres- 
byterian Church of Howell are given below, 



During the first year — ending June 16, 1839 — 
there were added to the original membership 
Philester Jessup and wife, Mrs. Butler, Catharine 
Butler, Sarah Walker, Mary Jessup, Adam Rora- 
bacher, Eunice Curtis, Nancy Waterman, Samuel 
W. Glover, John Russell, Nancy Rorabacher, An- 
geline Brown, Elizabeth Gay, Caleb Curtis, Mary 
Curtis, Samuel Hubbard. 

In the year ending June 16, 1840: Mrs. Lovina 
Root, Lydia Ann Sexton, Eleanor Waterman, 
William Austin, Harriet Fisk, John R. Neely, 
Elijah Coffren, Salmon Davis, Ruth Davis, Francis 
Morse, Nancy M. Austin. 

Year ending June, 1841 : Giles Tucker, Rhoda 
Scofield, Henry D. Benjamin, Mrs. H. D. Benjamin, 
Diantha Armstrong, Sylvester Sexton, Mary A. 
Skilbeck, Benjamin Curtis, Elizabeth Waterman, 
John G. Mason, William Spafford, Mrs. Fanny 
Kneeland, Esther Willard, Mrs. William Spafford. 

Year ending June, 1843: Zebulon M. Drew, 
Lucy H. Drew, Wellington A. Glover, Michael 
S. Brennan, Mylo L. Gay, Allen Stearns, Luther 
M. Glover, William Sexton, S. Newhall Mahan, 
Philip Carlton, Mary Carlton, Sarah Moore, Louisa 
Jessup, John D. Pinckney, James Haddan, Thomas 
Carlton, Andrew L. Hill, Hannah C. Hill, Jane 
Stilson, Martha Stilson, Miriam B. Stilson, Elijah 
M. Hutchinson, Cyrena Hutchinson, Benjamin W. 
Hutchinson, David Durfee, Josiah Turner, Eva- 
line Turner, Elvira Stilson, Matilda Stilson, Phi- 
lander Glover, Ruhamah Glover, Mary Jane Glover, 
Sarah Kneeland, Mabel A. Glover, Sally Ann Dar- 
win. 

Year ending June, 1843 : James Yates and wife, 
George Lawrence, Joseph B. Skilbeck, Mary Wat- 
son. 

Year ending June, 1844: Margaret Yates, Betsey 
Bliss. 

Year ending June, 1845 : Mrs. Jane Gregory. 

Year ending June, 1846: Samuel M. Yerkes and 
wife, Julia Jessup, George McDowell and wife. 

Year ending June, 1S47: None. 

Year ending June, 1848: Mary Cook, Joseph 
Stafford, Sally Stafford, Polly Stafford, Lucinda 
Stafford, Mrs. Van Keuren, William Winton, 
Thomas R. Spence, John S. Dixon, Phebe Dixon. 

Year ending June, 1849: Sally Ann Wilber, 
Electa Grannis, Huldah Huntley, Emma Spence. 

Year ending June, 1850: James S. Foster, Au- 
gusta Foster, Jacob M. Eager, Emily Eager, Sal- 
mon Adams, Mrs. Salmon Adams, Jacob D. Gale, 
Mrs. Sarah Gale, Mary Gale, David Blackman, 
A.senath Blackman, Albert Pixley, H. N. Pixley, 
H. S. Sparks, Eliza Sparlcs. 

Year ending June, 185 1 : Mrs. Eliza Mills, Al- 
bert Mills, Lucius F. Mills, Mary E. Mills, Polly 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



171 



Hildebrant, Benjamin F. Scofield, Celestia Scofield, 
Julia C. Scofield, Sarah Ann Scofield, Edefy Sco- 
field, Sarah L. Jeuett, Elizabeth McPherson, Jane 
Rose, Mary V. Jcwelt, Mary Ann Carl. Rufus W. 
Scofield, Morris Thompson, Julia Ann Peebles, 
Lauren K. Hewett, James !\Iullo)', Dr. Harring- 
ton, Hannah H. MuUoy, Sarah Harrinjjton, Silas 
Beardsley, Theda Beardsley, Julia Brown, Isabel 
McPherson, Mary Louisa Huntley, Delia S. Hunt- 
ley, Antoinette Blackman, Helen A. Blackman, 
Martha H. Balch, Minerva Stafford, Mary E. Skil- 
beck, Caroline A. Whipple, Joseph H. Steel, Irene 
Hewett, Samuel Hunt, Royal P. Melendy, Cordelia 
Melendy. 

Year ending June, 1S52: Philo L. Reed and wife, 
Olive Hicks, Lyman Melondy, Levi Hicks. 

Year ending June, 1853 : Charles P. Holmes, 
Eliza Holmes, Miranda L. Wadhams, James Hall, 
Sally Hall, Jared Huntington, Candace Huntington. 

Three years ending June, 1856: If there were 
any accessions to the membership during these 
years, they have not been found. 

Year ending June, 1857 : Mrs. Abbie McBride, 
Mrs. Eliza Sullivan, H. H. Mills. 

Year ending June, 1858 : Dr. H. J. Rumsey and 
wife, James Smith and wife, William Huntington, 
Sarah L. A.xtell, Ann^P21iza Gilbert. Francis A. 
Skiibeck, Anna M. Sullivan, Lucretia Scofield, 
Sarah E. Wells, Louisa Merrells, W. K. Sexton, 
Z. F. Grossman, Ellen A. Jewett, Eliza J. Jewett, 
Margaret Frisbee, Louisa Mulloy, Laura A. Reed, 
Maria S. Lawson, Andrew D. Waddell, Hudson B. 
Blackman, Alexander McPherson, George Wake- 
field, Alvaro J. W.Thompson, Mary Jane McDow- 
ell, Prudence E. McDowell, Lucia Turner, Martha 
J. Glover, Mary L. McPherson, B. Howard Lawson, 
Dr. R. C. Hutton, Martha A. Hutton, Dr. Wm. L. 
Wells, Julia M. Wells, Rachel Blanck, Francis N. 
Munroe, Julia Gilbert, .Sarah McFall, Sarah Wake- 
field, Hannah Telling, Edward C. McPherson, Her- 
man W. Merrells, Henry B. Curtis, Sarah A. Curtis, 
Mary Mulloy, Francis E. Reed, Perley D. Skiibeck. 

Year ending June, 1859: Mrs. Emeline Bunnell, 
Hannah Monroe, Ellen Phillips, Mrs. Sarah Briggs, 
Henry Baker, Mrs. Cordelia Glover. 

The accessions to the church during the last 
twenty years have been too numerous to be con- 
veniently given. The present number of its mem- 
bers is 275. 

The pre-sent (1S79) elders of the church are 
William McPherson, S. M. Yerkes, F. N. Monroe, 
P. L. Reed, R. P. Melendy, Theodore Welcker, and 
J. M. Eager. 

The Sabbath-school connected with the church 
is organized into 26 classes, and has a very large 
attendance. Its present officers are : Superintend- 



ent, M. J. McPherson ; Assistant Superintendent, 
H. H. Mills ; Secretary, Birt. F. Parsons; Librarian, 
Ernest D. Hutton ; Assistant Librarian, Samuel F. 
Crosman ; Treasurer, Alexander McPherson ; Col- 
lector, E. Huntley. 

The church edifice which is the present house of 
worship of this church was built during the pastor- 
ate of the Rev. Robert McBride, having been com- 
pleted and dedicated in the autumn of 1855. It 
is a good and commodious brick structure, standing 
on a site located in the southeast angle of Sibley 
and McCarthy Streets. The society owns a good 
parsonage, located on Lake Street, built in the 
year 1868. 

THE CONGREGATION.\L CMURCII OF HOWELL. 

This church, which maintained an existence for 
a number of years in Howell, grew out of the 
secession of several members from the Presby- 
terian Church in the spring of 1849. These mem- 
bers, with several other persons, having this matter 
in contemplation, asked advice on the subject 
of the General Association of Congregational 
Churches, at Ann Arbor, and received the reply 
that it was the privilege of the memorialists to in- 
vite a council, by letters missive to neighboring 
churches, to convene at Howell, e.xamine the case, 
and give the advice asked. This course was ac- 
■ cordingly pursued ; the council convened here, 
and, after deliberation, announced the decision that 
" it is their privilege and their duty to proceed to 
organize a Congregational Church at Howell." 
Acting on this advice, a church organization was 
formed immediately afterwards, the Rev. Mr. 
Lockvvood, of De.xter, assisting. The original 
members of the church were the following-named 
persons : Charles Clark, Mrs. Maria Clark, Zebu- 
Ion M. Drew, Lucy Drew, Edward F. Gay, Mrs. 
Clarissa L. Gaj', Benjamin W. Cardell and wife. 

The Rev. Norman Ackley became their pastor 
on the l8th of June, 1849, and at the first commu- 
nion thirteen members were added to the original 
eight. Mr. Ackley continued with the church for 
a year and a half, and during this time its member- 
ship was increased to fifty-two, twenty-one of 
whom had been members of the Presbjterian 
Church. But about the end of the time named, 
their minister was charged with improper and un- 
ministerial conduct; an investigation followed; the 
charges being sustained, " he was silenced," and his 
labors with this church were abruptly ended. 
This had a very disheartening effect, and a number 
of members withdrew, but soon afterwards the ser- 
vices of the Rev. Enos Rice were engaged, and he 
remained with them for two years, during which 
time several new members connected themselves 



172 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



with the church, but about an equal number were 
removed by death. 

While Mr. Ackley had filled the desk, the 
church had received the sum of $ioo per year 
from the Missionary Association of New York, and 
this sum was increased to ^150 in the first year of 
Mr. Rice's ministry. 

For several years after its organization, the 
church owned no place of worship, and generally 
held their worship in the court-house. But having 
purchased a lot at the northeast corner of Main 
and North Streets, where Mr. E. C. Wright now 
lives, they commenced to build a cJiurch edifice on 
this in the fall of 1852. The building was of brick, 
thirty-two by fifty feet in dimensions. The walls 
were erected before the cold weather set in, but 
the structure remained unfinished through the 
winter, and in consequence of this, the work which 
had been done was somewliat damaged. After a 
long delay, however, caused by this and some 
other drawbacks, it was completed and occupied, 
and served not only the Congregational, but also 
the Episcopal society, as a place of worship. It 
was regarded as a good churcii building, and was 
surmounted by a tower, in which was placed the 
first church bell in the village of Howell. 

After Mr. Rice closed his labors with this church 
it was without a pastor or regular preaching for 
about ten years, though during this time services 
were held occasionally, at irregular intervals, as 
preachers could be obtained. Among these 
preachers was the Rev. D. S. Eaton, who served 
the church longer than any other one during the 
period named. Below are given the names of 
members (additional to the original ones) who had 
joined the church at various periods from the time 
of its organization to July, 1858, viz.: John R. 
Neely, Catharine Neely, Caleb Curtis, Mrs. Curtis, 
Benjamin C. Curtis, Mary Curtis, John Russell, 
Clarissa Kellogg, Levi Hoyt, Mrs. Hoyt, Mrs. 
William Sexton, William Telling, Mrs. Telling, 
David Sprague, Mrs. Sprague, S. D. Pinckney, 
Mrs. Juliana Ackley, Jesse Davis, Mrs. Catharine 
Davis, Mrs. Laura Barber, Benjamin F. Scofield, 
Mrs. C. Scofield, Julia C. Scofield, Hiram Kimball, 
Mrs. Jane Kimball, William Spafford, Mrs. Spaf- 
ford, Allen Stearns, Hiram Kellogg, Mrs. Jane 
Kellogg, Henry Kellogg, Levi Clark, Mrs. Irena 
Clark, Amelia Spaulding, Edwin Steadman, Eliza 
A. Steadman, Mrs. Tucker, Philester Jessup, Mrs. 
Jessup, Mary Jessup, Julia Jessup, Elizabeth Gay, 
Mr. Tighe, Mrs. Tighe, Mrs. Lawson, Margaret 
Lawson, Mrs. Drew, Mrs. Henry, James Brott, and 
Louisa Brott. 

On the 25th of March, 1861, the Rev. Josiah S. 
Burt, from the Chicago Theological Seminary, I 



commenced supplj'ing the pulpit for one-half the 
time, his salary to be raised by subscription. It 
appears to have been expected that the churches 
in Pinckney and Oceola would employ the other 
half of his time, and furnish the remainder of his 
support; but if such had been the understanding, 
it was not carried out by those churches, and Mr. 
Burt was compelled for lack of support to leave at 
the end of about six months. 

The Rev. J. J. Gridley, previously a Methodist 
preacher, but who had withdrawn from that denom- 
ination and commenced preaching as a stated sup- 
ply for the church at Pinckney, became also acting 
pastor of the Congregational Church at Howell on 
the 1st of September, 1862, serving both churches, 
but the precise duration of his ministry here has 
not been ascertained. In December of that year, 
Mr. Gridley filled the desk, Charles Clark was 
deacon, Edward F. Gay, clerk ; and besides these 
there were eleven other resident members of the 
church, making a total membership of thirteen, 
but there came a further accession of two members 
on the first of the following March, viz., Abram 
Brott and wife. These were the last persons men- 
tioned in the clerk's record as having joined the 
church, and the record itself ends not long after, 
the last entry in it being dated April 20, 1865, at 
which time Benjamin W. Cardell was appointed 
delegate to the Association, which was to meet at 
Dexter on the 26th of the same month. 

After this the existence of the church was not 
long. The date of the last meeting for services 
cannot be given, but the organization disintegrated 
and died, and the church building, having been 
sold at auction, was demolished in 1872, and the 
building material taken from it was used in the 
construction of the present Baptist church. 

.-^LL SAINTS' CHURCH OF THE TOWN OF HOWELL. 

This church, of the Protestant Episcopal denom- 
ination, was organized on the 1 2th of December, 

1857, at a meeting held at the Congregational 
church in Howell village; at which meeting there 
were present the Rev. Henry Banwell (presiding), 
Abel F". Butterficld, Joseph T. Titus, H. C. Briggs, 
George Greenaway, George R. Hoyt, William A. 
Clark, and M. Labouter. 

The following persons were by a unanimous vote 
elected vestrymen : Levi D. Smith, George Green- 
away, Abel F. Butterfield, Ezra N. Fairchild, H. 
C. Briggs, George R. Hoyt, William A. Clark. 

The vestry then elected E. N. Fairchild senior, 
and William A. Clark, junior warden, and A. F. 
Butterfield, secretary. The same officers held in 

1858, and Henry C. Briggs was appointed treas- 
urer. 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



173 



On the 30th of December, next following tlie 
organization of All Saints' Church, the Ladies' 
Mite Society of that church held a festival at Union 
Hall in Howell; the object being to apply the 
proceeds for church purposes. The officers of the 
society signing the call and invitation were Mrs. 
John Hope, President; Mrs. William L. Wells, 
Vice-President; Mrs. George Wilber, Treasurer; 
and the following-named ladies and gentlemen 
formed the committee of arrangements : Mr. and 
Mrs. Mylo L. Gay, Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Smith, 
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph T. Titus, Mr. and Mrs. E. B. 
Bunnell, Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Harmon, Misses 
Emily Rosenberry, E)mma Hickey, Jenny Ranney, 
Julia Smith, Sophia Fonda, Fanny Fonda, Mary 
Huntley, Sarah Butterfield, P^mily Wheeler, Jan- 
nette Peebles, Ann E. Gilbert, P3mily Wells, Sophia 
Pond, Jenny Spooner, Angeline Adams, Mrs. Rich- 
ard P. Bush, Mrs. William A. Buckland, Mrs. Maria 
Smith, Messrs. Ira P. Bingham, Harmon Smith, 
Frederick Galloway, Z. F. Crosman, Edward Mor- 
ris, Dr. McHench, Andrew D. Waddcll, William 
McPherson, Jr., Burr R. Sn>ith, L. Curtis, Benjamin 
T. O. Clark, Alexander McPherson, Frank Wells, 
George Clark, John Clark, Spaulding' M. Case, 
Edward Gregor}^ Elbert C. Bush. The amount 
realized from this source was not large, but was 
a very material addition to the funds of the church 
at that time. 

On the 28th of January, 1858, it was voted that 
the religious services of the church be held in the 
court-house in Howell; and on the 17th of April 
following, 'the sum of $150 per annum, payable 
quarterly, was voted to the Rev. Henry Banwell, 
the officiating minister. 

In April, 1859, Henr>' C. Briggs and W. A. 
Clark were elected delegates to represent All Saints' 
Church at the Annual Diocesan Convention at 
Detroit. At that time the Rev. William King was 
rector of the church in Howell, having succeeded 
the Rev. Mr. Banwell in that office. Mr. King was 
succeeded in the following year by the Rev. George 
O. Bachman. 

In April, i860, the following-named gentlemen 
were elected officers of the church : Vestrymen, 
Ezra N. Fairchild, George Greenaway, Mylo L. 
Gay, George R. Hoyt, Levi D. .Smith, Henry C. 
Briggs, and William A. Clark; Treasurer, Henry 
C. Briggs ; Secretary, Levi D. Smith ; Senior War- 
den, William A. Clark; Junior Warden, George 
Greenaway. 

A vote was passed in April, 1861, to the effect 
that the church was " well pleased with the labors 
of the Rev. George O. Bachman ; that his talents 
and Christian deportment eminently fit him for the 
building up of the church at Howell, as well as for 



great usefulness in this field." At the same time 
a salary of ;g200 from this church was voted to 
Mr. Bachman, and a little more than that amount 
was raised inmiediately by subscription. In 1S63 
Mr. Bachman was still here, and the church voted 
to pay him $250. 

In April, 1864, a committee was appointed to 
procure the Congregational meeting-house in 
Howell as a place of worship, and afterwards the 
services of the Episcopal Church were generally 
held in that building, as they never had an edifice 
of their own. 

The Rev. G. O. Bachman's " resignation as pas- 
tor of this church" was accepted on the 17th of 
April, 1865, and he was succeeded by the Rev. 
Albert C. Lewis, who became rector in 1866, and 
continued in that office during the remainder of 
the church's existence. 

At the annual meeting, held on Monday, April 
13, 1868, it was resolved "to elect no vestry of said 
church, as articles of agreement are about being 
entered into for the organization of a new church, 
to be called St. John's Church of Howell." On 
the following day the organization of St. John's 
Church was effected, — the articles being signed by 
Mylo L. Gay, Joseph T. Titus, Mark J. Staley, 
L. D. Smith, Silas Beardsley, and "Albert C. Lewis, 
pastor." These articles were filed in the clerk's 
office April 15, 1868. 

The first meeting of St. John's Church was held 
at the residence of Rev. Mr. Lewis, June i, 1868, 
when Ezra N. Fairchild, Mylo L. Gay, M. W. 
Barker, L. D. Smith, Joseph T. Titus, Mark J. 
Staley, and Silas Beardsley were elected vestry- 
men. The vestry then elected the following of- 
ficers: Senior Warden, E. N. P"airchild; Junior 
Warden, Mylo L. Gay ; Treasurer, Joseph T. 
Titus; Secretary, Mylo L. Gay; and E. N. Fair- 
child and M. W. Barker were elected la)' delegates 
to the Diocesan Convention to be held at St. John's 
Church in Kalamazoo. This is the last entry on 
the records of All Saints' and St. John's Churches of 
Howell, and soon afterwards the Episcopal Church 
ceased to exist as an organization in this village, 
its dissolution being hastened by the removal of 
some of its most active and influential members. 

Recently (in the latter part of 1878), the Board 
of Missions of the Elastern Diocese of Michigan 
sent the Rev. R. H. Dennis to Howell, and by him 
Episcopal services were held in the court-house, 
with considerable regularity, until about the first 
of September, 1879, when they were discontinued. 

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AT HOWELL. 

Catholic worship has been held at Howell for 
many years. Probably the first priest who came 



174 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



here was Rev. Father Kelly, who was located at 
Northfield, and later at Green Oak and Genoa. 
His first coming into this part of Livingston 
County is thought to have been as early as 1836 
or '37. Other priests followed, and occasional ser- 
vices have been held here in private houses until 
the present time. Now, however, they are held 
regularly by the Rev. J. G. Dougherty, who is in 
charge of the Brighton parish, of which this is a 
station. The erection of a church was commenced 
here in August, 1878, and it is now completed ex- 
ternally, though not yet ready for occupancy. Its 
location is on the south side of Grand River Street, 
in the eastern part of the village. It is a commodi- 
ous building of brick with slated roof, and is 40 by 
70 feet in dimensions. Its cost when finished will 
be about ^6000. 

CEMETERIES. 

The first burial-ground in Howell was situated 
upon the shore of Thompson Lake, near its south- 
ern extremity, on section 36, a short distance in a 
northerly direction from the house in which John 
D. Pinckney settled in 1834. The land for the 
purpose was given by Alexander Fraser, Mr. 
Pinckney, and Moses Thompson. The first per- 
son buried in this ground was Miss Davis, a sister 
of Mrs. Jonathan Austin, but the date of this burial 
has not been found. A considerable number of 
other burials were made there subsequently, but 
nearly all of them have since been removed to the 
newer grounds. A few remain, but there is noth- 
ing to mark the places of their interment. 

THE OLD CEMETERY. 

The ground known as the Old Cemetery, lo- 
cated one square directly east from the northeast 
corner of the court-house square, and at the east- 
ern and northern termini respectively, of North 
and Bernard Streets, was purchased from Edward 
Thompson, and laid out as a cemetery in 1840. 
The first interment in this ground was that of 
Henry Wheeler (son of Dr. Gardner Wheeler), 
who died January 16, 1841, aged nineteen years. 
Most of the remains from the old graveyard on 
the lake-shore were removed here, and this con- 
tinued to be used by the people of the village 
(and by many in the township) as their burial- 
place for more than a quarter of a century, until 
the opening of the new cemetery, on the west 
shore of Thompson Lake. Since that time, most 
of the remains have been disinterred and removed 
to the new inclosure. The old cemetery is now 
in disuse, and being wholly neglected, has become 
covered by a thick and tangled copse, which 
almost entirely hides from view the few memorial 
stones which still remain there. 



OAK GROVE CEMETERY. 

The Oak Grove Cemetery embraces fifteen and 
forty-four one-hundredths acres of land, which was 
conveyed by Albert D. Thompson, John H. Gallo- 
way, William and Alexander McPherson, William 
McPherson, Jr., and N. J. Hickey to the Howell 
Board of Health, April 17, 1867, for the purpose 
to which it has been devoted. It is situated in the 
northeastern part of the village corporation, at the 
east end of Thompson Street, which leads to its 
main entrance. The ground lies nearly in the form 
of a triangle, being bounded on its northern, north- 
eastern, and southeastern sides by the sheet of 
water known as Thompson Lake. Its south and 
west boundaries are straight lines, meeting in a 
right angle at the soutiiwest corner. 

The spot is beautiful by nature, having a rolling 
surface, well elevated above the waters of the lake, 
and covered (not too thickly) with forest-trees, 
among which the oak predominates, as is indicated 
by the name given to it. On the plan usually 
adopted in modern cemeteries, this ground is laid 
out in walks and avenues, and has been consider- 
ably beautified by art. Many of the remains origi- 
nally interred in the old burial-grounds have been 
removed to this, and upon its tablets are borne the 
names of many of the pioneers and early settlers of 
Howell. 

INCORPORATION OF THE VILLAGE— HOWELL 
CIVIL LIST. 

Howell was made an incorporated village by an 
act of the Legislature of Michigan (approved March 
14, 1863), which provided " that all that tract of 
country situate in the township of Howell, in the 
county of Livingston, in the State of Michigan, 
which is known and described as follows, to wit : 
section 35, section 36, the south half of section 25, 
and *he south half of section 26, in township No. 
3, north of range No. 4 east, be, and the same is 
hereby made and constituted, a town corporate, 
by the name, style, and title of the village of How- 
ell ;" the officers of which were specified by the act 
to be a president, recorder, treasurer, assessor, and 
five trustees, to be elected annually on the first 
Monday in May. Under the provisions of this 
act the first charter election was held on the 4th of 
May, 1863. Following is a list of the village offi- 
cers then and there elected, as also of those elected 
in each succeeding year down to the present, viz. : 

l86j. — President, Saiclis F. Hiibljcll; Recoiiler, Andrew D. Wad- 
dell ; Treasurer, Asa Van Kleeck ; Assessor, John H. 
Galloway; Truslees, Marcus B. Wilcox, William R. 
Melvin, William McPheison, Jr., John Hovt, Philo 
Curlis. 

1864. — rresident, Joseph M. Gilbert ; Recorder, My!o L. Gay ; 
Treasurer, Frederick J. Lee ; Assessor, John H. Gallo- 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



175 



way; Tiuslces, Jolin Cummiskey, Nathan J. Hickey, 
George L. Clark, Luther M. Glover, V. R. T. Angel. 

1S65.— rresklent, Sarilis F. Huhbcll : Recorder, Mylo L. Gay; 
Treasurer, Frederick J. Lee ; Assessor, John H. Gallo- 
way ; Trustees, James liowers, William R. Melvin, 
George L. Claik, William E. Huntley, Marcus B. Wil- 
cox. 

lS66. — rresident, Mylo L. Gay; Recorder, James Bowers; Treas- 
urer, William R. Melvin ; Asses.sor, Isaac W. Bush ; 
Trustees, George Taylor, John Jones, William E. 
Huntley, Frederick J. Lee, Sardis F. Huhbell. 

1867. — President, Sardis F. Huljbcll ; Recorder, Joseph T. Titus; 

Treasurer, William R. Giiffilh; Assessor, Oren H. 

Winegar; Trustees, Andrew D. Waddell, William R. 

Melvin, Leander C. Smith, William E. Huntley, Geo. 

■ L. Clark. 

1868. — President, Andrew D. Waddell ; Recoider, Mylo L. Gay; 
Treasurer, Royal H. Rumsey ; Assessor, Oren H. Wine- 
gar; Trustees, Leander C. Smith, William E. Huntley, 
George L. Clark, Alexander McPherson, Henry H. Har- 
mon. 

1869. — President, Mylo L. G.iy ; Recorder, Joseph T. Titus; 
Treasurer, Royal H. Rumsey; Assessor, Oren H. Wine- 
gar; Trustees, William E. Huntley, Edward McGunn, 
Sylvester Andrews, Henry P. Wheeler, Levi D. Smith. 

1870.* — President, Henry H. Mills; Recorder, Dennis Shields; 
Treasurer and Marshal, H. C. Briggs ; Assessor, Wil- 
liam B. Curtis; Trustees, Albert Riddle, William C. 
Rumsey, Francis N. Monroe, Calvin Wilcox, Andrew 
D. Waddell. 

1S71. — President, Sardis F. Hubbell; Recorder, Andrew D. Wad- 
dell ; Treasurer and M.irshal, Leonard N. Fishbeck ; 
Assessor, William B. Smith; Trustees, Neil O'Hearn, 
George H. Cooper, Floyd S. Wykoff, Charles G. Jewett, 
George Greenaway. 

1872. — President, Sardis F. Hubbell; Recorder, .\ndrew D. Wad- 
dell; Treasurer and Marshal, Henry A. Whipple; As- 
sessor, Calvin Wilcox; Trustees, John W. Wright, 
George L. Sage, Robert C. Hutton, John M. White, 
John Jones. 

1873. — President, Neil O'Hearn; Recorder, Edward B. Gregoi-y; 
Treasurer and Marshal, Hiram Hopper; Assessor, Harry 
J. Haven ; Trustees, Francis N. Monroe, Asa Van 
Kleeck, William Beattie, Sylvester Andrews, Elbert A. 
Young. 

1874. — President, Francis N. Monroe; Recorder, Royal H. Rum- 
sey; Treasurer and Marshal, William Barnard; Asses- 
sor, Benjamin H. Ruberl ; Trustees, William W. Finton, 
James A. Preston, William E. Watson, E. B. Gregory, 
George Bush. 

1S75. — President, Horace Halbert ; Recorder, E. P. Gregory; 
Treasurer and Marshal, William T. Barnard ; Assessor, 
F. G. Hickey; Trustees, John M. White, Roswell Molt, 
William B. Jewett, Frederick B. Brown, Erastus W.at- 
rous. 



* An act (approved March 4, 1869) amendatory to the act in- 
corporating the village, provided that the officers to be elected shall 
be a president, recorder, assessor, and five trustees, and " that the 
Common Council shall have power to appoint a street commis- 
sioner, a treasurer (who shall also be marshal of said village by 
virtue of his appointment as treasurer), and all other such officers 
as may be necessary under the provisions of this act," and the 
time of holding the elections was changed to the first Monday in 
Maich in each year. The village elections subsequent to 1869 
have been heUI in conformity with this amendment, and conse- 
quently the persons who have held the offices of treasurer and 
piarshal since that year have been ajipoinlees of the Common Coun- 
cil. 



1876. — President, Harry J. Haven; Recorder, Rollin H. Person; 
Treasurer and Marshal, record obscure ; Assessor, Albert 
Riddle; Trustees, Asa Van Kleeck, Robert A.Cham- 
bers, William L. Knapp, John W'. Wright, Neil 
O'Hearn. 

1877. — President, Asa Van Kleeck; Recorder, Rollin H. Person; 
Treasurer and Marshal, Arthur F. Field ; Assessor, W. 
B.Smith; Trustees, R. H. Rumsey, L. N. Fishbeck, 
Stejihen S. More, R. A. Chambers, J. W. Wright. 

1878. — President, Neil O'Hearn; Recorder, Royal H. Rumsey; 
Treasurer and Marshal, Thomas Clark; Assessor, Wil- 
liam B. Smith; Trustees, William H. Gilks, Leonard 
N. Fishbeck, Harry J. Haven, Frank Kelly, George H. 
Warren. 

1879.— President, John H. Galloway; Recorder, Royal H. Rum- 
sey; Treasurer and Marshal, Thomas Clark; Assessor, 
Benjamin H. Rubert ; Trustees, Asa Van Kleeck, Mylo . 
L. (iay, William B. Smith, Francis N. Monroe, Leander 
C. Smith. 

FIRES IN HOWELL— FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

For more than twenty years after the laying out 
of Howell as a village the citizens of the place were 
peculiarly fortunate in their almost complete e.x- 
emption from losses by conflagration. Not more 
than three or four fires had occurred in the village 
during that time, and none of these resulted in 
more than comparatively trifling damage ; the 
largest of them being the two fires which con- 
sumed Chandler & Kneeland's saw-mill and Smith 
& Filkins' foundry, the first named of which oc- 
curred in 1S5 I. 

The first fire which inflicted severe loss upon the 
village occurred in the evening of Monday, Sept. 
28, 1857, and swept away the Eagle Hotel, the first 
building erected on the original plat of the village 
in 1835, and nearly the entire line of buildings on 
the south side of Grand River Street, between 
Walnut and East Streets. The account of this 
fire, given by the Democrat in its next issue, was 
as follows : 

"A destructive fire broke out in this village at about seven 
o'clock on Monday evening. It commenced in the ' livery barn,' 
near Huntley's [Eagle] Hotel, which was soon wrapped in flames. 
The wind was blowing strongly from the northwest. Mr. Huntley's 
barn caught next, then his hotel, then Balcom's saloon, then 
Treadwell's saloon, and then the ' Old St.ige- House.' All of these 
buildings were consumed by the flames in about one hour and a 
half, in spite of the efforts of the citizens. The progress of the fire 
could not have been arrested here, had they not pulled down the 
four small buildings th.at stood on the east part of the same block. 
Owing to the high winds there was great danger of a large portion 
of the village being swept away. The burning cinders set fire to 
buildings nearly half a mile distant, which was happily extinguished. 
Nearly all the business men on the south side of Grand River 
Street, as far down as Vanderhoof's Hotel, removed their property 
into the street, which afforded a fine opportunity for thieving, and 
this the thieves employed. 

" No one can account for the origin of the fire. The heaviest 
loss occurs to Mr. Huntley, who has lost his all. His loss is esti- 
mated at S5000. Balcom's saloon was worth about $300, Judge 
Kneeland's building about S800, Judge Whipple's about SSoo, and 
the four small buililings pulled down were worth about Jiiooo. 
The barn, where the. fire originated, was owned by Mr. Green, of 



176 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Detroit; loss about $200. There was no insurance on any of the 
buildings. Most of the personal property was saved ; much of it 
in a damaged state from the rashness of men." 

On the 22d of February, i860, Howell was 
again visited by a conflagration, which swept tlie 
west side of East Street, south of Grand River 
Street, destroying a number of buildings, among 
which were the Phoenix Foundry and Machine- 
Shop. The following account of this fire appeared 
in the Republican of February 28th : 

"Our village on Wednesday morning last again felt the ravages 
of the most destructive conflagration we have ever before experi- 
enced. The loss of property will not only be deeply felt by the 
owners and occupants of the various huihlings destroyed, but will 
very much affect the business prospects of the village, and the in- 
terests of the farmers and others in this vicinity, who have relied 
for nearly every useful implement of labor upon the shops, of which 
nothing now remains but a heap of ashes. The fire originated in 
the foundry and machine-shop of A. W. Smith & Co., which was 
totally destroyed. From thence it crossed the intervening space 
of about sixty feet to the carriage-shop of William R. Melvin, 
which, together with the blacksmith-shop attached, were almost 
instantly in flames. These latter were connected with the .shed 
and barn occupied by the Stage Company, and also the barn occu- 
pied by William E. Huntley & Son, all of which were owned by 
E. E. Hazard. The barns being old and filled with hay were soon 
on fire, and at this lime it appeared as though nothing short of a 
miracle could save the store on the corner owned by W. B. Smith, 
and occupied by Jewett & Crosman ; but l)y the almost superhuman 
exertions of a portion of the crowd, which by this time had as- 
sembled, a part of the rear of the building was removed, and water 
kept constantly pouring upon it from buckets, so that, although 
but a few feet from the barn last burned, this building was finally 
saved, and the ravages of the fire stayed. So far as we have been 
able to ascertain, the following are the estimates of the various 
losses: A. W.Smith & Co., loss in building, machinery, stock, 
tools, etc., $7200; insured for $4000. William R. Melvin, loss 
in building, stock, and tools, about S3500, no insurance ■ E. E. 
Hazard, two barns and shed, about Siooo; W. B. Smith, damage 
of building aliout $200, no insurance ; Jewett & Crosman, loss in 
removal of goods, about $400, insured ; J. I. Van Dusen, stock, etc., 
in the machine shop, about $125. The cause of the fire is not 
known, though it is generally supposed to have been the work of 
an incendiary, from the fact that when first discovered it was some 
distance from the stove, the only place where there had been any 
fire during the day ; also, we understand, the south door of the 
building was found to be unfastened, though securely locked by 
Mr. Van Dusen, who closed the shop for the night about eight 
o'clock. The severest loss is sustained by Mr. Melvin and Mr. 
Hazard, and particularly the former, who had, by energy and per- 
severance, made himself proprietor of a carriage- and wagon-shop 
second to none in the State. 

" With characteristic energy, however, Mr. Melvin commenced 
a new building while the embers of the old were still burning, and 
two days had not elapsed ere the 'anvil chorus' was ringing in his 
new shop." 

On both the occasions above mentioned the only 
means employed, or at hand, for arrestino- the 
progress of the fire was the demolition of threat- 
ened buildings (or the spreading of wet blankets 
and carpets on their roofs) and the throwing of 
water from hand-buckets. But even if fire-eno-ines 
had been on the spot they would have been use- 
less, for lack of an adequate supply of water. Im- 



mediately after the fire which destroyed the Phoenix 
Foundry a meeting of citizens was held in Howell 
(March 6, i860) to take measures for procuring a 
fire-apparatus for the village; but no results fol- 
lowed. 

By the provisions of the act incorporating the 
village the Common Council was authorized and 
empowered to compel the owners of buildings to 
procure and keep in readiness such number of fire- 
buckets and ladders as shall be ordered by the 
Common Council, and also to " establish and organ- 
ize all such fire-companies and hose and hook- 
and-ladder companies, and to provide them with 
such engines and other instruments as shall be 
necessary to extinguish fires and preserve the 
property of the inhabitants of said village from 
conflagrations, and to appoint, from among the in- 
habitants of said village, such number of men, 
willing to accept, as may be deemed proper and 
necessary to be employed as firemen," — the number 
of men so appointed not to exceed 50 for the man- 
agement of any one engine. 

On the 1 8th of January, 1868, the Common 
Council passed an ordinance establishing and de- 
fining, within the village of Howell, certain limits 
within which the erection of wooden buildings 
was prohibited. These limits have since been 
revised and enlarged. 

The question of procuring fire-apparatus for the 
village, which had first been seriously agitated at 
the meeting held immediately after the fire of Feb- 
ruary, i860, continued to be held under advisement 
and occasional discussion for about ten years before 
any definite action was taken, many arguing (and 
very reasonably) that it would be useless to pro- 
cure an engine until some means had been devised 
whereby such engine could be supplied with water 
in sufficient quantity to be of service in case of 
need. This objection of lack of an adequate water 
supply seemed well-nigh insurmountable, but 
finally, on the 24th of January, 1870, it was by the 
Common Council 

"Resolved, That Mr. J. L. Stone be authorized to procure for the 
village of Howell, and deliver the same on or before one month 
from this date, a fire-engine, called in the printed catalogue ' The 
Fire King,' and the Common Council will then pay for said en- 
gine ; provided that on a fair trial it shall prove to be as good as 
recommended, — that is to say, the said engine shall throw water 
one hundred and fifty feet at an angle of forty-five degrees, after 
being forced through fifty feet of hose, and that the machine sh.ill 
be a first-class machine in workmanship and material." 

But the trial of this engine did not prove entirely 
satisfactory ; and there is little doubt that this re- 
sult was a most fortunate one for the village of 
Howell, for it induced the adoption of a different 
and (for this place at least) a more efficient fire- 
apparatus. On the 3d of January, 1874, the Coun- 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



177 



cil resolved " that the Champion Fire Extinguisher, 
now here on trial, be purchased for the sum of 
$2000 ; SiOOO to be paid in six months from date, 
and $1000 in eighteen months from date ; and that 
the president and recorder issue their orders ac- 
cordingly." This resolution was duly carried into 
effect, and so the village was at last provided with 
an efficient apparatus and equipment for the extin- 
guishment of fires. 

Having now an apparatus, it became necessary 
to form a company to have charge of and operate 
it ; and on the 14th of January in the same year, 
the Common Council 

"Kesolved, Th.it llie following-named pei-sons be conslituted a 
fire-company, to wit : John Neary, John McCIoud, William F. 
("■rifiilh, Patrick Ilamniill, Thom.as Clark, Leonard Fishbeck, 
CJeorge Harrington, I'erley Skillieck, Frank .'Vckerman, Frank 
Archer, Charles G. Jewett, Mark Hubert, Homer Beacli, Theo- 
dore Huntley, E. A. Young, Thomas McEwen, Henry Wilber, 
Peler Clark, Hurt F. Parsons, Edward Waklron, H. F. lirowii- 
ing, Edward Greenaway, F. G. Hickey, H. G. Sellman, William 
Bcitlie, George L. Clark, G. S. Burgess, R. H. Brown, Cassius 
Austin, Thomas G. .Swilzer." 

On the next day these members met, and organ- 
ized as "Champion Fire Company, No. i, of 
Howell," the following being elected as its first 
officers : John Neary, Foreman ; Thomas Clark, 
First Assistant Foreman; Edward Waldron, Sec- 
ond Assistant Foreinan ; R. H. Brown, Pipeman ; 
John McCloud, Second Pipeman ; E. A. Young, 
Superintendent of Chemicals ; Henry Wilber, As- 
sistant Superintendent of Chemicals ; William F. 
Griffith, Secretary ; Patrick Hammiil, Treasurer. 

May 24, 1875, the Common Council passed a 
resolution to purchase from William McPherson 
& Sons a lot for an engine-house site, on the west 
side of East Street, north of Grand River Street — 
25 feet front and 50 feet deep — at §875, payable in 
three equal payments ; and the president and re- 
corder were authorized and directed "to issue 
orders for said amounts of money." Mr. H. Hal- 
bert was appointed building committee, and was 
instructed " to do all acts and things relative to 
said building of an engine-house that in his judg- 
ment shall be expedient, and that he complete the 
same as soon as practicable, in such manner and 
style as shall be appropriate." The contract for 
building the engine-house was awarded, July 6, 
1875, to Franklin Kelly, who completed the work 
in the fall of that year, and was settled with on the 
29th of October, as follows: 

Amount of contract S2857.17 

Ci>lern 50.00 

Oilier extras IO-35 

Total cost S2917.52 

exclusive of the bell, which was procured after- 
wards. 

23 



The village has now a good fire apparatus, well 
housed, and in charge of an efficient company, 
whose officers for 1879 are Thomas Clark, Fore- 
man ; L. Ebner, First Assistant Foreman ; Thomas 
Eraser, Second Assistant Foreman ; Thomas Wine- 
gar, Treasurer ; W. A. Tucker, Secretary ; H. D. 
Wilber, Superintendent of Chemicals ; M. L. Mc- 
Kinley, Assistant Superintendent of Chemicals ; W. 
R. Knapp, First Pipeman ; R. H. Brown, Second 
Pipeman. 

HOWELL POST-OFFICE AND POSTMASTERS. 

The Howell post-office was established by the 
Post Office Depaitment, on the 15th of January, 
1836. Following is a list of its several postmas- 
ters, with the dates of their appointments: 

Flavius J. B. Crane, appointed Jan. 15, 1836. 
Under Mr. Crane the office was kept in the Eagle 
Hotel of Amos Adams. 

Ely Barnard, appointed June 13, 1839. Under 
Mr. Barnard, the office was first located in the 
frame building which stood on the northeast cor- 
ner of the " old public square," but afterwards 
made John Curtis his deputy, and removed the 
office to the E. Y . Gay store building, opposite the 
southwest corner of the same square. 

Almon Whipple, appointed Feb. 9, 1841. Mr. 
Whipple, under this appointment, held the office 
less than four months, and during that time the 
business was continued in the Gay store, where 
it had been located by John Curtis, under Mr. 
Barnard. 

Wellington A. Glover, appointed May 31, 1841. 
During his term the office was continued in the 
same place. Mr. S. F. Hubbell, who was then 
reading law in the office of Mr. Glover, recollects 
acting for a time as his deputy. 

Almon Whipple (second term), appointed Sept. 
I, 1843. During this term Mr. Whipple kept the 
office in his store on the north side of Grand River 
Street, — the place now occupied by the .store of 
Greenaway & Son. 

George W. Lee, appointed April 14, 1849. Of- 
fice located in the store of Lee & Brother, where 
F. N. Monroe now is. 

Derastus Hinman, appointed June 7, 1853. Mr. 
Hininan remoxed the office to his store, in the 
buildine known as the " old fort," on the south 
side of Grand River Street. 

p-rank Wells, appointed Feb. 25, 1855. The 
office was kept by Mr. Wells in the drug-store, 
south side of Grand River Street, where now is 
Griffith's furniture-store. 

Leander C. Smith, appointed March 16, 1S61. 
p'or four years, under Mr. Smith, the office was 
located where it had been kept hy George W. 



178 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Lee. After that time it was removed to the south 
side of Grand River Street, just west of Alexander 
McPherson's bank. 

Henry T. Clark, appointed March 8, 1 866; re- 
appointed June I, 1 868. The office was continued 
where it had last been kept by Mr. Smith, until the 
building was destroyed by fire, when it was re- 
moved to a building standing on what is now the 
site of the National Hotel. 

William W. Kenyon, appointed Aug. 20, i868; 
reappointed Dec. 10, 1873, at which time the 
Howell Post-Office became presidential. Under 
Mr. Kenyon the office was first located on the 
north side of Grand River Street, one door west 
of the store of William McPherson & Sons ; it 
was next removed to the south side of the street, 
where now is the drug-store of Spencer & Hutton; 
next to the Cardell Block, and finally to the quar- 
ters which it has occupied to the present time. 

Julius D. Smith, appointed Dec. 14, 1877, and 
the present postmaster of Howell. Mr. Smith has 
continued the office in the place where last located 
by Mr. Kenyon, south side of Grand River Street, 
a few doors west of the National Hotel. 

COURT-HOUSE AND COUNTY OFFICES. 

The county buildings, consisting of the court- 
house, the office of the County Clerk and Register 
of Deeds, and the office of the Judge of Probate 
and County Treasurer, are located on the court- 
house square, which lies on the north side of 
Grand River Street, with Main Street as its west- 
ern, and Court Street as its eastern, line. The 
laying out of this square and the erection of the 
county buildings on it have already been noticed 
in the general county history. 

BANKS AND BANKERS. 

The village of Howell luckily escaped the misfor- 
tune which was visited upon many other Michigan 
towns about forty years ago, — the establishment 
of a "wild-cat bank" within its borders. It is said 
that at one time (in 1837) a plan was suggested 
for the establishment of such an institution here ; 
but it failed of encouragement, and the disaster to 
the village and vicinity was averted. 

The banks of Howell have all been private en- 
terprises. The first of these was the " Exchange 
Bank," of Brockway, Embury & Co., which was 
established here in the fall of 1863; located on 
the south side of Grand River Street, where H. N. 
Beach's store now is. From this place, in 1865, 
it was removed by the proprietors to a building, 
which they had erected for the purpose, on Grand 
River Street above East, — the same wliich is now 



occupied by McPherson's Bank. The Exchange 
Bank was discontinued in 1868 by sale of busi- 
ness, fi.xtures, and real estate to Alexander Mc- 
Pherson. 

The bank of Alexander McPherson & Co. was 
opened in June, 1865, for the purchase and sale of 
government bonds, sale of exchange on New York 
and all Eastern and Western cities, and the trans- 
action of a general banking business, for which its 
capital was and is ample. The banking-rooms at 
first occupied were on the north side of Grand 
River Street, in the building previously occupied 
as a store by William Riddle. At the end of 
about four years they were removed to the present 
location of the bank (previously the banking- 
rooms of the Exchange Bank), south side of 
Grand River Street, just west of East Street. 

The bank of Weimeister & O'Hearn (John Wei- 
meister and Neil O'Hearn) was opened for a gen-' 
era! banking business in October, 186S, receiving 
its first deposit on the 19th of that month, and 
issuing its first draft on the following day. The 
business was commenced in a wooden building 
that stood on a part of the site now occupied by 
the National Hotel. From this place it was re- 
moved, in November, 1869, to Weimeister Block, 
a few doors farther west ; and on the 9th of Au- 
gust, 1879, was removed to its present quarters in 
the brick building (owned by the proprietors of 
the bank) on the south side of Grand River Street 
and adjoining the National Hotel on the east. 

ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS. 

HOWELL LODGE, No. 44, L O. O. F. 

The original petition, praying for the establish- 
ment of this lodge, is found on file with the ar- 
chives of the Grand Lodge of the State of Michi- 
gan. Of this document — which marks the first 
step taken towards the organization of a lodge of 
the order in Livingston County — the following 
is a copy : 

" To THE Grand M.\ster of the Grand Lodge of the State 
OF Michigan, of the L O. of O. F. : 
" The peiiiion of the under-iigned, holding withdrawal Cards 
from Lodges legally recognized by the Grand Lodge of the State 
of Michigan, respectful y rejiresents that it would he consistent 
with the advantage of the Order to establish a subordinate Lodge, 
to be located at Howell, in the State of Michigan. 

" Wherefore your petitioners pray that a warrant may be issued, 
in pursuance of the Laws of said Grand Lodge. 
"Dated at Howell, this 21st day of August, 1849. 
(Signed) "Josiah Turner. James Mui.loy. 

Lemuel Spuoner. John B. Dillingham. 
L. K. Heweit. John A. Wheeler. 
James Swiney." 

Whereupon, on the 24th of August in the same 
)'ear, John Chester, Grand Master of the Grand 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



179 



Lodge of the State, issued a dispensation author- 
izing and empowering the above-named petitioners 
"to constitute a Lodge in the village of Howell, 
Livingston County, and State of Michigan, to be 
known and hailed by the title of Howell Lodge, 
No. 44." 

How and when the lodge was instituted is 
shown by the report made by N. B. Nye, D. D. 
Grand Master, to Joseph E. Hyde, R. W. Grand 

Secretary, as follows : 

"Ann Arbor, Sept. 10, 1S49. 
"Dear Sir and Bro., — By direction of the M. W. Graiul 
M.islcr, I proceeded on the 5tli Inst, to Institute Howell Lodge, 
No. 44, at the Village of Howell, Livingston County, assisted by 
D. v. G. M. Little, of District No. 15, and I'. G. Grenville, of 
Washtenaw Lodge, No. 9. After initiating nine new memhers, 
and conferring the Degrees upon a number, I installed the Officers 
Elect for the current term as follows, viz. : 
" N. G., Josiah Turner. 
" V. G., L. K. Hewett. 
"Sec, J. B. Dillingham. 
" Treas., Lemuel Spooner. 

" There were quite a number of Brothers from the neighboring 
Lodges in attendance, and everything passed off in the true spirit 
of the Order. From my own acauaintance with the Officers and 
Members of Howell Lodge, No. 44, as well as their reputation, 
I doubt not that Lodge will become an ornament to the Order. 
" Respectfully 

"Yours in F. L. and T., 

"N. B. Nye, 

"Z>. D. G. M.jdDistr 

On the 31st of December, 1849, *''^ lodge con- 
tained the following-named members in good 
standing, viz. : 

Josiah Turner, P. G. 

Scarlet members: Lauren K. Hewett, N. G. ; 
Lemuel Spooner, V. G. ; Elisha E. Hazard, Sec. ; 
James Mulloy, Treas. ; Joseph H. Peebles, War- 
den ; John B. Dillingham, Con.; Charles C. Ells- 
worth, P. Sec; William B. Smith, O. G.; John A. 
Wheeler, Fred. J. Lee, Joseph B. Skilbeck, James 
Swiney, John Kenyon, Jr., Norman W. Hodges, 
Stephen Clark, Abijah W.Smith, George A. Smith, 
David Blackman. 

Member of the Fourth Degree : Chester Haz- 
ard. 

Member of the Third Degree : John D. Blanck. 

Members of the Second Degree : Gabriel Scott, 
John M. Ten Eyck. 

Members of First Degree : Henry Carnes, Ros- 
well Barnes. 

Members in the Initiatory Degree: Silas Beards- 
ley, James Fitz Jerould, John L. Wing, Henry 
H. Norton, Marvin Gaston, A. Sidney Hollistcr, 
Luther M. Glover, William A. Dorrance, William 
O. Archer, George Taylor, Austin Wakeman. 

The above names are copied from the official 
list made at that time by Y.. E. Hazard, Secre- 
tary, and by him certified to the R. W. Grand 
Secretary. 



It has been found impracticable to obtain any 
information additional to the above concerning 
Howell Lodge, No. 44, excepting that it con- 
tinued in existence for a number of years, and is 
now defunct. 

LIVINGSTON LODGE, No. 185, I. O. O. F. 

This lodge was organized at Howell, June 5, 
1872, with the following-named charter members: 
Amos Eager, Lafayette Snow, Thomas Jeffrey, 
James A. Preston, E. B. Hosley, Martin Lignian. 

The following is a list of its Past Grands, viz. : 
Walter D. Whalen, T. B. Knapp, L. Snow, R. H. 
Rumsey, E. B. Vanderhoof, William R. Griffith, J. 
C. Axtell, George Blackburn. 

The present officers of the lodge are M. 
Vanzile. N. G. ; John Black, V. G. ; C. V. Bebee, 
R. S. ; E. B. Vanderhoof, P. S. ; W. D. Whalen, T. 

The lodge now numbers 47 members. 

HOWELL ENCAMPMENT OF PATRIARCHS, No. 61, 
I. O. O. F. 

This organization was formed at Howell, Dec. 
30, 1873, with seven charter members, namely, 
Walter D. Whalen, Amos Eager, N. Brayton, M. 
S. Davis, T. B. Knapp, E. B. Hosley, A. T. 
Frisbee. 

The present number of members is 40, and its 
officers are: C. P., W. D. Whalen; S. W., J. C. 
Axtell; S., R. H. Rumsey; T. S., T. B. Knapp; 
T., E. B. Vanderhoof 

MASONIC ORGANIZATIONS. 
HOWELL LODGE, No. 38, F. and A. M. 

This lodge commenced working under dispen- 
sation from the Grand Lodge of the State of Mich- 
igan in the year 1849. It was chartered Jan. 10, 1850. 
The regular communications were held first in 
" Hintiian Block," Grand River Street, where Hub- 
bell Block now stands. After a year or two they 
were held in the third story of the " Lee Block," 
on the north side of the main street of Howell. 
Here they were continued for several j-ears, and 
then held in Greenavvay's Hall. From this place, 
after a few prosperous years, the lodge removed to 
Weimeister Block, and regidarly held its communi- 
cations there until 1875, when it was removed to 
the quarters which have been occupied until the 
present time, — Masonic Hall, Andrews and Winans' 
Block, north side of Grand River Street. The 
lodge has now a membership numbering 88. Its 
off'icers for 1879 are: W. M., Sardis F. Hubbell; 
S. W., Edwin Hud.son; J. W, John W. Wright; 
Sec, William C. Rumsey; Treas., Benjamin H. 
Rubcrt ; S. D., Robert H. Brown; J. D., Thomas 
Clark ; Tiler, Flavins J. Henshaw. 



i8o 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Following is a list of the Worshipful Masters of 
the lodge from the commencement of its working 
until the present time : 1S49, Amos Adams ; 1850 
-53, Gardner Wheeler; 1854-55, Henry H. Har- 
mon; 1856-5S, Frederick C. Whipple; 1859-60, 
Sardis F. Hubbell; 1861, Frank Wells; 1862-63, 
Sardis F. Hubbell; 1864-65, Mylo L. Gay; 1866 
-68, Joseph T. Titus; 1869, William C. Rumsey; 
1870, Joseph T. Titus; 1871-72, Albert Riddle; 
'873-74. Sardis F. Hubbell; 1875-76, Albert L. 
Hathaway;* 1877-79, Sardis F. Hubbell. 

LIVINGSTON CHAPTER, No. 30, ROY.\L ARCH 
MASONS. 

This organization was formed in Howell, April 
16, 1863, with nine charter members, viz., C. W. 
Haze, Henry H. Harmon, Sardis F. Hubbell, War- 
ren B. Green, M. B. Wilco.x, George Wilber, Wm. 
A. Clark, Joseph T. Titus, C. L. Farnum. 

The chapter, now numbering 62 members, holds 
its regular convocations at Masonic Hall, Howell. 
Its officers for 1879 a''^ William C. Rumsey, High 
Priest; William W. Kenyon, King; Perley H. Sex- 
ton, Scribe; Edwin Hudson, Captain of the Host; 
John W. Wright, Principal Sojourner; C. L. Van- 
dercook, Royal Arch Captain; Sardis F. Hubbell, 
Treas. ; Hugh Conklin, Sec; H. H. Clark, Grand 
Master Third Veil; Thomas B. Clark, Grand 
Master Second Veil ; J. L. Cook, Grand Master 
First Veil. 

HOWELL COMMANDERY, No. 28, OF KNIGHTS TEM- 
PLAR. 

This organization was formed April 7, 1870, the 
following-named being its charter members: Sardis 
F. Hubbell, Mylo L. Gay, Henry N. Spencer, T. C. 
Garner, W. H. Mallory, John Weimeister, B. H. 
Lawson, C. W. Haze, G. W. Hoff. 

At present the commandery embraces 24 mem- 
bers, with the following-named officers for 1879: 
Mylo L. Gay, Eminent Commander; Sardis F. 
Hubbell, Generalissimo; P^dwin Hudson, Captain- 
General ; Henry N. Spencer, Senior Warden ; John 
W. Wright, Junior Warden ; Pldwin B. Winans, 
Treas.; William W. Kenyon, Recorder; Henry 
H. Harmon, Prelate ; Perley H. Sexton, Svvord- 
Bearer; Ira O. Marble, Standard-Bearer; Halsted 
Gregory, Warden ; W. C. Loehne, Sentinel. 

HOWELL EASTERN STAR FAMILY. 

This society. Masonic in its nature, was organ- 
ized by Mrs. Mary A. Brown, at Masonic Hall, in 
Howell, March 6, 1S67, with 14 members. The 
first officers of the society were : Patron, Warren 
Green ; Patroness, Mrs. Z. F. Crosman : Conductor, 



* During 1876 Mr. Hathaway removed from Howell, and his 
erm was filled by William L. Knapp, Senior Warden. 



Joseph Finsterwald ; Conductress, Mrs. E. B. Greg- 
ory ; Recorder, Mrs. W. W. Carpenter; Treas- 
urer, Miss Emily Wheeler; Jephtha's Daughter, 
Mrs. M. B. Wilcox; Ruth, Mrs. S. F. Hubbell; 
Esther, Mrs. H. H. Harmon; Martha,- Mrs. Eliza 
Richards ; Electa, Mrs. Joseph M. Gilbert. 

On the 7th of March, 1867, an Eastern Star 
degree was conferred on Mr. and Mrs. Thomas 
Shively, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Wisner, Mr. and Mrs. 

D. F. Crandall, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Chandler, Mrs. 
C. W. Barber, Miss Julia Winegar, E. E. Hazard, 
W. L. Knapp. 

The society received accessions until at one time 
it numbered 60 members ; but no charter was ever 
applied for, and it finally went down, the last meet- 
ing being held June 10, 1868. The officers for 
that year were H. H. Harmon, W. Patron ; Mrs. 
Z. F. Crosman, W. Patroness ; Mrs. F. S. Wykoff, 
Conductress ; Mrs. William C. Rumsey, Chap- 
lainess; Mrs. O. Cole, Treas.; Mrs. C. W. Barber, 
Sec; Mrs. M. B. Wilcox, Jephtha's Daughter; 
Mrs. S. F. Hubbell, Ruth ; Mrs. H. H. Harmon, 
Esther; Mrs. Elbert C. Bush, Martha; Mrs. Jo- 
seph M. Gilbert, Electa; F. S. Hardy, Watchman. 

GOOD TEMPLARS. 
HOWELL LODGE, No. Sn, I. O. of G. T. 
This lodge was organized in the Presbyterian 
church, in Howell village, by Past Grand Worthy 
Chief Templar Charles Russell, October 8, 1874, 
with J. D. Smith, Worthy Chief Templar; Mrs. 
H. G. Fry, Worthy Vice-Templar. The meetings 
were held for six months in S. Andrews' Hall ; 
then for two years in Greenaway's Hall ; from 
whence, in October, 1S77, the lodge removed to 
its present quarters in Knapp's Block. The mem- 
bership of the lodge is now 87. The officers for 
1879 are W. D. Whalen, W. C. T. ; P. O'Brien, 
Sec'y ; T. B. Knapp, Treas. ; E. B. Vanderhoof, 
Deputy. 

THE HOWELL SHOOTING CLUB. 

The Howell Shooting Club was organized on 
the 13th day of February, in the j'ear 1878, with 
the following members : H. B. Blackman, B. H. 
Rubert, Charles G. Jewett, E. F. Mulliken, J. P. 
Titus, H. D. Wilber, H. N. Beach, L. S. Montague, 
P. D. Skilbeck, F. J. Lee, J. H. Galloway, G. L. 
Woolcott, A. D. Waddell, Judson Hall, B. F. Par- 
sons, R. H. Rumsey, E. G. Angel, H. Gregory, A. 
K. Tooley, J. M. Hoagland, Dennis Shields, and 

E. D. Galloway. 

At the same time a constitution and by-laws were 
adopted, and the following officers were elected : 
President, H. B. Blackman ; Vice-President, L. S. 
Montague; Secretary, C. G. Jewett; Treasurer, B. 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



181 



H. Rubert; Executive Committee, H. B. Blackman 
{ex officio), H. Gregory, H. D. Wilbur, B. H. Ru- 
bert, C. G. Jewett. 

The object of the club is to enforce the laws for 
the protection of game and fish, and the encourage- 
ment among its members and others of the healthful 
sports of hunting and fishing by the active pursuit 
thereof in the field, supplemented by practice on 
the grounds of the club. 

Many others soon after became members of the 
club, until the membership at present is more than 
fifty, including nearly all professions and vocations 
of life. 

True to its purpose, the club soon after its organi- 
zation began to prosecute all violations of the game 
and fish laws which came to its notice, irrespective 
of persons. It met some opposition at first, but soon 
the public were generally con\ inced of the impar- 
tiality and unselfishness of its course, and lent much 
assistance to it, until a very healthy feeling has 
taken possession of the community in favor of the 
enforcement of these laws, as being for the benefit 
of all. 

The club has not been content merely to pre- 
serve, but has been active in increasing the supply 
of game and fish. 

It has caused 250,000 white fish, 150,000 salmon- 
trout, and 5000 Hudson River eels to be deposited 
in the lakes and rivers of this count)', and wild rice 
to be sowed in the shallow lakes to attract ducks 
and other water-fowl, and has the satisfaction of 
knowing that, from its measures of protection, 
propagation, and encouragement, game and fish are 
perceptibly increasing in this county. 

Soon after its organization the club became a 
member of the Michigan State Sportsmen's Asso- 
ciation, and has been ably represented by delegates 
in every meeting of such association since, and 
thereby has had a direct influence on the legisla- 
tion and sentiments of the whole State upon the 
subjects of game and fish. 

The club has done very much to promote good 
marksmanship and to familiarize the public with 
the use of the gun in the field. In addition to the 
numerous trials of skill for prizes, .special purses, 
etc., the club held a grand pigeon-shooting tour- 
nament of three days, beginning Aug. 7, 1878, 
and a grand gla.s.s-ball shooting tournament of 
three days, beginning Aug. 6, 1879, both of which 
were largely attended by sportsmen from all parts 
of this State, and from many other States, in which 
the club showed of what material it was composed 
by its members taking a majority of the purses 
offered. 

While a large number of its members have dis- 
tinguished themselves by their .skill in marksman- 



ship, it will not detract from any to make particular 
mention of one, — C. G. Jewett. 

Mr. Jewett, having excited comment by his par- 
ticularly fine shooting, entered in the match at 
Chicago, on May 26, 1879, for the badge offered 
by Capt. A. H. Bogardus for the best glass-ball 
shot in America, and won it by a decided victory 
over all competitors. He was soon after chal- 
lenged by Capt. Bogardus on behalf of George 
Buzzard, of Chicago, to shoot for the badge and 
$500. This match took place on the grounds of 
the club, in Howell, on Aug. 7, 1879, Mr. Jewett 
making the unprecedented score of ninety-eight 
out of one hundred balls, thrown from three Bo- 
gardus traps set ten yards apart, leaving him 
the undisputed champion glass-ball shooter of 
America. 

The present officers of the club are: President, 
H. N. Beach ; Vice-President, L. S. Montague ; 
Secretary, C. G. Jewett ; Treasurer, B. H. Rubert ; 
Executive Committee, H. N. Beach {ex officio'), 
Calvin Wilcox, C. G. Jewett, E. F. Mulliken, and 
R. H. Rumsey. The club is on a firm financial 
basis, and has a broad field of usefulness before it 
which it will not fail to improve. 

THE DETROIT, LANSING AND NORTHERN 
RAILROAD. 

The construction of this road and its opening in 
1871 have been noticed in the general history of 
the county. Passing in a northwesterly direction 
through a corner of Marion, it enters Howell vil- 
lage across its southern line, a little east of the 
centre, continues in the same general direction 
for about one and three-eighths miles through 
the territoiy of the corporation, and then crosses 
its west line into Howell township. Its passenger 
station is located at the foot of Fleming Street, and 
contiguous to this are the other buildings of the 
company. This railroad line has been of great 
advantage to Howell during the eight years of 
its operation. 

The township and village of Howell together 
contained 2813 inhabitants, by the census of 1874, 
and now the village alone contains — by estimation 
— nearly or quite that population. 

There are {e.\\ villages in this or in any State 
which occupy better or more eligible locations 
than that of Howell, — few of its size which pre- 
sent a more attractive and imposing appearance 
on approach from all directions. It is well built, 
containing an unusual number of large and sub- 
stantial brick structures, and among its mercantile 
establishments there are some which cannot be 
surpassed by any, in the same line of trade, in any 
town or cit)' of Michigan. 



l82 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 




^/ 



HON. JOSIAH TURNER. 



A 



HON. JOSIAH TURNER, 

JUDGE Ob' THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. 

This distinguished gentleman was born on the 
first day of September, a.d. i 8 i i , in the old patriotic 
township of New Haven, Addison Co., in the State 
of Vermont, and received his academical education at 
the famous schools of Middlebury and St. Albans, 
immediately after which he entered his name and 
commenced his legal studies in the office of his 
uncle, Hon. Bates Turner, formerly one of the 
judges of the Supreme Court of that State. He was 
admitted to the bar in the fall of 1S33, and opened 
his office in the village of West Berkshire. In 
January, 1835, he married a daughter of Dr. Ells- 
worth, of Berkshire, Vt., and in 1840 followed 
the great tidal wave of emigration to this State, 
and settled at Howell, the county-seat of Living- 
ston County, where he at once resumed the prac- 
tice of his profession. 

Two years after taking up his new residence he 
was elected clerk of the county, and held the 
office for si.x years ; and also held in rapid succes- 
sion the honorable positions of justice of the peace, 
township clerk, and master in chancery. 

Upon the establishment of the County Court 
system, in 1846, he was elected judge of Living- 
ston County, and held the position with great credit 
to himself until the change was made in the judi- 



ciary of the State by the adoption in 1850 of the 
new constitution. 

At the general State election in 1856 he was 
elected Judge of Probate for the same county. 
His personal popularity was such, added to his 
professional character, that notwithstanding the 
Democratic party held a very large majority in the 
county he was triumphantly elected, although 
running on the opposition (Republican) ticket. 

In May, 1857, he was appointed by the well-de- 
served favor of his old friend. Gov. Kinsley S. 
Bingham, to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court 
bench, and in the same year was elected Circuit 
Judge for the Seventh Judicial Circuit, for the term 
of six years, at the expiration of which he was again 
nominated and elected, and re-elected in 1869; and 
with increasing satisfaction to the profession and to 
the public, he was again, and for the fourth period, 
in 1S75, re-elected without any opposition, — thus 
making, if he lives to the end of his present term, 
a continuous occupancy of a judicial position for 
twenty-four years and nine months. 

Judge Turner has held the Circuit Court in 
forty counties of the State, and in every circuit 
but one. 

In i860, with the view of getting nearer the 
centre of his circuit. Judge Turner changed his 
residence to Owosso, in the county of Shiawassee. 
Here he served the municipality of that city as 




^ng'^byi^oEPu-Jie !■• 




^ /AQ,^ /7^/uan 



WILLIAM Mcpherson, 



of Howell, Liviiisjjston Co., Midi., wa.s born in 
Gortlich, in the parish of Bole.skin, in Inverness- 
shire, Scotland, Jan. 16, 1804. His parents were 
Martin and Elizabeth (Mcintosh) McPherson. 

His father was a blacksmith. In 1813 he re- 
moved with his family to the city of Inverness, 
where he carried on his business of blacksmithing 
for several years. Here William attended school 
and received a fair common-school education. 
After leaving school he was employed for about 
five years as shepherd and as servant and attendant 
to the minister of the parish. When he was about 
nineteen years of age he commenced work in his 
father's shop, and learned the trade of blacksmith 
of him. After acquiring his trade, he worked for 
several years as journeyman blacksmith in differ- 
ent places in the north of Scotland. In 1829, 
when he was twenty-five years of age, he estab- 
lished himself in business and opened a shop of 
his own in the village of Aberchirder, in Banffshire. 
April 7, 1831, he married Elizabeth Riddle, of the 
parish of Grange, Banffshire. He continued in 
business in Aberchirder for about seven years, 
during which time, by hard work and constant 
attention to business, he accumulated a small prop- 
erty. 

Here his three eldest children, Isabella, William, 
and Alexander, were born. In 1836 he emigrated 
to America with his family. He came direct to 
Michigan and settled at Howell, then called Liv- 
ingston Centre, arriving there September 17th of 
the same year. The village of Howell at that time 
consisted of one frame building. This building 
was used as a hotel. In it were also located the 
county offices of the new settlement and a small 
store kept by F. J. B. Crane. 

Mr. McPherson at once built him.self a log house, 
and in a log shop adjoining, commenced work at 
his trade of blacksmithing. In this he continued 
for about si.x years. 

In 1841 heandjosiah Turner, now circuit judge 
of the seventh circuit of Michigan, opened a small 
store, Mr. McPherson contributing part of the cap- 
ital and Mr. Turner managing the business, Mr. 
McPherson at the same time continuing his black- 
smith business on his own account. After contin- 



uing the merchandise business with Mr. Turner 
for about a year, they sold out to Giles Tucker. 

In 1843 he bought a half-interest in the stock 
and store of E. B. Taylor, and, discontinuing his 
blacksmith business, turned his attention entirel)' 
to trade. They did business for about two years 
together, under the firm-name of Taylor & McPher- 
son. 

After being thus associated for about two years, 
he bought his partner's interest in the business. 
From this time he has continued uninterruptedly 
and with success in the mercantile business. 

From 1852 to 1856 he was in partnership with 
William Riddle in the firm of McPherson & Rid- 
dle. In 1856 he associated his eldest son, William 
McPherson, Jr., in business with him, under the 
firm-name of William McPherson & Co. In 1864 
another son, M.J. McPherson, was admitted to the 
business. In 1867 another son, E. G. McPher- 
son, was admitted. Since 1864 the name of the 
firm has been William McPherson & Sons. 

From 1856 this firm has had a steady growth 
and has done an increasing business. It has long 
been noted for enterprise and reliability. As a 
business man Mr. McPherson's marked character- 
istics have been energy, industry, and prudence. 

In 1864, when the Detroit and Howell Rail- 
road Company was organized for the construction 
of a railroad from Detroit to Howell, Mr. McPher- 
son was elected a director, and treasurer of the 
company. In this position he continued for about 
five years, doing much hard and difficult work. 
The original company were unable to carry out 
their project, but a new company composed prin- 
cipally of Eastern capitalists completed the work, 
and the road is now known as the Detroit, Lan- 
sing and Northern Railroad. He assisted in the 
organization of the First Presbyterian Church of 
Howell in 1838, and has been a member ever since. 
He has four sons, William, Alexander, Martin 
John, and Edward G. All are living in Howell. 
Three are associated with him in the mercantile 
business, and one is engaged in banking. He has 
also four daughters, — Isabella, wife of H. H. Mills ; 
Elizabeth, wife of E. P. Gregory ; Mary L., wife of 
H. T. Browning; and lilla, wife of I-"red .\. Smith. 



SEYMOUR E. HOWE. 



Seth Howe, father of the subject of this sketch, 
was born in Coniiecticut in 1776, wiiere he spent 
his early childhood, and from whence his parents 
moved to Pennsylvania. There he grew to man- 
hood and married a Miss Washburn, by whom he 
had several children. Then, hearing glowing 
stories of western New York, he emigrated thither, 
accompanied by an elder brother, settling on what 
was then called the " Holland Purchase." His 
farm was situated in the town of Elba, Genesee 
Co. There his family increased to the number of 
ten children, Seymour E. beine the ninth child. 
I" our years after this event his wife died. Mr. 
Howe had a severe struggle, the country being 
new, heavily timbered, and sparsely settled, with a 
large family to provide for, a wilderness-farm to 
clear, and help scarce. Yet he never faltered. 
Working hard during the week, on the Sabbath he 
would gather the neighbors together and preach to 
them the glad news of salvation. This he kept up 
for forty years, or as long as he lived. Two years 
after the death of his first wife, he married a Mrs. 
Dunning, by whom he had one child, a daughter. 

Seymour F.., when about six years old, went to 
live with his oldest brother, who was married and 
followed farming and painting. With him he was 
associated until his sixteenth year, and received 
some knowledge of both occupations. At this 
time many of his older brothers and sisters were 
married and scattered. Three of them, having 
gone to Michigan, had settled at Dexter, Washte- 
naw Co. Soon after Seymour attained the age of 
sixteen years, he, too, started for Dexter. He was 
then living about forty miles from Buffalo, which 
distance he accomplished on foot, carrying his 
worldly all in a small knapsack. He took pass- 



I age on the steamboat " Columbus" to Detroit, the 
trip taking over six days. He was still fifty miles 
from Dexter, where his friends lived. This dis- 
tance he walked, as he had not money enough to 
hire a public conveyance. Arriving at Dexter, his 
brothers and sisters gave him a very cordial greet- 
ing, one of whom, a carriage-maker, offered him 
employment, which he accepted and commenced 
work at once. He soon after went to work for an- 
other brother, in the clock business. He remained 
with his brother nearly seven years and then re- 
turned to the home of his childhood. He found 
his father and friends well, and received the prodi- 
gal's greeting. His father wishing him to remain 
with him while he lived, he concluded to do so, 
and soon after married Miss P. A. Boutell, with 
whom he is still living. Here they remained until 
after the death of his father, which occurred on 
the 14th of June, 1852. 

Oct. 14, 1856, he started again for Michigan, and 
in due season arrived and located in the town of 
Howell, Livingston Co., upon section 15. Through 
the kindness of David Blackman and family, he 
obtained a comfortable log house free of rent the 
first winter. But the usual casualties and hard 
struggles incident to a new country and climate 
awaited them, and for the first five or six years it 
was living from hand to mouth. But, by the bless- 
ings of a kind Providence, a change came ; they 
were again blessed with health. The older chil- 
dren became helpful, and from that time to the 
present it has been one continued season of pros- 
perity. The log house has been displaced, and a 
large and convenient dwelling erected, and their 
vessel is now under full sail, with a fair prospect of 
a happy termination of life's voyage. 



VILLAGE OF HOWELL. 



183 



mayor in 1864, and was again chosen in the follow- 
ing year. 

At the Constitutional Convention, held at Lan- 
sing in 1867, he was elected for the county of 
Shiawassee, and became at once an active and 
valuable member, — serving on the committee of 
the judiciar)', and chairman of the committee on 
schedule. 

Throughout the long period of his public and 
judicial life, from its very commencement up to the 
present period. Judge Turner has been dis- 
tinguished by patience and industry, and a de- 
termination to do what is right whenever and 
wherever that could be known, and it is this 
principle which has won from those who admin- 
ister the law the respect and confidence of the 
people. 

To the members of the bar, whether old or new 
practitioners, he has ever exhibited a kindliness of 
disposition, an unwavering courtesy of demeanor, 
and a display of characteristics which so happily 
become a judge, whether sitting in equity, at nisi 
prius, or in the performance of professional duties 
in chambers. The family of Judge Turner con- 
sisted of five children, three of whom are now living, 
viz., Hon. Jerome Turner, of Owosso, State Senator 
from 1868 to 1870, and now mayor of that pros- 
perous and enterprising city ; Lucia, the wife of 
Hon. H. M. Newcomb, of Ludington ; and Miss 
Nellie Turner. 



S.\RDIS F. HUBBELL. 

The gentleman whose name stands at the head 
of this sketch, has been a resident of the village 
of Howell for more than a quarter of a century, 
and is one of the prominent members of the 
Livingston County bar. He was born June 10, 
1820, at Newburg, Ohio, a place which is now 
embraced within the limits of the city of Cleve- 
land. His father, Adoniram Hubbell, was a native 
of Connecticut. His mother, Laura (Fuller) Hub- 
bell, born in Granville, Washington Co., N. Y., was 
a lady of rare intellectual ability and culture. She 
died April 1 1, 1850. 

In or about the year 1819, Adoniram Hubbell 
emigrated VV'est and settled in Ohio, where he 
worked at his trade — that of a hatter — until the 
year 1835, when he removed with his family to 
Hartland, Livingston Co., Mich., located a piece 
of land, and engaged in agricultural pursuits, in 
connection with the business of his trade, which he 
carried on in the winter .seasons, until 1841, after 
which he gave his whole attention to farming. 
He died Aug. 8, 1852. His son, Sardis F., to 
whom this sketch has especial reference, had at- 



tended the common schools of Newburg, Ohio, 
until he reached the age of fifteen years, at which 
time he removed with his parents to Hartland. 
Here he attended a select school for a time, and 
after leaving it, assisted his father in business until 
about 1 839, when he was nineteen years of age. He 
then entered the office of Josiah Clark, M.D., for 
the purpose of studying medicine, but finding this 
uncongenial to his taste, he abandoned it after a 
year's trial, and in 1840 commenced reading law 
in the office of Wellington A. Glover, of Howell, 
then prosecuting attorney of the county of Liv- 
ingston. In this he applied himself so closely 
that at the end of a year he found his health im- 
paired, and as a consequence he was compelled to 
suspend study for about two years. On the 15th 
of May, 1843, he entered the office of Augustus 
C. Baldwin, of Milford, Oakland Co., where he 
studied hard for more than three years. He was 
admitted to the bar in Pontiac, Dec. 16, 1846, and 
at once commenced practice in Oakland County, 
where he continued for eight years, having been 
during that time (November, 1850) elected repre- 
sentative in the State Legislature. In the spring 
of 1854 he removed from Milford to Howell, 
where he at once engaged in the business of his 
profession. In the fall of that year he was elected 
Circuit Court Commissioner, and in the fall of 1858 
was elected prosecuting attorney of Livingston 
County. He was again elected to the same office 
in 1862, and re-elected in 1864. 

Mr. Hubbell has been closely identified with the 
interests of Livingston County, and in particular, 
with those of Howell. He has filled the office of 
president of the village for three terms, and that of 
director of the school board for two terms. He 
has always taken a deep interest in the advance- 
ment of education. In religious belief he favors 
that of the Baptist denomination, and attends the 
services of that church. In politics he is and 
always has been a Democrat. In 1854 he joined 
the Masonic fraternity, and was Master of the 
Howell Lodge from 1859 to 1863 inclusive, and 
again from 1876 until the present time. He took 
part in the organization of the Chapter of Royal 
Arch Masons at Howell, and was elected its High 
Priest. He assisted in organizing the Commandery 
of Knights Templar, and filled the office of Emi- 
nent Commander for two terms. He was also 
District Deputy Grand Master for the Si.xth Ma- 
sonic District for the years 1873 and 1874. He 
has been twice married: first, Aug. 14, 1848, to 
Miss P'mily A. Mowry (who died Dec. 29, 1862), 
and the second time, to Mrs. Helen M. Carlin, 
Aug. 14, 1S64. Of his three children by the first 
marriage, two sons are now living. 



HOWELL TOWNSHIP. 



The township of Howell is that which is desig- 
nated on the United States survey as No. 3, north 
of the base line, in range 4, east of the principal 
meridian of the State. It is bounded on the west 
by the township of Handy, and on the north by 
Cohoctah. Its eastern line — against the township 
of Oceola — and its southern boundary, on which it 
joins Marion, are the central lines of Livingston 
County, the former traversing it from north to 
south, and the latter from east to west. 

The water-courses of Howell are not numerous, 
nor is their supply more than moderately abund- 
ant. The principal of these is the south branch of 
the Shiawassee River, which, taking its rise in the 
lakes of Marion, flows north, nearly through the 
centre of Howell, into Cohoctah. This is here a 
sluggish stream, and for a considerable part of its 
course through Howell is bordered by swamps ; 
but it furnishes two water-powers of small ca- 
pacity, which have, in past years, done some ser- 
vice to the people of the town, by propelling mills 
for grinding grain, sawing lumber, and dressing 
cloth. 

The east branch of Cedar River also enters tlie 
township from Marion, and,- crossing the three 
southwestern sections of Howell, passes into Han- 
dy, where it joins the main Cedar. 

Thompson Lake lies partly within the original 
township, but in that part which is now included 
in the village corporation of Howell, as has already 
been mentioned in that connection. From the 
north end of this lake issues an outlet stream, 
which passes north and east through the north 
part of section 25 and the southeast part of sec- 
tion 24 of this township, and enters Oceola, but 
returns into Howell on section 12, and then flows 
north, through that and section i, into Cohoctah, 
where it is known as Bogue Creek, and where it 
finally joins the Shiawassee River. 

The surface of Howell township is undulating, 
but cannot be termed hilly. The altitude of some 
parts of it is perhaps nearly as great as that of any 
part of the county, but the elevations of land are 
less abrupt, and not so high with reference to sur- 
rounding country, as is the case in some of the 
other (particularly the southeastern) townships of 
Livingston. A great part of the area of Howell 
was originally covered with " oak-openings," and 
184 



in these the soil, although not so strong as that of 
heavy timbered lands, was of a quality well adapted 
to the purposes of agriculture, and more profitable 
for settlers than that lying beneath the denser 
forest growth, because it could be made available 
for crops in less time and with less labor. The 
swampy lands along the streams, and in some other 
parts of the township, are justly regarded as blem- 
ishes upon the face of the country, yet they were 
positive blessings to the pioneer farmers who settled 
here, for they were enabled to feed their stock on 
the coarse wild marsh grasses during the time 
which necessarily elapsed before the lands could 
be cleared and crops raised for their subsistence. 

LAND-ENTRIES. 

The first entry of land in this township was made 
by Orman Coe, of Genesee County, New York, 
May 20, 1833, and embraced the east half of the 
southwest quarter of section 27. The next* was 
by Checkley S. Palmer, of Genesee Co., N. Y., 
it being the west half of the northwest quarter 
of section 25. The later entries are shown by 
the following list, which is of the names of all pur- 
chasers from the United States of lands on the 
several sections in Howell township, with the dates 
and descriptions of their purchases : 

SECTION I. 
BicUfurd P. Hutchinson and Silas Titus, of Wayne Co., Mich., 

Feb. iS, 1S36. Southeast quarter and northeast fractional 

quarter. 
Edward Peck, of Genesee Co., N. Y., M.iy 23, 1836. West half 

of the southwest quarter. 
Joseph Heath, of Monroe Co., N. Y., June 9, 1836. Northwest 

fractional quarter. 
Daniel Bouleil, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Nov. 14, 1836. East half 

of the south webt quarter. 

SECTION 2. 
William W. .Shutes, Oakland Co., Mich., Oct. 19, 1S35. South 

part of northwest fractional quarter. 
Ezra Frishce, Montgomery Co., N. Y.,Oct. 19, 1835. North part 

of northwest fractional quarter. 

» In mentioning this as the next entry in the township after that 
of Mr. Coe, it is meant that this was the next made in the town- 
ship, except such as were made on sections 35 and 36, and the 
south half of sections 25 and 26, which have been named in the 
history of Howell village. So in regard to all matters pertaining 
to the history of the township, this is to be understood as a narrative 
of events occurring in the territory of the township outside the cor- 
poration limits of Howell vill.ige, but embracing nothing within 
those limits. 





1 



I 



■Ji 



1 
% 



% 



HOWELL TOWNSHIP. 



1S5 



William S. Gregory, Wayne Co., Mich., May 23, 1836. Soulh 

part of norlhe.ist rractional quarter. 
Patrick Tobin, Livingston Co., Mich., May 28, 1836. Southwest 

(luarter. 
Horace Heath and Apollos Smith, United States, June 10, 1S36. 

Norlh part of northeast fr.actional quarter. 
Harvey S. Bradley, Niagara Co., N. V., Oct. 22, 1S38. E.ist half 

of southeast quarter. 
Joseph Bradley, Wayne Co., Mich., Nov. 2, 1838. Northwest 

quarter of southeast quarter. 
Maria Br.idley, W.iyne Co., Mich., Feb. 5, 1839. Southwest 

quarter of soullieast quarter. 

SECTION 3. 
John .Sanford, Oakland Co., Mich., July 8, 1834. Northwest frac- 

lional quarter. 
William Carpenter, Niagara Co., N. V., May 21, 1836. West half 

of southwest quarter. 
Ebenezer Warren, Livingston Co., N. Y., M.ay 21, 1836. West 

half of southeast quarter and east half of southwest quarter. 
Henry W. Randall, Niagara Co., N. Y., May 21, 1836. East half 

of southeast quarter. 
John Sanford, Livingston Co., Mich., June 8, 1836. North part 

of northeast fractional qu.arter. 
David Hyde, Livingston Co., Mich., Sept. 16, 1846. Southwest 

quarter of northeast quarter; Feb. 23, 1S48, southeast quarter 

of northeast quarter. 

SECTION 4. 
Samuel M. Spencer, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 7, 1S36. West 

half of soullnvest quarter. 
Garret S. Lake, Livingston Co., N. Y., M.iy 28, 1836. South- 
west quarter of southeast quarter. 
Mark Healy and B. B. Kercheval, United States, May 28, 1836. 

East half of southwest quarter, east half of southeast quarter, 

northwest quarter of southeast quarter. 
Purdy Williams, New York City, June 15, 1S36. West half of 

northwest fractional quarter. 
William Hyde, Livingston Co., N. Y., Nov. 17, 1854. East half 

of northeast fr.ictional quarter. 
Almon Whipple, Livingston Co., N. Y., Nov. 23, 1854. East 

half of northwest fractional quarter, west half of northeast 

fractional quarter. 

SECTION s. 
Nathan Chidester, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 4, 1S36. Northeast 

fractional quarter. 
W'illiam Slater, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 5, 1836. Northwest 

fractional quarter, west half of southwest quarter, northeast 

quarter of southwest quarter. 
Samuel N. Spencer, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 7, 1836. East 

half of southeast quarter. 
William Slater, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 13, 1836. Southeast 

quarter of southwest quarter. 
John W. Pierce, Wayne Co., Mich., June 24, 1836. West half 

of southeast quarter. 

SECTION 6. 

Joseph B. Craft, Livingston Co., N. Y., M.iy 5, 1836. Northwest 
fractional quarter. 

Justus Boyd, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 5, 1836. Northeast frac- 
tional quarter, east half of southeast quarter, and northwest 
quarter of southeast quarter. 

Charles P. Bush, Tompkins Co., N. Y., June 9, 1836. North part 
of southwest fractional quarter. 

William Horton, New York City, June 15, 1836. Soulh half of 
southwest fractional quarter and southwest quarter of south- 
east quarter. 

SECTION 7. 

Joseph Porter, Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 21, 1834. West part 
of sonlhwest fractional quarter. 

24 



John Bennet, Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 14, 1835. Northwest 
fractional quarter. 

Jeremiah Greenfield, Cayuga Co., N. Y., Oct. 10, 1835. East 
part of southwest fractional quarter and southwest quarter of 
southeast quarter. 

Nathan Chidester, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 4, 1836. East half 
of northeast quarter. 

Stephen S. Bullock, Wayne Co., Mich., June 14, 1836. East half 
of southeast quarter and west half of northeast quarter. 

Garret S. Lake, Livingston Co., Mich., April 13, 1S37. North- 
west quarter of southeast quarter. 

SECTION 8. 
William H. Townsend, New York City, Oct. I, 1835. Southeast 

quarter. 
William C. Blackwood, .Seneca Co., N. Y., May 6, 1836. North- 
west quarter. 
Ramsey McIIenry, B. B. Kcicheval, Mark Healey, and O. T. 

Smith, United States, May 14, 1836. Northeast quarter. 
Healey & Kercheval, United States, May 28, 1836. Southwest 

quarter. 

SECTION 9. 
Isaac R. Stone, Ontario Co., N. Y., Oct. 16, 1835. West half of 

southwest quarter. 
William R. Spofford, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 20, 1S36. West 

half of northwest quarter. 
Lester K. Gould, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 20, 1836. East half 

of northwest quarter and cast half of southwest quarter. 
Garret S. Lake, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 28, 1836. Northeast 

quarter. 
Edward C. Douser, Livingston Co., N. Y., June 27, 1836. West 

half of southeast quarter. 
\Villi.am Bloodworth, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. g, 1837, East 

half of southeast quarter. 

SECTION 10. 

Harry W. Phillips, Niagara Co., N. Y., May 21, 1836. South 
half of section. 

William Carpenter, Niagara Co., N. Y., May 21, 1836. North 
half of section. 

SECTION II. 

Moses Thompson, Herkimer Co., N. Y., Sept. 3, 1835. East 
half of southeast quarter. 

Anthony Shaw, Saratoga Co., N. Y.. May 21, 1S36. Northwest 
quarter. 

Patrick Tobin, Livingston Co., Mich., May 28, 1836. Southwest 
quarter. 

Aaron Sickels, May 8, 1838. Southeast quarter of northeast 
quarter. 

John F. Sickels, May 8, 1838. Northeast quarter of northeast 
quarter. 

Odell J. Smith, Livingston Co., Mich., Aug. 4, 1S38. Southwest 
quarter of northeast quarter and northwest quarter of south- 
east quarter. 

Levi D. Smith, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. i, 1855. Northwest 
quarter of northeast qu.arter. 

Charles L. Ferguson, July 5, 1853. Southwest quarter of south- 
east quarter. 

Levi D. Smith, Livingston Co., Mich., February 24, 1854. 
Northwest quarter of northeast quarter. 

SECTION 12. 

Moses Thompson, Herkimer Co., N. Y., Sept. 3, 1835. West half 
of southwest quarter. 

Ezra J. Mundy, Livingston Co., Mich., April 30, 1836. South- 
west quarter of southeast quarter. 

John F. Sickels, Wayne Co., N. Y., M.-»y 18, 1836. Northeast 
quarter and northwest quarter, east half of southwest quarter, 
east half of southeast quarter, and northwest quarter of south- 
eitst quarter. 



1 86 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



SECTION 13. 
George W. Teeple, Steuben Co., N. Y., July 7, 1835. Southwest 

qu.irter of southwest quarter. 
Ezra J. Mundy, Livingston Co., Mich., April 30, 1836. West half 

of northeast quarter and east half of northwest quarter. 
E. Thompson, Livingston Co., Mich,, May 27, 1836. Northeast 

quarter of northeast quarter. 
Lewis Thompson, Livingston Co., Mich., May 27, 1836. North- 
west quarter of southwest quarter and east half of southwest 

quarter. 
Patrick Tobin, Livingston Co., Mich., May 28, 1836. West half 

of northwest quarter. 
Levi HotchUiss, Livingston Co., Mich., July 28, 1836. Southeast 

quarter and southeast quarter of northeast quarter. 

SECTION 14. 
George W. Teeple, Steuben Co., N. Y., July 7, 1835. Southeast 

quarter of southeast quarter. 
Orrin H. Harding, Niagara Co., N. Y., Sept. 28, 1835. South- 
west quarter. 
Elijah Gaston, Livingston Co., Mich., May 2, 1S36. West half of 

northwest quarter. 
Edward Peck, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 23, 1836. West half of 

northeast quarter. 
William S. Gregory, Wayne Co., Mich., May 23, 1836. East half 

of northeast quarter and northeast quarter of southeast quarter. 
Patrick Tobin, Livingston Co., Mich., May 28, 1836. East half 

of northwest quarter. 
Victory Curtis, Livingston Co., Mich., Sept. 24, 1836. West half 

of southeast quarter. 

SECTION 15. 

Orrin H. Harding, Niagara Co., N. Y.,Sept. 28, 1835. East lialf 
of southeast quarter. 

Mortimer B. Martin, Wayne Co., Mich., Feb. 15, 1S36. North- 
west quarter. 

George Curtis, Livingston Co., Mich., May 2, 1836. East half of 
northeast quarter. 

John Curtis, Livingston Co., Mich., May 2, 1836. West half of 
northeast quarter. 

Ramsey McHeniy, B. B. Kercheval, Mark Healey, O. T. Smith, 
May 24, 1836. Southwest quarter. 

Benjamin J. Spring, Livingston Co., Mich., June 24, 1836. 
West half of southeast quarter. 

SECTION 16. 

SCHOOL LANDS. 

Mary Jones, Jan. 21, 1848. Southeast quarter of southwest quarter. 

J. La Grange, April 17, 1848. Northwest quarter of southeast 

quarter. 
A. La Grange, June 14, 1848. Southwest quarter of southwest 

quarter. 
William Moore, June 12, 1849. Northeast quarter of northeast 

quarter. 
Anson La Grange, March 11, 1851. Southeast quarter of south- 
west quarter. 
O. P. Brayton, April 30, 1S51. Southeast quarter of northeast 

quarter. 
Chas. O. Reed, June 28, 1851. North half of southwest quarter. 
John La Grange, Aug. l6, 1851. Southeast quarter of northwest 

quarter. 
Nicholas Lake, Jr., Jan. 4, 1853. Southeast quarter of northwest 

quarter. 
William Moore, Jan. 19, 1853 Southwest quarter of northeast 

quarter. 
C. A. Dorrance, Oct. 8, 1853. Northwest quarter of northwest 

quarter. 
J. McDaniels, Oct. 14, 1853. Northwest quarter of northeast 

quarter. 



E. Marr, Oct. 17, 1853. Southwest quarter of northwest quarter. 
Robert McLean, Oct. 20, 1853. Northeast quarter of northwest 

quarter. 
J. Whipple, Aug. 7, 1S54. Northeast quarter of northeast quarter. 

SECTION 17. 

Chilson Sanford, Washtenaw Co., Mich., April 25, 1834. East 
half of southwest quarter. 

Whitely Woodruff, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 27, 1834. South- 
west quarter of southwest quarter. 

Samuel Waddell, Oakland Co., Mich., July 14, 1835. E.ist half 
of southeast quarter. 

Clement Stebbins, Oakland Co., Mich., Sept. 29, 1835. South- 
west quatter of southeast quarter. 

William H. Townsend, New York City, Oct. I, 1835. Northeast 
quarter. 

Flavins J. B. Crane, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 27, 1835. North- 
west quarter of southwest quarter. 

Abram A. Van Nest, Washtenaw Co., Mich., March 16, 1836. 
Northwest quarter. 

Henry Lake, Livingston Co., Mich., June 17, 1836. Northwest 
quarter of southeast quarter. 

SECTION 18. 
James Hiscock, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Dec. 18, 1834. East half 

of southeast quarter. 
Alfred A. Dwight, Wayne Co., Mich., July 17, 1835. West half 

of southeast quarter. 
Bickford P. Hutchinson and Silas Titus, W.ayne Co., Mich., July 

17, 1835. East half of northwest quarter. 
Morgan Lyon, Chenango Co., N. Y., Sept. 28, 1S35. Northeast 

quarter. 
Edwin Hubbard, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 14, 1835. East half 

of southwest fractional quarter. 
Ilaivey Huljbard, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 14, 1835. West 

half of northwest fractional quarter. 
Ebenezer Demmon, Livingston Co., Mich., Jan. 25, 1837. West 

part of southwest fractional quarter. 

SECTION 19. 

Clement Stebbins, O.akland Co., Mich., Sept. 29, 1835. East half 
of northeast quarter. 

Mark Healy and B. B. Kercheval, United States, M.ay 28, 1836. 
Southeast quarter, southwest fractional quarter, northwest frac- 
tional quarter, and west half of northeast quarter. 

SECTION 20. 

Chilson .Sanford, Washtenaw Co., Mich., April 25,1834. North- 
west quarter. 

Sterry Lyon, Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 21, 1S34. East half of 
northeast quarter. 

Nancy Gregory, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 20, 1835. West 
half of northeast quarter. 

Charles S. Gregory, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 20, 1835. West 
half of southeast quarter and southeast quarter of southeast 
quarter. 

Bickfurd P. Hutchinson and Alfred A. Dwight, Wayne Co., Mich., 
July 17, 1835. Northe.ast quarter of southeast quarter. 

Flavins J. B. Crane, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 27, 1835. South- 
west quarter. 

SECTION 21. 

Elisha H. Smith, Ontario Co., N. Y., Nov. 6, 1834. West half 

of southwest cpiarter. 
Villeroy E. Smith, Ontario Co., N. Y., May 22, 1835. West half 

of noithwest quarter. 
John W. Smith, Ontario Co., N. Y., May 22, 1835. Southeast 

quarter of southwest quarter. 
Robert Pixley, Ontario Co., N. Y., Oct. 15, 1835. East half of 

northeast quarter, southwest quarter of northeast quarter. 



HOWELL TOWNSHIP. 



187 



Isaac R. Stone, Ontario Co., N. Y., Oct. 16, 1835. Southeast 
quarter. 

Jarvis W. Carr, Ontario Co., N. Y., Oct. 16, 1835. East half of 
northwest quarter. 

Josiah Snow and George W. H. FIsk, Wayne Co., Mich., Feb. 8, 
1836. Northeast quarter of southwest quarter. 

John W. Smith, Livingston Co., Mich., Oct. 12, 1837. North- 
west quarter of northeast quarter. 

SECTION 22. 

Dennis Hogan, Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 23, 1855. Souih- 
west quarter. 

Paul D. Cornell and Alonzo Cornell, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., July 
II, 1835. West half of northwest quarter and northeast 
quarter of northwest quarter. 

Peter Brewer, Niagara Co., N. Y., Sept. 9, 1S35. .Soulhe.ist 
quarter of southeast quarter. 

Daniel Case, Livingston Co., Mich., March 10, 1836. Northeast 
quarter of southeast quarter and southeast quarter of northeast 
quarter; ."^pril 4, 1836, northeast quarter of northeast quarter. 

Luther B. Willard, Wayne Co., Mich., April 23, 1836. West half 
of northeast quarter; Aug. 6, 1836, southeast quarter of north- 
west quarter. 

Paul .Stowell, Genesee Co., N. Y., March 9, 1S37. West half of 
southeast quarter. 

SECTION 23. 

Agnes Wood, Niagara Co., N. Y., June 2, 1836. Northeast quar- 
ter of northwest quarter. 

Victory Curtis, Livingston Co., Mich., Sept. 24, 1836. West half 
of northeast quarter. 

Bickford P. Hutchinson and Silas Titus, Wayne Co., Mich., July 
17, 1835. East half of southeast quarter. 

Moses Thompson, Herkimer Co., N. Y., Aug. 18, 1835. East 
half of northeast quarter. 

Sally Johnston, Livingston Co., Mich., Aug. 10, 1S35. Southeast 
quarter of southwest quarter. 

David Wadhams, Madison Co., N. Y., Sept. 3, 1835. Southwest 
quarter of southeast quarter. 

Peter Brewer, Nl.agara Co., N. Y., Sept. 9, 1835. West half of 
southwest quarter. 

Justin Durfee, Monroe Co., N. Y., Oct. 26, 1835. West half of 
northwest quarter. 

J.ames Sage, Livingston Co., Mich., May 9, 1836. Southeast 
quarter of northwest quarter. 

Patrick Hefierman, Wayne Co., Mich., May 28, 1836. Northwest 
quarter of southeast quarter and northeast quarter of south- 
west quarter. 

SECTION 24. 

George W. Teeple, Steuben Co., N. Y., July 7, 1835. West half 

of northwest quarter. 
Alfred A. Dwight, Wayne Co., Mich., July 17, 1835. West half 

of southwest quarter. 
Samuel Riddle, Jr., Washtenaw Co., Mich., April 26, 1836. East 

half of northwest quarter and west half of northeast quarter. 
William Packard, Wayne Co., Mich., May 16, 1836. East half 

of southwest quarter. 
William J. Pease, New York City, Nov. 16, 1836. East half of 

northeast quarter. 
Alvin L. Crittenden, Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 14, 1836. 

North half of southeast quarter. 
Aaron Saunders, Livingston Co., Mich., July 11, 1846. Southeast 

quarter of southeast quarter; Oct. 17, 1849, southwest quar- 
ter of southeast quarter. 

SECTION 25. 

Clieckley S. Palmer, Genesee Co., N. Y., Oct. 7, 1S33. West half 
of northwest quarter. 



Robert R. Rowland, Wayne Co., N. Y., May 30, 1835. South 
half of northwest quarter. 

Elizabeth Thompson, Oakland Co., Mich., July 10, 1835. South- 
west quarter of northeast quarter. 

Edward Thompson, Livingston Co., Mich., M.ay 27, 1836. South- 
east quarter of northeast quarter. 
. Joseph R. Thompson, (Jakland Co., Mich., May 31, 1839. North- 
east ([uarter of northeast quarter. 

Morris Thompson, Livingston Co., Mich., July 9, 1847. North- 
west quarter of northeast quarter. 

SECTION 26. 

Itha J. West, Niagara Co., N. Y , Sept. 9, 1S35. West half of 

northwest quarter. 
Bickford P. Hutchinson and Alfred A. Dwight, Wayne Co., 

Mich., July 17, 1835. E.ist half of northeast quarter. 
Clarissa Johnson, Livingston Co., Mich., Aug. 18, 1835. East 

half of northwest quarter. 
David Wadhams, Madison Co., N. Y., Sept. 3, 1835. West half 

of northeast quarter. 

SECTION 27. 

Orman Coe, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 20, 1833. East half of 
southwest quarter. 

Henry S. Earned, Livingston Co., Mich., June 15, 1835. South- 
west quarter of northwest quarter. 

Bickford P. Hutchinson and Alfred A. Dwight, Wayne Co., 
Mich., July 17, 1835. West half of southwest quarter. 

Henry S. Earned, Livingston Co., Mich., July 21, 1835. North- 
west quartet of northwest quarter. 

George W. Pennock, Upper Canada, Aug. 3, 1835. West half 
of southeast quarter. 

Itha J. West, Niagara Co., N. Y., Sept. 9, 1835. Northeast 
quarter of northeast quarter. 

Jonathan Austin, Livingston Co., Mich., Oct. 28, 1835. East 
half of southeast quarter. 

Harvey Metcalf, Livingston Co., Mich., June 4, 1836. West half 
of northeast quarter and e.ast half of northwest quarter. 

John Haze, O.ikland Co., Mich., Sept. 16, 1837. Southeast 
quarter of northeast quarter. 

SECTION 28. 
Francis Monroe, Ontario Co., N. Y., Nov. 6, 1834. .Southwest 

quarter. 
John W. .Smith, Ontario Co., N. Y., May 22, 1835. Northeast 

quarter of northwest quarter. 
Israel Powers, Ontario Co., N. Y., June 8, 1835. West half of 

northeast quarter. 
B. L. Powers, Yates Co., N. Y., June 8, 1835. East half of 

northeast quarter. 
Jacob Leroy, Genesee Co., N. Y., Aug. 11, 1835. Southeast 

quarter. 
Flavins J. B. Crane, Livingston Co., Mich., Jan. 13, 1836. West 

half of northwest quarter and southeast quarter of northwest 

quarter. 

SECTION 29. 
Elii)halct Lewis, Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 14, 1835. East 

half of northeast quarter and northwest quarter of northeast 

quarter. 
Mark Healy and B. B. Kercheval, United States, M.ay 28, 1836. 

Northwest quarter, southwest quarter, southeast quarter, 

and southwest quarter of northeast quarter. 

SECTIONS 30, 31. 
Mark Ilealy and B. B. Kercheval, United States, May 28, 1836. 
Entire sections. 

SECTION 32. 
Rial Lake, Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 12, 1835. Southeast quarter. 
Mark Healy and B. B. Kercheval, United Stalts, May 28, 1836. 
Northeast quarter, northwest quarter, and southwest quarter. 



1 88 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



SECTION 33. 

Jacob Leroy, Genesee Co., N. Y., Aug. II, 1835. East half of 
nortlieast quarter. 

Rial Lake, Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 12, 1835. West half of south- 
west quarter. 

Leonard Collar, Orleans Co., N. Y., Oct. 26, 1835. West half of 
northeast quarter. 

Edward E. Gregory, Washtenaw Co., Mich., April 26, 1836. 
Sjutheast quarter. 

William M. Gregory, Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 24, 1836. 
East half of southwest quarter. 

Mark Healy and B. B. Kercheval, L'nited Stales, May 28, 1836. 
Northwest quarter. 

SECTION 34. 

Moses Thompson, Herkimer Co., N. Y., May 9, 1834. North- 
east quarter, east half of northwest quarter, and northeast 
quarter of southwest quarter. 

Morris Thompson, Herkimer Co., N. Y., May 15, 1S34. North- 
west quarter of southeast quarter. 

Brown Bristol, Genesee Co., N. Y., July 4, 1S35. East half of 
southeast quarter. 

Hezekiah Carpenter and Socrates W. Carpenter, Genesee Co., 
N. Y., Aug. II, 1835. West half of northwest quarter. 

Edward E. Gregory, Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 24, 1S36. 
Southwest quarter of southwest quarter. 

Joseph S. Crispel, Livingston Co., Mich., June 12, 1845. South- 
east quarter of southwest quarter. 

Rice Tyler, Livingston Co., Mich., July 10, 1S52. Southwest 
quarter of southeast quarter. 

E. G. Almy, Livingston Co., Mich., certificate assigned to Enos 
Sowle, Jan. g, 1854. Northwest quarter of southwest quarter. 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS AND SETTLERS. 

At the beginning of the year 1835 there had 
been no settlement made in Howell west or north 
of the present village limits, but during the .spring 
and summer of that year a considerable number of 
immigrants came in and located themselves in dif- 
ferent parts of the township. To which of them 
belonged the honor of being the first settler in the 
township cannot be stated, as several came in at 
nearly the same time. 

Mr. Samuel Waddell, from Steuben County, 
N. Y., and a soldier of the war of 18 12, was one 
who settled here in the fall of that year. His loca- 
tion was on the east half of the southeast quarter 
of section 17, which he had entered in July, 1835. 
Mr. Waddell died on the 30th of May, 1837, his 
being the first death that occurred among the 
settlers in the township. It was the result of 
injuries received at the raising of the frame of a 
barn at Amos Adams' Eagle Tavern. He was 
buried on his farm ; but his remains were after- 
wards removed to the burial-ground in Howell 
village. In the autumn of the same year, his 
widow, with her family of seven children, returned 
to Pultney, N. Y., from whence they had emigrated 
two years before. She is still residing there at the 
age of more than eighty years. Andrew D. Wad- 
dell, the fifth of her seven children, returned to 
the village of Howell in 1855, commenced the 
study of la\y, was admitted to the bar in the fol- 



lowing year, and is now one of the leading mem- 
bers of the bar of Livingston County. 

Joseph Porter, from Washtenaw Co., Mich., 
came in the same year, and located on the south- 
west quarter of section 7, but did not long con- 
tinue at that place. He was a millwright by trade, 
and was employed in 1836 in building the saw- 
mill of Moses Thompson on the outlet of Thomp- 
son Lake. Afterwards he was proprietor, with 
Amos Adams, of a saw-mill which they erected 
on the Shiawassee, on section 27. 

Villeroy E. Smith, John W. Smith, and Elisha 
H. Smith, three brothers, from Ontario Co., N. Y., 
came here in May, 1835. They were men of re- 
spectability, and stood well in the estimation of 
their fellow-townsmen. The first and last named 
located on section 21. John W. settled on section 
28. He was one of the first justices of the peace 
elected in the township, and afterwards held the 
office for si.xteen years in succession. Villeroy 
E. Smith was a school-teacher by profession, and 
died while employed in that calling in the town 
of Marion, Dec. 30, 185 i. 

Eh'sha H. Smith was one of the earliest explorers 
of this region, he having come through here on 
foot, with Mr. Francis Monroe, searching for gov- 
ernment lands, in the fall of 1834. He is still 
living on the northeast quarter of section 21. 
Three sons of his — Gardner S., Reuben C, and 
Edwin H. Smith — died in the service of their 
country, in the war of the Rebellion. Mr. Smith 
is probably the best informed person in Howell 
in reference to pioneer matters in the township. 
Much information and assistance has been obtained 
from him in the preparation of this history of 
Howell; for which he has the thanks of the 
writer. 

Justin Durfee, from Henrietta, Genesee Co., 
N. Y., came to Howell in 1835, and settled on the 
northwest quarter of section 23. When he first 
came to Michigan from New York State (a year 
or two earlier) he had settled temporarily in Oak- 
land County, where he was employed in school- 
teaching. He was also the first male school- 
teacher in the village and township of Howell, 
being employed to teach the pioneer school in 
District No. i, in 1837. At the spring election of 
1836 (the first in the township) he was elected to 
the offices of assessor and highway commissioner, 
and held some offices (especially in the school 
district) afterwards. He remained a resident in. 
Howell until 1851, when he returned to New 
York State, and is now (or was recently) living 
there. 

Merritt S. Havens, a carpenter and joiner by 
trade, settled in 1835 on section 23. His marriage 



HOWELL TOWNSHIP. 



189 



with Sally T. Austin, daughter of David Austin, 
Jan. 15, 1836, was the first celebration of nuptials 
in the township or village of Howell. 

Daniel Hotchkiss and Levi M. Hotchkiss were 
settlers of 1835, both locating on section 28. 
Francis Field and Nathaniel Johnson settled dur- 
ing the same season on section 23. Mr. Johnson 
died Jan. 25, 1852. Whitcley Woodruff, from 
Washtenaw Co., Mich., settled in the summer of 
1835 on the southwest part of section 17, the 
locality now known as the "Six Corners;" and 
at about the same time David H. Austin began 
preparations for settlement on the northeast quar- 
ter of section 20, where Mr. Bump now lives. 
Very soon after, however, Mr. Austin removed 
from section 20, and located on section 35, within 
the present village corporation. After living for 
some years on section 35 he removed to Farming- 
ton, Oakland Co. His son, George Austin, is now 
living in the southwest part of the township. The 
above-mentioned persons are believed to have been 
all — and they were certainly very nearly all — who 
settled in the township prior to the commencement 
of 1836. It has been stated by an old resident of 
Howell,* that at the end of 1835 there were but 
22 adult males living in the whole of the township 
(that is, including the territory of the present vil- 
lage). But if we add to the above list of settlers 
the names of those who were then living within 
what are now the corporate limits of Howell, viz., 
Moses Thompson with his three sons, James and 
George T. Sage, David Austin, Jonathan Austin, 
Messrs. Pinckney, Adams, Crane, and Ezra J. 
Mundy, we have one or two more than the num- 
ber said to be resident in the township at that 
time. It may therefore be claimed with consider- 
able confidence that the above mention includes 
all who had settled in the township down to the 
time named. 

ERECTION AND ORGANIZATION OF THE 
TOWNSHIP. 

The act erecting the township of Howell was 
passed by the Legislature at the session of 1836, 
and approved March 23d, in that year. It pro- 
vided " that all that portion of the county of Liv- 
ingston designated by the United States survey as 
townships three and four north, of ranges three, 
four, and five east, be and the same is hereby set 
off and organized into a separate township by the 
name of Howell, and the first township-meeting 
shall be held at the dwelling-house of Amos 
Adams, in said township." 

The territory thus set off to form the township 
of Howell comprises, in addition to the present 

* Mr-. Dniiiel Case. 



limits of the township, all of the present towns of 
Handy, Occola, Deerfield, Cohoctah, and Conway. 
It has been since reduced to its present dimensions 
by the setting off of Byron (now Oceola) and 
Deerfield in March, 1837; and Handy, Tuscola 
(now Cohoctah), and lena (now Conway) in March, 
1838. 

The name of Howell was taken from that of 
the village, which had been so named when platted 
a year and a half before. The first township-meet- 
ing was held, in accordance with the provisions of 
the act, at the tavern-house of Amos Adams on 
the first Monday in May, 1836. Sugar-bowls, 
borrowed from the landlady, were used as ballot- 
boxes, and in these, thirty-six votes were cast, 
resulting in the election of Philester Jessup (of 
the township now Oceola) as Supervisor; F. J. B. 
Crane, Town Clerk ; Amos Adams, Ezra Sanford, 
Harley H. Graves, and John W. Smith, Justices 
of the Peace; Francis Field, Collector; Justin 
Durfee, David Austin, and George T. Sage, As- 
sessors ; Joseph Porter, F. J. B. Crane, and Jona- 
than Austin, School Inspectors; John Sanford, 
Justin Durfee, and George T. Sage, Highway 
Commissioners ; John D. Pinckney, F. J. B. Crane, 
Francis Field, and Elisha H. Smith, Constables. 

A list of persons who have held township offices 
since that time and until the present is given below, 
but it is incomplete for the years between 1836 
and 1850, for the reason that the old township 
record covering those years has been lost or de- 
stroyed, and only a partial and defective list of 
officers elected during that period has been gath- 
ered from other sources. Such as are given, how- 
ever, are known to be authentic, viz. : 

1837. — Supervisor, John \V. Smith ; Town Clerk, Jonathan Aus- 
tin ; Justices of the Peace, George W. Kneeland, John 
\V. Smith. 

183S. — Supervisor, Rial Lake; Town Clerk, John \V. Smith; 
Justices of the Peace, John T. Watson, Oilell J. Smith, 
Wellington A. Glover. 

1S39. — Town Clerk, Morris Thompson; Justice of the Peace, 
Allen C. Weston. 

1840. — Town Clerk, Morris Thompson; Justice of the Peace, 
Gardner Wheeler. 

1841. — Town Clerk, Morris Thompson; Justice of the Peace, 
John W. Smith. 

1S42. — .Supervisor, George W. Kneelaud ; Town Clerk, M. S. 
Breunan; Justice of the Peace, Josiah Turner. 

1S43. — Supervisor, George W. Kneelaud; Justice of the Peace, 
Odell J. Smith. 

1844. — Supervisor, Rial Lake; Town Clerk, Gardner Wheeler; 
Justice of the Peace, James H. Ackerson; Treasurer, 
William Mcl'herson ; School Inspector, Edward E. 
Gregory; Directors of the Poor, Derastus Hinman, 
Victory Curtis. 

1845. — Supervisor, Odell J. Smith ; Town Clerk, Gardner Whee- 
ler; Justices of the Peace, John W. .Smith, Nelson (}. 
Isbell (to fill vacancy caused by resignation of Josiah 
Turner). 



190 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



1846. — Supervisor, Gardner Wheeler; Town Clerk, Lauren K. 
Hewett ; Justice of the Peace, William Lewis. 

1847. — Supervisor, Odell J. Smith; Town Clerk, L. K. Hewett; 
Justices of the Peace, Richard B. Hall, Samuel M. 
Yerkes (to fill vacancy). 

1848. — Supervisor, Frederick C. Whipple ; Town Clerk, D. D. 
T. Chandler; Justices of the Peace, Lauren K. Hewett, 
George W. Kneeland (to fill vacancy). 

:S49. — Supervisor, William McPherson; Town Clerk, Henry H. 
Harmon ; Justice of the Peace, John W. Smith. 

1S50. — Supervisor, Gardner Wheeler; Clerk, Henry H. Harmon; 
Treasurer, John B. Kneeland ; Justice of the Peace, 
Henry Lake; Commissioner of Highways, Edward 
Thompson; School Inspector, John A. Wlieeler ; Direc- 
tors of the Poor, Richard P. Bush, Josiah Turner. 

1851. — Supervisor, Deraslus Hinman ; Clerk, Jolni A.Wheeler; 
Treasurer, John B. Kneeland ; Justices of the Peace, 
John H. Galloway (full term), Wdliam More (to fill 
vacancy) ; Highway Commissioner, David Carl ; School 
Inspector, Gardner Wheeler; Directors of the I'oor, 
James M. Murray, William L. Wells. 

1852. — Supervisor, Richard P. Bush ; Clerk, Mylo L. Gay ; Treas- 
urer, John B. Kneeland; Justices of the Peace, G.irdner 
Wheeler (full term^, William More (to fill vacancy); 
Highway Commissioner, Elisha H. Smith ; School In- 
spector, William A. Clark ; Directors of the Poor, John 
D. Giflbrd, Josiah Turner. 

1853. — Supervisor, Richard P. Bush; Clerk, Mylo L. Gay ; Treas- 
urer, John B. Kneeland; Justice of the Peace, L. K. 
Hewett; Highway Commissioner, Samuel M. Yerkes; 
School Inspector, Gardner Wheeler. 

1854. — Supervisor, Gardner Wheeler; Clerk, Mylo L. Gay; Treas- 
urer, John B. Kneeland; Justice of the Peace, William 
More; Highway Commissioner, Daniel Case; School In- 
spector, William A. Clark. 

1S55. — Supervisor, William C. Rumsey ; Clerk, Mylo L. Gay; 
Treasurer, John B. Kneeland ; Justice of the Peace, 
Odell J. Smith; Commissioners of Highways, Dexter 
Filkins, Wm. Lake; School Inspector, Wm. B. Jewett. 

1S56. — Supervisor, William C. Rumsey; Clerk, E. Rollin Bas- 
com ; Justice of the Peace, Mylo L. Gay ; Treasurer, 
Nathan Pond; Highway Commissioner, Charles Root; 
School Inspector, George P. Root. 

1S57. — Supervisor, John B. Kneeland; Clerk, E. Rollin Bascom; 
Treasurer, Andrew Blanck; Justice of the Peace, Daniel 
Ca.se; Highway Commissioner, David Lewis; School 
Inspector, George Huston. 

1858. — Supervisor, John H. Galloway; Clerk, Henry C. Briggs; 
Treasurer, John W. Richmond; Justice of the Peace, 
Andrew D, Waddell ; Highway Commissioner, Dexter 
J. Filkins; School Inspector, B. Howard Lavvson (full 
term), Wdliam B. Jewett (to vacancy). 

1859. — Supervisor, John II. Galloway; Clerk, E. Rollin Bascom; 
Treasurer, John W. Richmond; Justice of the Peace, 
John Marr; Highway Commissioners, Charles Root, 
Stephen S. More; School Inspector, J. A. Pond. 

l85o. — Supervisor, John H. Galloway; Clerk, E. Rollin Bascom; 
Treasurer, John W. Richmond ; Justices of the Peace, 
Mylo L. Gay (full term), William Lake (to fill vacancy) ; 
Highway Commissioner, Stephen S. More; School In- 
spector, Andrew Blanck. 

1861. — Supervisor, William C. Rumsey; Clerk, E. Rollin Bas- 
com; Treasurer, Henry C. Briggs; Justice of the Peace, 
Daniel Ca.se; School Inspector, Jabez A. Pond; High- 
way Commissioner, Solomon Hildcbrant. 

1S62. — Supervisor, William C. Rumsey; Clerk, E. Rollin Bas- 
com; Treasurer, Giles Tucker; Justice of the Peace, 
Dennis Shields ; Highway Commissioner, George Wake- 
field ; School Inspector, Henry H. Harmon (full term), 
J. Bruce Fishbeck (vacancy). 



1863. — Supervisor, Giles Tucker; Clerk, E. Rollin Bascom; 
Treasurer, Leonard B. Wells ; Justices of the Peace, 
William Lake (full term), William More (vacancy); 
Highway Commissioners, Stephen S. More, George 
Wakefield ; School Inspectors, Ebenezer B. Bunnell 
(full term), George Wilber (vacancy). 

1864. — Supervisor, Giles Tucker; Clerk, E. Rollin Bascom; 
Treasurer, Leonard B. Wells; Justice of the Peace, 
Mylo L. Gay; Highway Commissioner, Solomon Hildc- 
brant; School Inspectors, Elijah F. Burt (full term), 
Dennis Shields (vacancy). 

1865. — Supervisor, Almon Whipple; Clerk, E. Rollin Bascom 
(died during this term, which was completed by Wal- 
lace W. Carpenter) ; Justice of the Peace, Daniel Case; 
Treasurer, Leonard B. Wells; School 'Inspectors, W. 
W. Carpenter (full term), Dennis Shields (vacancy). 

1866. — Supervisor, Isaac W. Bush; Clerk, Royal H. Rumsey; 
Treasurer, Lorenzo H. Sullivan; Justice of the Peace, 
Wallace W. Carpenter; Highway Commissioner, Ste- 
phen S. More ; School Inspector, Dennis Shields. 

1867. — Supervisor, Oren H. Winegar; Clerk, Royal H. Rumsey; 
Treasurer, Elbert C. Bush ; Justice of the Peace, Fred- 
eiick C. Whipple; Highway Commissioner, Solomon 
Hildebrant; School Inspector, Wallace W. Carpenter. 

1868. — SuperviMjr, Oren H. Winegar ; Clerk, Henry T. Clark ; 
Treasurer, Elbert C. Bush; Justice of the Peace, Nich- 
olas Lake ; Highway Commissioner, Jesse Marr ; School 
Inspector, Philander Bennett. 

1S69. — Supervisor, O. H. Winegar; Clerk, Royal H. Rumsey; 
Treasurer, William B. Smith ; Justice of the Peace, 
William More; Highway Commissioner, S. S. More; 
School Inspector, Ferdinand W. Munson. 

1870. — Supervisor, William C. Rumsey; Clerk, William II. 
Wells; Treasurer, Edward B. Gregory; Justice of the 
Peace, James H. Martin ; Highway Commissioner, Geo. 
B. Raymour; School Inspector, Philander Bennett. 

1871. — Supervisor, William C. Rumsey; Clerk, William H. 
Wells ; Treasurer, Royal H. Rumsey ; Justice of the 
Peace, Albert Riddle ; Highway Commissioner, Jesse 
Marr; School Inspector, Rollin H. Person. 

1872. — Supervisor, Calvin Wilcox; Clerk, William H. Wells; 
Treasurer, Orrin J. Wells ; Justice of the Peace, Charles 
P. Lake (full term), Edward B. Gregory (to fill vacancy) ; 
School Inspector, John J. McWhorter. 

1873. — Supervisor, Harry J. Haven; Clerk, Henry G. Selliman; 
Treasurer, Orrin J. Wells ; Justices of the Peace, Wil- 
liam More (full term), Charles Hildebrant (three years), 
Ezra C. Hatton (one year); Highway Commissioner, 
George B. Raymond; School Inspector, Philander Ben- 
nett; 

1874. — Supervisor, Benjamin H. Rubert; Clerk, Royal H. Rum- 
sey ; Treasurer, Orrin J. Wells ; Justices of the Peace, 
Ezra C. Hatton (full term), Gilbert L. Wolcott (to fill 
vacancy); Highway Commissioner, Timothy Smith; 
School Inspector, Robert Smith. 

1875. — Supervisor, Albert Riddle; Clerk, Royal H. Rumsey; 
Treasurer, Orrin J. Wells ; Justices of the Peace, Harry 
J. Haven (full term), D. C. Kneeland (to fill vacancy); 
Highway Commissioner, James F. Moody ; School In- 
spector and Township Superintendent of Schools, C. 
Harlow Person. 

1876. — Supervisor, Albert Riddle; Clerk, Royal H. Rumsey; 
Treasurer, Orrin J. Wells ; Justices of the Peace, Dex- 
ter J. Filkins (full term), Edward B. Gregory (to fill va- 
cancy) ; Township Superintendent of Schools, C. Har- 
low Person; School Inspector, Orlando II. Bushnell; 
Highway Commissioner, John Casterton. 

1877. — Supervisor, William B. Smith ; Clerk, Edward Green- 
away ; Treasurer, Homer N. Beach ; Justice of the 
Peace, C. H. Person; Township Superintendent of 



HOWELL TOWNSHIP. 



191 



Schools, Thomas Gorilim, Jr. ; School Inspector, Pauick 
Ilammoiul; Commissioner of Highways, Orlando S. 
Brewer. 

1878.— Supervisor, William 15. Smith; Clcik, William F. Grif- 
fith ; Treasurer, Homer N. Beach ; Justices of the Peace, 
Isaac W. Bush (full term), Neil O'Hearn (to fill va- 
cancy) ; Township Supcrintehdent of Schools, Thomas 
Gordon, Jr. ; School Inspector, Patrick Hammell; High- 
way Commissioner, David P. Lake. 

1879.— Supervisor, Gcoige W. Fitch; Clerk, William F. Griffith; 
Treasurer, Thomas G. Switzer; Justice of the Peace, 
Edward B. Gregory; Township Superintendent of 
Schools, Thomas Gordon, Jr. ; School Inspector, Clias. 
A. Phillips; Highway Commissioner, William J. Wal- 
bran. 



SETTLEMENTS 



SUCCEEDING THE 
GANIZATION. 



TOWN OR- 



Among the first of tIio.se who came to make 
their homes in the township in the year 1836 were 
Henry Lake and Garret S. Lake, two brothers,- 
from Mount Morris, Livingston Co., N. Y., who 
came with their famih'es to settle in Howell in 
June of that year. It is recollected by the few 
who remain of those who were here at that time, 
that when these two families arrived at the place 
where the Grand River road crosses the Shiawas- 
see River, they found that the rude and frail log 
bridge which had previously been thrown across 
that stream had been swept away by a recent 
freshet, and as the river was too much swollen for 
fording, they were compelled to build a raft, on 
which their wagons and household goods were 
slowly and tediously ferried across, while their 
teams were forced to swim to the opposite shore. 

Henry 1-ake, the elder of the two, settled on 
section 8, near where Isaac Henry now lives. He 
afterwards removed to the farm now owned by 
Heman Bump, on section 20. When he came to 
Howell in 1836, his family consisted of himself, 
his wife, and five children, — William, Garret, An- 
son, Teresa, and Malvina. Of these children, Wil- 
liam and Anson are now living in California, and 
Malvina — now Mrs. Hamilton Benedict — resides in 
Fowlcrville. Of the children of Mr. Lake who 
were born after their settlement in Howell, Wesley 
Lake is in California; Lilian (Mrs. James P. Spen- 
cer), and Rosa, an unmarried daughter, are living 
in Fowlerville; another unmarried daughter resides 
in Lansing ; Adelia is the wife of Mr. John Knight, 
of Grass Lake, Jackson Co., Mich. ; and George 
and Horace L. are residents of Howell. 

Garret S. Lake, the younger of the two brothers 
who came here in 1836, settled on the Shiawassee 
River, on the northeast quarter of section 9; his 
location being the same which is now embraced in 
the. farm of P. J. Dean. There he lived in the 
comfort of an independent farmer's life, and there 
he died. On this farm, in 1838, he manufiictured 



the first bricks made in Howell township. His 
son, Garret S. Lake, is now presiding elder in the 
Church of the United Brethren, and is living in 
Charlotte, Eaton Co., Mich. Another son, Andrew, 
is a farmer in Barry Co., Mich. A daughter, 
Hannah (now Mrs. Henry Moon), also resides in 
Barry County. Cornelia (Mrs. George Louk) .still 
resides in Howell. 

Daniel Case, a native of Monroe Co., N. Y., set- 
tled in Howell in the fall of 1836, on the east half 
of the northeast quarter of section 22, this tract 
having been purcha.sed by him from government 
in the preceding March. He had come to Michi- 
gan in the fall of 1835, but spent the winter at To- 
ledo, working at his trade, which was that of car- 
penter and joiner. Early in the .spring of 1836 he 
set out on a prospecting tour, and came by way of 
Monroe, Detroit, and Oakland County to Living- 
ston Centre, which was then much talked of. Here 
he employed Mr. James Sage to assist him in his 
explorations, and having made several selections 
he hurried back to the land-office in Detroit, where 
he succeeded in entering the lands on which he 
had fixed his preference. He then returned to To- 
ledo, and worked at his trade until the middle of 
May, when he started back to Detroit, and from 
there took stage to Ann Arbor, from which place 
he came up through the woods, by way of Pinck- 
ney and Livingston Centre, to the lands which he 
had purchased, and which on a second inspection 
he liked better than ever, and decided to settle 
upon them. About the first of June he started 
back on foot, by way of Ann Arbor and Detroit, 
bound for Livingston Co., N. Y., to make prepara- 
tions for removing West. On the 20th of Septem- 
ber following, he set out on his return to Michi- 
gan, bringing with him his father, Job Case, his 
mother, and his wife (previously Miss Jane E. Fish, 
of Wyoming Co., N. Y., to whom he was married 
Augu.st 24th, in that year). The incidents of his 
journey were afterwards related by Mr. Case, as 
follows : 

" At Buff.ilo we went on board the steamer ' Daniel Webster.' 
She was loaded heavily, and just as she was ready to start out five 
teams with their loads, all the way from Massachusetts, sought a 
p.issage to Toledo, as they were going to the south part of the 
Stale. The captain of the steamer told them he could not t.ake 
them, on account of the heavy load, but the mate said they might 
come on board, if we all went down together. So on board they 
came, horses, wagons, and all ; and the steamer did come near 
sinking, though after many struggles with winds and waves she 
arrived safely at Detroit, not being able, on account of the heavy 
load anil bad weather, to put in at Toledo. ... We hired Mr. A. 
B. Markham, of Plymouth, to Uike a load of about fourteen hun- 
dred pounds and my wife and mother to Livingston Centre, for 
which service I paid him thirty dollars in gold. They came by 
way of Plymouth. I bought a yoke of oxen in Detroit, and loaded 
on my wagon what we most needed, and started out on the Grand 
River road, which was turnpiked for ten miles, and then the 



192- 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



timber lay thick in the road to the 'Sand Hill.' I had to drive 
through the woods anywhere to get my wagon through between 
the trees. I reached Livingston Centre on the Slh day of Octo- 
ber, and I drove the first team over the road from Else's Corners 
to William Smith's. 

" Winter was approaching, and I had to build me a house, with 
no lumber to do it with. But I went to work with a will. I 
felled the trees and hewed the timber on two sides for a house l8 
by 22 feet, split out ribs to shingle on, and then split oak shingles 
to cover it. The boards of the boxes I had brought with me fur- 
nished me with lumber for doors. For the lower floor I split logs 
and hewed them out for boards. When we had finished a place 
large enough to set a bedstead on we moved in, and completed 
the house afterwards. Mr. Thompson's mill commenced running 
about that time, and Morris Thompson had charge of it ; and that 
all the settlers might be served alike, he would let each man have 
just boards enough for an upper floor, and no more, till they had 
all procured upper floors, and then divide again. I hired Benja- 
min J. Spring with his oxen to go with me to Detroit for the load 
of goods we had left there. About the middle of November we 
look up our line of march with two yoke of oxen and a wagon for 
them. From here to New Hudson the road was not cut out, and 
we followed the trail around marshes and swamps till we came to 
the Huron River. We got to Detroit the fourth day at night. 
The next morning we loaded our goods, and got back to the Nine- 
Mile House that night. We were gone from home ten days, and 
I paid Spring one dollar and fifty cents per day, besides expenses. 
Our expenses alone were over twenty-five dollars for tlie trip, 
making forty dollars, besides my time. I mention these bills to 
• show what it cost the first settlers to come here, and to furnish a 
contrast to the present cost of a trip to Detroit." 

Mr. Case went energetically to work on the 
land where he settled, and became a prosperous 
farmer. He removed in 1844 to Howell village, 
where he remained five years, and returned in 1849 
to his farm, where he died July 21, 1874. He was 
twice married ; first to Miss Fish, as mentioned, 
and the second time to Exalla A. Stebbins, of Mad- 
ison Co., N. Y., a sister of Mrs. B. J. Spring. He 
had two children by the first marriage and eight 
by the second. Of the latter two are living, Mrs. 
William Saunders, of Howell village, and Mrs. 
Theodore Pettibone, who resides on the farm of 
her father. 

Benjamin J. Spring, a native of the town of 
Eaton, Madison Co., N. Y., and one of the most 
widely known of the early residents in Howell, 
came to this township in July, 1836, and settled on 
the west half of the southeast quarter of section 
15, which he had purchased from government in 
the same year. His wife, whom he married in 
New York State, was Miss Sophronia Stebbins, a 
sister of the second Mrs. Daniel Case. The farm 
on which they settled is the same which is now 
owned by Lafayette Barnhart, of Lansing. On 
this farm he remained until 1840, and then ex- 
changed it with Allen C. Weston for the hotel 
property of the latter, known as the Stage House, 
in Howell village, to which Spring then removed. 
He remained in the hotel business in Howell for 
some years, afterwards removed to Novi, Oakland 



Co., in the same business, but returned to Howell, 
and died on the James Sage farm in 1853. 

Another of the settlers of 1836 was Victory 
Curtis, who came from Madison Co., N. Y., in that 
year in company with Benjamin J. Spring, and set- 
tled on section 14, owning also an adjoining eighty- 
acre tract in the northeast quarter of section 23. 
He was a good farmer, and an estimable and highly- 
respected man. He lived on his farm until his 
death, which occurred Aug. 13, 1848. Mr. Curtis' 
sons, George and John, were married men when 
they came to Howell with their father in 1836. 
Besides these he had four other sons, — Benjamin, 
Alonzo, Loyal, and Alfred, — and three daughters, 
who became respectively Mrs. Almon Whipple, 
Mrs. L. M. Glover, and Mrs. John Dewey, of Shi- 
awassee County. George and John Curtis both 
settled as farmers on section 15 ; the former having 
the east half of the northeast quarter, and the lat- 
ter the west half of the same quarter. A few years 
after, however, both removed to Howell village, 
where John became the successor of Mr. Edward 
F. Gay in merchandising, but continued only a 
short time in the business, as he died Dec. 7, 1841. 
George was engaged in the business of hotel-keep- 
ing in the village for several years, and died Oct. 
4, 1848. Their brother Benjamin died some years 
since in the township of Handy. Alfred is now 
living in Saginaw, and Alonzo and Loyal reside in 
Genesee County. 

Hiram Bennett was one of the immigrants of 
1836. He came in the spring of that year, with a, 
party of land-seekers, from Livingston Co., N. Y., 
and selected for himself a tract on section 6, where 
he settled. He was killed by an accident, which 
occurred in a well which he was engaged in dig- 
ging. June 9, 1855. 

John B. La Rovve also came from Livingston Co., 
N. Y., and settled in the spring of 1836 in what 
was then the town of Howell, though the place 
where he located is just across the township line 
in the present town of Handy. He, however, re- 
gards himself as having been a citizen of Howell 
from the first, and it does not seem improper to 
mention him as such, among the settlers of that 
year, for he soon after removed to the farm on the 
southwest quarter of section 5 in this town, which 
he has occupied until the present time. At a re- 
cent pioneer reunion in Howell village, he narrated 
some of the incidents of his first trip to Michigan 
and subsequent settlement as follows: 

" In the spring of 1836 I started, in company with six others, 
from the town of Mount Morris, Livingston Co., State of New 
York, for the Territory of Michigan. One of our company w.is 
to carry us through with his team, and we were to bear his expenses. 
We came to Buffalo, crossed over the river at Black Ruck, on the 
Canada side, got as far as Niagara FaIN, where the team g^ve out 



HOWELL TOWNSHIP. 



193 



and we lia<l lo lake it afoot. . . . When we went over tlie river to 
Detroit the air seemed more genial; we breaihed easier and felt 
more at home. We started out from Detroit afoot in search of gov- 
ernment land. We stopiied at a farm-honse five miles northeast of 
Ann Arhor. Ileie we learned there was plenty of jjovernment land 
in Livingston County. We came by the way of Whiimore Lake 
to Howell. There was but one house here then. Amos Adams 
was the occupant. W'e cm])loyed Mr. Ailams to show us govern- 
ment land. He brought us to the corners of Ilowell, Handy, Con- 
way, and Cohoclah ; here our company located l.ind. \Vc slept 
by the side of an old log five nights, and put up the body of a log 
house ; then we all started out to get team and tools. Our stopping- 
place was at Ore Creek, now lirigliton, where we stopped with Mr. 
Uigham, and we bought two yoke of o.\en of him, a breaking-up 
plow, and some log-chains. Here we separated, and tliey all started 
for home (New York) except Mr. Bemiell and myself I slarled 
to Kensington to get my plow-irons sliarpened, and Mr. Bigham 
started for Ann Arbor, with the money we gave him, lo buy 
whisky, — and I believe he has been in the whisky business ever 
since. I kept bachelor's hall that summer; broke up twenty- 
five acres of ground; went to Scio, beyond Dexler, for my seed; 
sowed the wheat, went back to York Slate in tlie fall, was married, 
and came back the same fall. The first gospel sermon that I heard 
was preached by Mr. Cosart. Livingston County was then a Meth- 
odist Episcopal missionary field. The first doctor that I employed 
was Dr. Fisher, he living al Ore Creek, now Biighton. The first 
sick man that I sat up with was Mr. Waddell, Andrew Waddell's 
father, he living on the farm that Sanford More now lives on. He 
died there. The first blacksmithing I had done in Howell was done 
by Mr. McPherson. William Riddle blew the bellows and Mc- 
Pherson heated and hammered the iron. He lived in one-half of 
tKe house and blacksmilhcd in the other. The first grist that I 
took to mill I took to Ann Arbor with an ox-team, and was gone 
a week, my wife slaying alone while I was gone. Her nearest 
neighbors were the Indians, and our nearest white neighbor was a 
man by the name of Porter ; the next was Garret S. Lake. The 
first white child born west of the Shiawassee was Isabel Waddell, 
and the next was my daughter Lydia, now Mrs. Dorrance. ... I 
have raised a large family, and have ten living children. I might 
tell some wolf stories, and of catching a large bear, but I will not 
weary your patience with them." 

George W. Kneeland and his brothei.s, Nathan 
T., Ichabod, and John B., were settlers in Howell, 
who came in the fall of 1836. Another brother, 
Warren, came a little later. John B. settled on 
section 18, and Ichabod and Nathan T. on section 
1 3. George W. Kneeland also settled on the sec- 
tion last named, but afterwards removed to the vil- 
lage of Howell, where, in 1850 and later, he was 
engaged in the running of a steam saw-mill, in 
company witli his brother-in-law, D. D. T. Chand- 
ler. A number of years later he owned a similar 
establishment in the town of Iosco, to which place 
he removed, and died there. He was a man of 
enterprise, intelligence, and public spirit, and during 
the years that he lived in Howell received many 
proofs of public confidence. He was elected judge 
of probate in 1840, was re-elected to the office, and 
also held several other public positions, among 
them being that of representative in the State 
Legislature. 

Ezra Frisbce became a resident of Howell in 
the same year. Perhaps he should be accounted 
-'5 



as belonging in the village at that time, as he was 
then working ft)r Moses Thom|)son, whose daugh- 
ter he married. He, however, located soon after 
in the township, on lands which Mr. Thompson 
had entered from government, on section 34. 
From this farm he afterwards moved to Cohoc- 
tah, and is now one of the wealthy men of that 
town. 

Peter Brewer, from Niagara Co., N. Y., came to 
Howell in 1836, and settled on the southeast quar- 
ter of section 22, which, with an adjoining tract 
of 80 acres, he had purchased from government in 
the fall of 1835. Mr. Brewer and his wife were 
active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
in New York State before their removal West, and 
were among the earliest members of that church 
in Howell. The timber for the first Methodist 
house of worship in Howell was hewed by him. 
His first wife having died, he was married in March, 
1865, to Mrs. Abigail Munger, with whom he re- 
moved to Shiawassee County. This second wife 
died in 1878, and Mr. Brewer then returned to 
live with his son on the farm in Howell, where he 
settled forty-three years ago, and where he is still 
living at a very advanced age. 

Other settlers in Howell in 1S36 were Huram 
Bristol, on the southeast quarter of section 34; 
Morgan Lyon, on section 18 ; James E. Head and 
Henry Pettengili, on 28;* Solomon Pettengill, on 
27 ; Job Case, on 22 ; and Clement Stebbins, on 
the northeast quarter of section 19, near the little 
hamlet now known as Fleming. 

Following is a list of resident tax-payers in 
Howell (outside the present village limits) in 1837, 
with the number of acres owned or occupied by 
each, the section on which located, and valuation ; 
copied in full from the township assessment-roll 
made out in the spring of that year. The list, of 
course, does not include the settlers of 1837. 

Names of Possessors. Section. Acres. Valuation. 

Huram Bristol 34 80 $320 

12'' 
Peter Brewer - " 120 360 

I).iniel Case 22 120 360 

Victory Cuilis i'l 240 720 

John Curtis 15 80 240 

(ieorge Curtis 15 80 240 

luslin Durfee 23 So 240 

I'raiicis lielcl 13 40- 120 

Daniil Hotclikiss 13 40 120 

Levi M. Hotclikiss 13 120 360 

Nathaniel Johnson 23 120 360 

George W. Kneeland 13 200 600 

Nathan T. Kneeland 13 So 240 

Garret S. Lake < ^ 200 600 

Henry Lake 8 160 480 

Morgan Lyon 18 160 4S0 

Harvey Melcalf 27 160 480 

Joseph I'urlcr 7 82 246 

Benjamin J. .Spring 15 80 240 

Clement Stebbins '^ I20 360 



194 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Names of Possessors. Section. Acres. Valuation. 

John W. Smith ■[ ^^ 80 240 

Elisha H. Smith 21 80 240 

Samuel WacUlell 17 80 240 

The rate of taxation for the year 1837 "'*' oSA '^^"•s on Sioo. 

Justus Boyd, from Genesee Cotinty, N. Y., be- 
came a settler in Howell in 1837. He located on 
section 6, the nortlicast quarter ami three-fourths 
of the southeast qtiarter of which lie had purchased 
from government in May of tlie previous year, he 
having been one of a party of seven who came 
together from New York searching for eligible 
lands. In the spring of 1837, lie, with Sherburn 
Crane and Mr. Dibble (who located in Genoa), and 
their families, set out from " York State" and trav- 
eled with ox-teams through West Canada to De- 
troit, and thence to Livingston County. During 
the year of his settlement Mr. Boyd cleared a tract 
of a few acres and prepared it for crops, and having 
done this, he started for Genesee County, N. Y., to 
collect money which was due him there. The 
journey proved a fatal one for him, for he embarked 
at Detroit for Buffalo on the steamer " Washington," 
upon that trip during which she was destroyed by 
fire. Mr. Bo\d escaped the fire by jumping over- 
board, and, securing a plank, floated at last to the 
shore near Silver Creek, btit in so exhausted and 
perishing a condition that he died almost imme- 
diately after reaching the land. His widow was 
thus left alone to struggle for the support of a 
family of nine children, of whom the oldest was 
then but a boy of seventeen years. But the situa- 
tion was bravely met ; the farm was cleared and 
brought to a state of productiveness, and the family 
became prosperous and highly respected. Mrs. 
Boyd is still living in Howell, with her daughter, 
Miss Angeline M. Bo_\'d. Anotiier daughter is the 
wife of the Rev. L. II. Dean; and five sons of 
Justus Boyd, viz., Lewis V., John N., Norman W., 
Hiram, and Henry P. Boyd, are living in the town- 
ship, on the section where their father settled. 

Alvin L. Crittenden is properly mentioned among 
the settlers in Howell township in 1837, though he 
came to Howell village in the fall of 1835, as has 
been before stated. The story of how he procured 
the means to purchase his farm in the township is 
told by himself, as follows: " I spent a few days 
very pleasantly visiting, and then hired to George 
T. Sage for one year, and commenced work for him 
on the 24th day of November, 1835. I received 
for that year's work $140, which bought me eighty 
acres of land on section 24 in the township of 
Howell." The tract which he so purchased was 
the north half of the southeast quarter of the 
section in question, which he entered Dec. 14, 1836, 
but had not occupied in time to be included in the 



list of resident taxable inhabitants of the township 
on the assessment roll whicli was made up in the 
spring of 1 837. Mr. Crittenden married a daughter 
of Moses Thompson. He removed to Hamburg in 

1842, but soon after returned, and remained in 
Howell till 1S54, when he comtiienced traveling as 
a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
I le is now located at Springport, Jackson Co., Mich. 

Ri.il Lake, of Philadelphia, Pa., purchased the 
southeast quarter of section 32, in August, 1835, 
and came to settle upon the tract in 1837. He was 
a man of liberal education and much intelligence, 
and by his enterprise and industry became wealthy. 
He was president of the first agricultural society in 

1843, and was several times elected to township 
offices. He died Dec. 29, 185 1. 

William Hudson was a settler upon the same 
section with Mr. Lake, and in the satiie year. 

Henry Tobias catne to Howell in 1837, and set- 
tled on section 17, where S. S. More now lives. 
Mr. Tobias was from Mount Morris, N. Y., where 
he had married a sister of Garret S. Lake. The 
farm on which he located in Howell was that pre- 
viously owned by Mr. Samuel W'addell, who had 
then recently died. 

Abraham A. Van Nest anil his brother, Chris- 
topher Van Nest, came from Cayuga Co., N. Y., 
and settled in Livingston County in 1837. Abra- 
ham located hitnself on the northwest quarter of 
section 17, in Howell, this land having been pur- 
chased by him frotu the government in the pre- 
vious year. He became a prosperous and wealthy 
farmer, and died in September, 1878. The farm 
where he settled in 1837 is still owned and occu- 
pied by his family. Christopher Van Nest made 
his first settlement in the tovvnship of Marion, but 
removed to Howell about 1844, and settled oppo- 
site his brother on the northeast quarter of section 
18, where George W. Fitch now resides. 

John, Aaron, James, and William La Grange 
became settlers in Howell in 1837. They were 
brothers, all untnarried, and came from Rensselaer 
Co., N. Y. Aaron and James took farms on sec- 
tion 21, and their two brothers were employed with 
them. Aaron died Dec. 9, 1853, and James died 
May 9, 1857. John La Grange married Mary 
Robinson, and they had one child, James, who is 
now living in the township. Maria La Grange, a 
sister of the four brothers above nained, married 
John Lasher, who settled in the township a few 
years later. 

Francis Monroe, from Bristol, Ontario Co., 
N. Y., was a settler of 1837. His location was on 
the southwest quarter of section 28, which he en- 
tered from government in November, 1834, and 
which he still owns. When he came on his pros- 



HOWELL TOWNSHIP. 



195 



pecting tour, in the fall of 1834, he was accompa- 
nied by Perez Walker, of Salem, Mich., John 
Knapp, of Bristol, N. Y., and Elisha H. Smith, 
from ICast Hloomfield, N. Y. Of these Mr. Smith 
became a settler in Howell, as has been noticed. 
Mr. Monroe, after entering his farm, returned to 
Now York and remained there two and a half 
years, returning here to settle, with his wife and 
two children, on the 1st of June in the year named. 
He recollects that at the time of his arrival Mr. 
Artemas Hosmer, of Wayne County, had just com- 
pleted a bridge across the Shiawassee River, where 
the Grand River road crosses the stream. 

When Mr. Monroe settled on his land this wild 
tract comprised all his worldly possessions, and it 
was not until he had realized a revenue from boun- 
ties on the scalps of wolves which he had caught 
that he was enabled to procure (otherwise than by 
borrowing) the necessary implements for use upon 
his farm. He was for several years quite famous 
as a slayer of wolves, and on one occasion, in the 
winter of 1837-38, came near losing his life in a 
desperate encounter with a large old black wolf, 
which he found in his trap one cold morning, on 
the northeast quarter of section 32. This encounter 
took place on the ice, in the swamp, where the 
wolf, being brought to bay, and unable to get away 
on account of the trap with clog attached to it, 
turned upon him ferociously, and it was by a nar- 
row chance that Mr. Monroe came off victor. As 
it was, he added one more scalp to his trophies. It 
was not long before his farming became far more 
profitable than the capturing of wolf-scalps, and 
after some years of close attention to business he 
found himself a rich man. He has now retired 
from agriculture, and is living on his ample means 
in the village of Howell. His son, F. N. Monroe, 
is a merchant in that place, and Norton M., another 
son, occupies the noble farm on which his father 
settled in poverty forty-two years ago. 

Lemuel Monroe, the father of Francis, came into 
the township in May, 1849, and lived with his son. 
He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and 
died April 29, 1854, at the age of ninety-five years, 
one month, and twenty-nine days. 

Odell J. Smith settled here in 1837, on section 
1 1. He was a man of enterprise and a good farmer. 
He was several times elected justice of the peace, 
and filled other township offices. He died Jan. 
23, 1861. 

Aaron and William Sickles were early settlers 
in Howell, but it cannot be stated with certainty 
whether they came in 1837 or the previous year. 

Hezekiah Gates, from Eaton, Madison Co., N. Y., 
settled in Howell in 1838. His location was on 
section 15, in the immediate vicinity of that of his 



life-long friend, Benjamin J. Spring. The wife of 
Mr. Gates was Caroline Clark, whom he married 
in the State of New York. A few years after his 
settlement he was elected constable, and removed 
to Howell village, where, in 1845, he built the 
public-house known as Union Hall, but continued 
only a short time as its proprietor. He afterwards 
was a contractor in the construction of the Detroit 
and Grand River road, and later removed to Wil- 
liamston, Ingham Co., where he commenced build- 
ing a hotel, but died before it was completed. His 
remains were brought to Howell village for inter- 
ment. 

Ira Brayton came to Howell in 1838. At first 
he was the owner of 80 acres on section 9, but 
afterwards purchased where he now lives on sec- 
tion 22, on the Shiawassee River. He has since 
become owner of all the water-power and mills on 
that stream within the township. 

Solomon C. Sly, a Canadian refugee of the 
Patriot war, came here in 1838, or about that 
year, and settled on 40 acres of land purchased 
from Garret S. Lake on section 7, where now is 
the farm of Noah Drew. He afterwards removed 
to the " Four Corners," on the Grand River road, 
where he opened a public-house. From that place 
he moved to Shiawassee County. 

John Marr came from Canada to Howell in 
1839. His first location was on section 17, but in 
1 84 1 he removed to a tract of land in the north- 
east quarter of section 8, which he had purchased 
from Henry Hubbard, of New Hampshire, a 
speculator. Mr. Marr was the father of seven 
children when he came to Michigan, and three 
were born to him after his settlement here. Of 
these children, Cyrus, the oldest son, now lives 
on the fiirm w^hich his father purchased of Hub- 
bard ; Harlem Marr, another son, lives on section 
8 ; Enos lives in the township of Cohoctah ; a 
daughter, Mrs. Dustan, lives in Sheboygan Co., 
Mich. ; Randall, a .son born after his parents came 
to Howell, went to Texas, and on the opening of 
the war of the Rebellion joined tiie Confederate 
army, and is supposed to have lost his life in that 
service. Another son, Thomas J. Marr, born in 
Howell, entered the Union service in the 5th 
Michigan Infantry, and while in that service was 
captured by the enemy, and died in one of the 
Southern prisons. Five of the ten children of 
the family are now living. 

David Hight came from Steuben Co., N. Y., 
and built his cabin in Howell, as one of the set- 
tlers of 1839. He was a married man, and with 
him and his wife was also a family of five children, 
two of whom were married at the time of their 
settlement here. Three of these are now living. 



196 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Caleb Curtis was born in Canaan, Columbia Co., 
N. Y., and removed thence to Steuben County, in 
that State, where he married Eunice Cook, of New 
York City. They remained in Steuben County 
till 1837, when they emigrated to Livingston Co., 
Mich., and settled in Genoa. There they remained 
for three years, and removed in 1840 to the town- 
ship of Howell. With them came four children. 
One of these, Philo Curtis, died on the battle-field 
of the Wilderness, in 1864. Two other sons, 
Benjamin C. and H. B. Curtis, are well-known 
foundrymen and machinists; and a daughter, Mrs. 
Mason, is also still living. 

Nathaniel Tomlinson — previously from the State 
of New York — came from Washtenaw Co., Mich., 
and settled at Brighton about 1837, but removed 
thence to Howell, and settled on the southwest 
quarter of section 7, in this township, in 1840. 
He was not long a resident in the township, for he 
died in 1845, leaving a widow and three children. 

Joseph Hogle, from Linden, Cattaraugus Co., 
N. Y., in 1835, and later of Washtenaw Co., Mich., 
came to this township in the fall of 1840, and set- 
tled where he still lives, on section 18. Both he 
and his wife have always been devout and con- 
sistent members of the Methodist Church, in which 
denomination he has been at various times leader 
in at least three different classes. He was a poor 
man — it may be said a very poor man — when he 
came to Howell, but he was temperate, frugal, in- 
dustrious, and honest ; and these virtues in his 
case brought the reward which they usually bring, 
— respect and competency. He is now the owner 
of a good farm, three-fourths of a mile in extent, 
and is not only reckoned among the well-to-do 
farmers of the township, but also among those 
whose word is as good as their bond. Such, at 
least, is the testimony borne concerning him by his 
neighbors in West Howell. 

Robert Hildebrant, from Niagara Co., N. Y., 
settled in Howell in 1842. He then had nine 
children, and two more were born to him after- 
wards. He at first rented a farm on section 15, 
and died while making preparations for removal to 
a farm which he had purchased on section 10, — 
the same which is now owned and occupied by his 
son Solomon. At the death of Mr. Hildebrant, 
his widow removed with her children to their own 
property, where she is still living with her eldest 
son. Ruel Hildebrant, another son, enlisted in the 
9th Indiana Infantry in the war of the Rebellion, 
and, having been transferred to an Indiana battery, 
was killed while on duty with it at the battle of 
Chaplin Hills, Ky., Oct. 8, 1862. His brother, 
John, was a member of the 5th Michigan Infantry, 
and died wh'je serving with that regiment in 1864. 



David Carl came to Howell at the same time as 
Robert Hildebrant, and settled on the south part 
of section 10. This half-section had been entered 
by H. W. Phillips, of Niagara Co., N. Y.. in the 
spring of 1836, and had been afterwards sold by 
Charles A. Phillips to Jonathan Burch and Silas 
Morse, from the latter of whom Mr. Carl made his 
purchase. Burch's land was purchased by Mr. 
Hildebrant, who was preparing to remove to it at 
the time of his death, as before mentioned. Mr. 
Carl lived about sixteen years on the farm pur- 
chased from Morse, and died there in September, 
1858. The place is now occupied by John H. 
Diamon, and the widow of David Carl is still 
living there. Her son, John Carl, is living in 
Howell. Two other sons, Henry and Andrew J., 
died in the United States service in the war of the 
Rebellion. 

Dr. Gardner Mason, who had located in the 
village of Howell in 1838, removed a few years 
later to the west part of the township, and settled 
on the southeast quarter of section 19. Here he 
set out a nursery, which was perhaps the first in 
this part of the township. He had previously 
started a nursery on the Sage farm, where he first 
located on coming to Howell. He lived here 
during the remainder of his life, and died here 
Aug. 30, 1852, at the age of si.xty-five. His son, 
John G. Mason, is now a resident of Howell vil- 
lage. 

Ephraim Fowler, from the eastern part of New 
York State, settled about 1845 on a farm on the 
southeast quarter of section 20, at the point known 
as the " Four Corners." There he lived and died. 
The farm, which he made a good one, is now 
owned and occupied by his son. 

Nicholas Lake came from Mount Morris, Liv- 
ingston Co., N. Y.,to Howell in 1849. He cannot, 
therefore, be properly placed on the list of early 
settlers in the township, but is mentioned among 
them because he was a brother of two of the very 
early immigrants who took their families across 
the Shiawassee to find homes in the woods to the 
westward of that stream, viz., Henry and Garret 
S. Lake. William Lake, another brother, came 
at about the same time with Nicholas, and lived 
on the land of his brother Garret. Nicholas Lake 
purchased 80 acres of land of Orra La Grange at 
the Four Corners, and is now living there at an 
advanced age. Mr. La Grange, from whom he 
purchased in 1849, removed then to section 16. 

THE FOUR CORNERS— PUBLIC-HOUSES— FLEMING— 
THE RAILROAD. 

The " Four Corners" here mentioned is a cross- 
roads cluster of buildings in the western part of 



HOWELL TOWNSHIP. 



197 



the town, where a north and soutli section-line 
road crosses the Grand River turnpike. The 
cluster is not large enough to be termed a village 
or even a hamlet, and what little importance it has 
or ever had is due to the existence there of a 
hotel, or tavern. This public-house was first 
opened by Solomon C. Sly — as already noticed — 
about the year 185 1. It was afterwards kept by 
Mortimer Townsend, and after him by William 
Brundagc. Its present proprietor is Thomas Gil- 
christ. 

Another public-house in the township was 
opened on the south side of the Grand River 
road, just west of the bridge over the Shiawassee, 
by Amos Adams, in or about the year 1838, soon 
after Joseph H. Steel had succeeded him in the 
Eagle Tavern, in Howell village. This old tavern 
on the Shiawassee was kept by Mr. Adams until 
his death, in May, 1855, and after him it was kept 
by Jesse Childs. Afterwards it was removed to 
the north side of the plank-road, and is still stand- 
ing there. 

The " Six Corners," more generally known at 
the present time as " Fleming" or West Howell, is 
a cluster of buildings somewhat more pretentious 
than the " Four Corners," which it lies to the 
northwest of, and is also located on the Grand 
River road, which is here intersected by other 
roads forming si.K angles, from which circumstance 
came the name of the settlement. The pioneer 
settler here was Clement Stebbins, and it is men- 
tioned by Ralph Fowler, Esq., of Fowlerville, that 
when he came down from there to Howell, in 
1836, he found Mr. Stebbins' dwelling to be the 
only one on the road (then little more than a trail) 
between the two places. From the name of this 
first settler it was also known in the early years 
as " Stebbins' Corners," and seems to have been 
accounted a place of some little importance as a 
point of departure. In 1844, Mr. Elum M. Bailey 
advertised that he had " opened a new tailoring 
establishment on the premises of Henry Lake, one 
and a half miles north of Stebbins' Corners on the 
Grand River road, five miles west of Howell," 
and that he was prepared to furnish clothing 
fashionably cut and well made on short notice. 
One of his earliest jobs was the furnishing of uni- 
forms (or some portions of them) for the Howell 
Rifle Company, in that year. This fashionable 
tailoring establishment, however, could hardly be 
considered as belonging to the Corners, though its 
proximity to that place was evidently regarded by 
its proprietor as being a rather important circum- 
stance. The Six Corners does not appear to have 
been a place of any more consideration than its 
more easterly rival which boasts only two-thirds 



its number of angles; but since the opening of the 
railroad and the establishment of the Fleming 
Station, it has (from that circumstance more than 
from any increase of business or population) taken 
a little start ahead. It has a post-office, and a 
public-house is also about being opened. If it 
ever attains the proportions of a small village, it 
will probably be by settlements e.xtending along 
the road between the corners and the railroad 
station, which is a short distance to the south, 
almost exactly where Dr. Gardner Mason settled 
when he moved to the west part of the township 
from Howell village. 

The Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad, 
passing through Howell village, enters the town- 
ship in its southern part, and runs across it in a 
northwesterly direction, passing out at the north- 
west corner of section 19, into Handy. Its only 
station in this town west of Howell village is the 
flag-station of Fleming. The road was completed 
and opened for traffic in August, 1871. It has 
proved a decided advantage to the farmers of the 
township ; sufficiently so, no doubt, to reimburse 
them for the taxes paid to make up the sum of 
about $17,000, the amount of bonds voted by 
Howell in aid of its construction. 

MILLS IN THE TOWNSHIP. 

The first manufacturing establishment in Howell 
outside the village limits was a saw-mill, erected in 
the year 1838 by Joseph Porter and Amos Adams, 
on the Shiawassee River, a little to the north and 
east of the centre of section 27. Mr. Porter was 
one of the earliest settlers in Howell, and was the 
first and for a considerable time the only millwright 
in the township, and had been the master-workman 
in the construction of Moses Thompson's mill in 
1836. Mr. Adams had been the proprietor of the 
Eagle Tavern in the village, which establishment 
had then recently been sold to Joseph H. Steel, 
leaving Mr. Adams free to engage in this new- 
project. The mill was never a very efficient one, 
but it was perhaps equal to the requirements of 
the region, and it did very good service to the 
people of the vicinity for a number of years. In 
1854, Enos B. Taylor and Amos S. Adams became 
owners of the property and rebuilt the mill. After 
them the next proprietor was Joseph M. Gilbert, 
who established a carding and cloth-dressing mill 
there, in addition to the saw-mill. In 1866, Ira 
Brayton became owner of the water-power and 
mills. The location is about three-eighths of a 
mile below and north of the point where the Grand 
River road crosses the Shiawassee. 

One mile north of the mills above described and 
lower down on the same stream is another mill- 



198 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



site, on which, in 1S44, Luther B. Willard, of De- 
troit, commenced the construction of a grist-mill. 
In this enterprise he took in partnership with him 
Ezekiel H. Sabin, who had been engaged, in South- 
field, Oakland Co., in a similar project, which had 
proved disastrous to him on account of defect in 
title to the property on wiiich it was located. He 
brought with him to this place some of the ma- 
chinery and fixtures which had been in his estab- 
lishment in Southfield. The mill building on the 
Shiawassee was raised in October, 1844, but Wil- 
lard & Sabin never got the mill in successful oper- 
ation, and on the 7th of May, 1845, the partner- 
ship between them was dissolved by mutual con- 
sent. Mr. Sabin afterwards emigrated to California. 
In 1848 the mill property was purchased by Ben- 
jamin Cardell and Sylvanus Lake, who built a 
saw-mill on the dam. In 1851 the water-power 
was purchased by James G. Hollis, who completed 
the flouring-mill. The property afterwards came 
into possession of Ira Bray ton. About 1876 the 
machinery was taken out of the mill and removed 
to the western part of the State. 

In the year 1856, William, Albert, and Aaron 
Dorrance built a steam saw-mill on the east part 
of the northeast quarter of section 17. It after- 
wards passed into the possession of William B. 
Smith and Franklin Kelly. It was never a very 
profitable investment, and has now ceased to be 
operated. 

THE MILITARY RECORD OF HOWELL. 

The following in regard to military matters in 
Howell is furnished by Mr. Elisha H. Smith, and 
is here given, verbatim, as furnished. It is proper 
to mention that it has reference to the township 
and village of Howell, taken together : 

" A rifle-company was organized in the township of Howell in 
1844. The commissioned officers of the company were William 
Lewis, captain; Ira Brayton, first lieutenant; and Emmet Smith, 
second lieutenant. The first military parade of this company was 
at the residence of John W. Smith, on section 28. A few years 
after the company was organized, military duty was not required 
by the State government, consequently the company was dis- 
banded. In the year 1S61, and in the succeeding three years, the 
following persons of the township and village enlisted and were 
mustered into the United .States service in the war of the Rebellion : 

" Andrew J. Bishop, promoted to a captaincy. 

" Solomon T. Lyon, captain. 

"William Brown, captain. 

" Hudson B. Blackman, first lieutenant and quartemiaster. 

"Andrew D. Waddell, first lieutenant. 

" Harris A. Hickok, adjutant. 

" Frederick T. Angel, second lieutenant. 

" Everett Sargeant, second lieutenant. 

"James Mulloy, second lieutenant. 

" Jabesh A. Pond, sergeant ; killed. 

" Bernard Ryder, sergeant; died of disease. 

"Jonathan Sharp, serge.ant ; taken prisoner and died. 

" William Pullen, wounded. 



" Sergeants returned. — George Stafford, Stephen Fishbeck, Luther 
Frink, James Fitzgerald, Franklin Goodrich, Charles Lake, 
Jared L. Cook, Edgar Noble. 

" Corporals killed^ wounded, or died of disease. — Joseph Pruden, 
Jerome Buckland, Edwin Hart, Gardner S. Smith, John 
Lake. 

" Privates killed or died of wounds. — Jerome Phillips, Simon 
Dolph, Sylvanus Dolph, Thomas G. Marr, Eli Rambo, Abra- 
ham Swils, Jerome Barrett, George Lake, Edwin II. Smith, 
Chester Albright, Isaac Felter, James Canfield, Samuel Sut- 
ton, Merritt Pullen, Charles Smith, Peter Woll, Theodore 
Washburn, Amizee Axtell, Henry Carl, Philo Curtis, James 
Dewitt, Heniy Preston. 

" Privates died of disease. — Lyman Carl, .\ndrew J, Carl, John 
Hildebrant, Sherwood Hart, Jacob Zeely, Philander Helms, 
Charles Brockway, Reuben McFall, Simon Child, George 
Pennell. Reuben C. Smith, John Cummings, William Curtis, 
John Dorn, George Newton, William L. Whited, Daniel 
Morse. 

" Privates wounded in battle. — David Robertson, William Cooper, 
William Copper, Jr., Frederick Zeits, George W. Axtell, 
Norton Monroe, Noah Buothley, Sidney Carpenter, Charles 
Culver, John Tompkins, Atvah G, Blood, James Monroe, 
Vernon C. Smith. 

" Privates who returned safe. — Peter May, Franklin B. Abbott, 
Orrin G. Wells, Andrew Woll, Peter Woll, Jr., Thomas GiU 
Christ, Henry Lake, Robert .S. Mountain, Andrew J. Allen, 
Charles Hiklebrant, Cyrus Carpenter, George Reed, James 
Reed, Cornelius Helms, John Daniels, Marion Hart, Jerome 
Helms, Leonard Helms, Henry Helms, Ed\\'in Ware, William 
Clayton, Giles Donnelly, Josej^h Preston, Chester F. Good- 
rich, William E. Bennett, Frank Whipple, Erwin Child, 
Marcus Child, Andrew J. Whilaker, George Wright, Heniy 
Wright, David Wright, Theodore Huntley, George Bronner, 
Julius D. Smith, J. B. McLean, Henry Stansell, Amos Smith, 
Isaac Van Loon, Howard Glover, William Bennett, Martin 
Woll, Frederick Galloway, John Park, Edmund Hart, Edwin 
Mclvinley, Daniel Ellenwood, Elias E. Brockway, George F. 
Brockway, James E. White, Asa McFall, Ezra Whitaker, 
Azel Carpenter, William Brooks, James Larowe, Henry La- 
rowe, George Blackman, Lewis Tupper, Henry Musson, 
William Tate, Asa Wilson, Orson Deming, John Ferguson, 
Reuben Warren, Henry Boothby, Rinaldo Balcom, Sitlney 
Harrington, Silas Peterson, Vertell Baker, George Whited, 
William Vandercook, John BDOthby, Thomas Donnelly, 
Franklin Jordan, .\ndrew McKeene, Allen Stearnes." 

HOWELL GRANGE, No. 90, PATRONS OF HUS- 
BANDRY. 

This grange was organized in Howell, Oct. 13, 
1873, with 21 charter members, viz.: William J. 
Jewell, W. K. Sexton, Delilah Jewell, Mrs. Mary 
A. Lake, Mrs. C. L. Se.xton, Daniel Case, B. S. 
Person, Alice Person, Mrs. E. Case, C. H. Person, 
Theodore Welcker, Mrs. Lucinda Person, H. O. 
Barnard, Mary A. Barnard, N. J. Holt, George 
Coleman, F. W. Munson, Eliza Coleman, Mrs. F. 
R. L. Munson, Henry F. Lake, Miss Emma A. 
Case. 

The object for which these persons associated 
themselves together is declared to be " for mutual 
instruction and protection ; to lighten labor by 
diffusing a knowledge of its aims and purposes ; 
for improvement intellectually, morally, and finan- 
cially ; to develop a better and higher manhood 



HOWELL TOWNSHIP. 



199 



and womanhood among farmers; to enhance tlie 
comforts and attractions of home, and strengthen 
attachment to their pursuit; to foster mutual 
understanding and co-operation." 

The first officers of this grange were : Master, 
Theodore Welcker ; Overseer, C. H. Person ; Lec- 
turer, Henry F. Lake; Steward, W. K. Sexton; 
Assistant Steward, Henry O. Barnard ; Chaplain, 
Daniel Case; Treasurer, George Coleman ; Secre- 
tary, F. W. Munson; Gate- Keeper, N. J. Holt; 
Ceres, Mrs. Daniel Case ; Pomona, Mrs. H. O. Bar- 
nard; Flora, Mrs. W. K. Sexton; Lady Assistant 
Steward, Miss Emma A. Case. 

On the 9th of February, 1877, " W. K. Sexton 
was elected purchasing or business agent for the 
Howell Grange, and a resolution was passed for 
uniting individually and collectively in purchasing 
goods for cash at wholesale." This resolution was 
first put in effect on the 5th of March next following, 
and since that time purchases have been continu- 
ally made, and their amount has steadily increased. 

On the 5th of October, 1878, the Genoa Grange 
united with Howell Grange for greater convenience, 
and in order to secure more effectually the objects 
of their association. 

The present membership of the Howell Grange 
is 115. The grange meets on the first, thfrd, and 
fifth (when a fifth occurs) Saturday afternoons in 
each month, in Knapp's Block, Howell village. 

The present officers of the Howell Grange are: 
Master, James Harger; Overseer, Charles Fish- 
beck ; Lecturer, Peter T. Gill ; Steward, George 
W. Fitch ; Assistant Steward, Henry J. Sweet ; 
Chaplain, Theodore Welcker; Treasurer, Freeman 
Fishbeck ; Secretary, Mrs. H. J. Sweet; Gate- 
Keeper, Simon W. Dickerson; Ceres, Mrs. Jasper 
Coleman; Pomona, Mrs. Charles Fishbeck; Flora, 
Mrs. E. Brown; Lady Assistant Steward, Mrs. 
David O. Smith. 

RELIGIOUS. 

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN WEST 
HOWELL. 

A Methodist Episcopal class was organized in 
West Howell in 1845 by Rev. Riley C. Crawford. 
John Clayton was the first class-leader, and the 
members of the class were, as nearly as can be 
ascertained, the following-named persons : Mr. 
and Mrs. Clayton (parents of the class-leader), 
Joseph Hogle and wife, William Brundage and 
wife, Mrs. John Clayton, Martha Clayton, and 
Jane Smith. Their first preaching was by the Rev. 
John Cosart, the first class-meeting being held in 
a log building owned by Clement Stebbins, and 
which was then or afterwards used as a school- 



house. In 1850, Mr. Clayton was succeeded as 
class-leader by Joseph Hogle. 

The preachers, after Rev. John Cosart, were Rev. 
Thomas Wakclin (about one year), Revs. Isaac 
Collins, Curtis Green, R. C. Crawford, Eli We.st- 
lake (circuit preachers), and others. A number of 
the clergymen who served with the Methodist 
Church at Howell village preached here also. 
The class-book of 1859 shows the members of the 
class in that year to have been Joseph Hogle, Mar- 
tha Hogle, William Brundage, Elizabeth Brundage, 
Oliver Reed, Louisa Reed, Rachel Stevens, Jane W. 
Smith, Nicholas Lake, Getty Lake, John Lasher, 
Mary Lasher, Ann Lasher, Charles Lasher, and 
Elizabeth Lasher. This book, under date of July 
21, 1859, shows this class to be then embraced in 
the West Howell Circuit, Owosso District, Detroit 
Conference, and is signed at that place by " Riley 
C. Crawford, Pastor." The class declined on ac- 
count of the removal of several members, and 
ceased to exist about 1865. 

Another Methodist Episcopal class was formed 
at West Howell in 1877, with Leonard Hoke as 
class-leader. It has about 15 members, holds its 
meetings for worship in the school-house at Flem- 
ing, and is connected with the Methodist Church 
of Howell village. 

PROTEST.ANT METHODIST CHURCH OF WEST 
HOWELL. 

This church was organized with about 40 mem- 
bers in the winter of 1869-70, and was incorpo- 
rated July 12, 1 87 1. Its first pastor was the Rev. 
A. C. Fuller, who.se successors have been the Revs. 
James McKinley, E. England, Israel Mudge, Rob- 
ert N. MulhoUand, Jason Gee, Jared Warner, and 
C. B. Clark, the present pastor, who is also in 
charge of the classes at Lake, Thayer, and Marion, 
all embraced in the West Howell Circuit, having 
a membership of 80, with about 45 adhering mem- 
bers in addition. The church at Fleming (or West 
Howell) embraces 30 members, with Alonzo E. 
Ferrin as class-leader. Their place of worship is 
at present in the school-house of the district, but a 
church building is soon to be erected here, and also 
two others at other points within the circuit. The 
parsonage, located at Fleming, is valued at §600, 
paid for in full, and is occupied by Rev. Mr. Clark, 
the preacher in charge of the circuit. The salary 
of his office is Sfoo per annum. The usage of the 
church is Congregational, and the pastor is elected, 
for a term of three years, by a majority vote. 

CEMETERIES. 

The Oak Grove Cemetery, at Howell village, is 
used by many of the inhabitants of the township 



20O 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



as a place of interment, but there are three public 
burial-grounds in the township outside the village. 
The oldest of these is located on section 8, and 
was laid out as a place of burial in 1848 ; another 
on section 17 was commenced in 1850, and a third, 
laid out in 1853, is situated on section 22. In these 
the remains of many of the early settlers of the 
township have been laid away to their final rest. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



PETER BREWER, 

one of the earliest settlers and oldest pioneers of 
Livingston County, now in his eighty-fifth year, is 
entitled to special mention in this local history. 
He was born in Otsego County, New York, Jan. 
27, 1795. When he was some seven years of age 




PETER BREWER. 

his father moved to the then remote wilderness of 
Genesee Co., N. Y., where Peter grew to manhood. 
In the war of 18 12 he was drafted, and served 
a short time. He adopted the vocation of a farmer ; 
purchased some land in Niagara County, where he 
was married. May 10, 1821, to Miss Dorcas West. 
In 1835 he came to Howell and located one 
hundred and twenty acres of land ; returned 
to New York, and in 1836 came on with his 
family and commenced the improvement of 
land. Himself and wife were members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church in New York, and 
assisted to organize the first class and Methodist 
Church in Howell. He hewed the timber for the 
first house of worship of that church. In 1837 he 
was assessor and highway commissioner. His 



wife died Feb. 25, 1863. He was again married, 
March i, 1865, to Mrs. Abigail Munger, with whom 
he lived in Shiawassee County some thirteen years, 
when she died, and he returned to the old home in 
Howell, to live with his son Almon. By his first 
wife Mr. Brewer had six children: one died in 
infancy ; a daughter married William L. Jones, 
and they both died in 1848, leaving two children ; 
Orlando S. married Mary Jane Moore in 1849, 
daughter of William Moore, from New York, he 
settled in Howell in 1847; Almon married Olive 
Whitbeck, and lives at the old homestead ; Eber 
is a farmer in Shiawassee County. All are re- 
spected citizens, and well settled in life. 



SOLOMON HJLDEBRANT 

was born at Lockport, N. Y., Sept. 5, 1826. His 
father, Robert Hildebrant, emigrated to Living- 
ston County in the fall of 1842, and purchased 
eighty acres of land where Solomon now resides, 
upon which there was no improvement. Mr. 
Hildebrant rented a place about one mile south 
until he could make improvements on his own 
land. There he died Jan. 28, 1848. He had built 
a log house and cleared several acres of land on 
his own place, but had not moved at the time of 
his death. When the family came to Michigan 
there were nine children ; two more were added 
after they came to Howell, all of whom are now 
living except two sons. Ruel enlisted in the 9th 
Indiana Regiment, was transferred to a battery, 
and killed at Chaplin Hills, Ky. John was in the 
5th Michigan Infantry; was in the battle of the 
Wilderness, where he was taken sick and died on 
his way to the hospital. 

Solomon is the oldest of the children. To 
him the heroic mother looked for assistance. 
They moved the family to the then new log 
house, and continued the struggles begun by the 
father to secure a home. By their industry and 
good management ease and comfort have been 
secured, other lands added, the log house super- 
seded by a fine and commodious one with com- 
fortable out-buildings and pleasant surroundings. 
Here the mother makes her home, but is relieved 
from all care of business. Solomon Hildebrant is 
among the substantial and leading men of Living- 
ston County. He was married, April 7, 1863, to 
Miss Harriet A. Coleman, who was born at Che- 
mung, N. Y., April 21, 1839, daughter of Joseph 
Coleman, who now resides at Howell. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hildebrant are active and consistent members 
of the Methodist Church of Howell. 







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VILLAGE OF BRIGHTON. 



The village of Brighton embraces witliin the 
limits established in its incorporation, a rect- 
angular tract of land, approximately one and a 
half miles in length by one mile in width, taken 
from the southwest corner of the township of 
Brighton. Its length is on the west line of the 
township, adjoining Genoa, and its witlth is on the 
south line, adjoining Green Oak. The line of the 
old Grand River road passes through, and makes 
a somewhat abrupt angle in the village, and the 
post set by the commissioners to mark this angle 
has been mentioned as the centre, around which 
clustered the few scattering buildings which formed 
the nucleus of the village of Brighton. 

The original purchasers from the government, 
of lands lying within the present limits of the vil- 
lage, and the dates of their several purchases, were 
as follows : Maynard Maltby, of the State of New 
York, about 66 acres, August, 1832; Horace H. 
Comstock, Kalamazoo Co., Mich., 80 acres, March, 
1833 ; John M. Coe, of Oakland County, 80 acres, 
June, 1834; Anthony Gale, of Hartford, Conn., 80 
acres, September, 1834; Josiah Leonard, of Ni- 
agara Co., N. Y., 40 acres. May, 1835 ; Truman B. 
Warden, of Wayne Co., Mich., 80 acres, June, 
1835 ; Philip Stewart, 40 acres, June, 1835 ; Elijah 
Fitch, of Washtenaw Co., Mich., about 66 acres, 
Jul)', 1835 ; lilizabeth Gushing, of Wayne Co., 
Mich., 135 acres. May, 1835 ; Wm. Noble, of Hart- 
ford, Conn., 40 acres, July, 1835; Philip Stewart, 
of Wayne Co., Mich., 120 acres, October, 1835; 
Samuel R. Dakins, of Wayne Co., Mich., 40 acres, 
January, 1836; Anthony Gale, of Livingston Co., 
Mich., 40 acres, January, 1836; Plzra Rood, of 
Wayne Co., Mich., 40 acres, September, 1836. 

The first two settlers within the present corpora- 
tion limits were Maynard and Almon Maltby, from 
New York State, the latter of whom still survives, 
and resides in Green Oak township. Ma\nard 
purchased 65 acres of land on section 31, Brigh- 
ton, in the summer of 1832, as noticed above. 
The following year they erected a log house, and 
inclosed with a fence, six acres, which they had 
sown with wheat. In the fall the brothers re[)aircd 
to New York State and taught school during the 
winter. In the following spring they returned to 
their Western home. Maynard Maltby (having 
meanwhile married) brought liis wife with him to 
26 



Brighton. With his brother he soon after began 
the erection of a saw-mill upon the stream known 
as Ore Creek, running through the embryo village. 
Much of the material used in the construction of 
the early houses of the vicinity was sawed at this 
mill, which was known for years after as the " Old 
Maltby Mill." At the first township election May- 
nard Maltby was elected justice of the peace, and 
continued to hold the office until his death, which 
occurred in January, 1840. Mrs. Maltby, who is 
now Mrs. D. C. Marsh, of Brighton, has a very 
vivid recollection of early days, and especially of 
the annoyances experienced from the numerous 
bands of Indians that passed between Detroit and 
the camping-grounds westward. Though not dis- 
honest, they were very destructive, and were espe- 
cially fond of terrifying the ladies by brandishing 
their tomahawks and marking the doors of Mr. 
Maltby's house in a mysterious manner, as though 
some dire punishment were to be visited upon the 
family, yet no serious results followed their visits. 
At a later date, when the demand for Western land 
became greater, and land-lookers viewed every 
eligible acre in the county, Mr. Maltby's house 
afforded them a welcome shelter. 

John Gushing came to the village (or rather to 
the place where the village now is) in 1835, and 
built a log house, which he occupied for a long 
time, but afterwards purchased and removed to a 
house on Grand River Street, where he spent the 
remainder of his life. His son, Benjamin Gushing, 
resided for a while on the farm of his father, but 
finally purchased the ground where the Brighton 
Hotel now stands, and erected a tavern, of which 
he was for some years the landlord. He then re- 
tired to the farm, and after a brief interval returned 
to the tavern. Mr. Gushing also kept, for one year, 
the first log tavern built in the village, by William 
Dutcher, on the site now occupied by the residence 
of John Becker on Grand River Street. He bore 
a reputation as a genial landlord, and was regarded 
as a man of very marked social traits. His death 
occurred in the village in i860. 

Robert D. Power was one of the earliest settlers,* 
and his erection and opening of a public-house, in 
1836, was one of the first steps taken towards 
giving the place the character of a village. His 
tavern-house was a log structure that stood oppo- 

201 



202 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



site the present site of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. Mr. Power was a man of much force of 
character and intuitive slirewdness, and, being 
somewhat inclined towards poHtics, e.xerted a con- 
siderable influence in that direction among tlie 
early settlers of the neighborhood. He was after- 
wards elected to the offices of representative in the 
State Legislature, and sheriff of Livingston County. 

Brighton assumed still more the character of a 
village by the arrival and location there of its first 
physician (who was also the first in the county). 
Dr. Wilber Fisher, in the year 1836. His practice 
extended for a circuit of many miles, and his 
faithful steed was called upon constantly to exer- 
cise his powers, — more of endurance than speed. 
Malarial fevers were incident to the clearing of 
the new country, and the doctor's attendance was 
in frequent demand. Dr. Fisher was a peculiar 
character. It was rumored that he possessed no 
diploma, though he was certainly a member of an 
adjoining county medical society ; but with this 
he was able to inspire his patients with a certain 
confidence in his skill. His medicines were cer- 
tainly given in sufficiently large doses to cure, if 
quantity were the desideratum. Altogether, Dr. 
Fisher was not an unsuccessful practitioner, and 
]iis presence in those early days cheered many a 
quaking victim of the ague. 

William Noble, Jr., was one of the early settlers 
in Brighton. He came from New England, and 
brought with him many Puritanic ideas. He was 
very scrupulous in his religious duties, and held 
the use of liquor in abomination, which, in those 
tippling days, was sufficient to confirm his repu- 
tation for eccentricity. 

Anthony Gale was another of the earliest settlers 
in the village. He is described as a man of irascible 
temper, quick to resent a real or fancied wrong, but 
withal kind-hearted, and a keen and active man of 
business. He was the owner of the land on which 
the original plat of the village was laid out. This 
he sold to William Noble, Jr., who surveyed' from 
it the first, or " Noble Plat" (known as the " Lower 
Town"), and recorded the same July 3, 1837. He 
also sold ten acres lying in the form of a square, 
on both sides of Grand River Street, to William 
Dutcher, who soon after laid out an additional 
plat upon it. On the 19th of July, 1838, Anthony 
Gale laid out upon his unsold lands the "Gale 
Plat" of the " Upper Town," and recorded it in 
the same year. A large number of the lots were 
sold to various purchasers, and the remainder was 
sold in one parcel to Harvey T. Lee.* 



* On the 19th of December, 1868, a plat w.is made by J. B. 
Lee, known as the "J. B. Lee addition," and about the same date 



In the original village plat of 1837 the first two 
lots were purchased by Almon and Maynard 
Maltby. The one purchased by Almon Maltby 
was the lot now occupied by Mr. S. Dubois on 
Grand River Street, and on this was erected the 
first frame house within the limits of the village 
corporation. 

The year 1837 saw the erection of the first 
school building, which was located upon ground 
now occupied by Patrick Donley on Grand River 
Street. The first teacher in this was a Mr. Jerald, 
who taught for two successive winters, and was 
succeeded by Miss Sophie Olney, who had charge 
of the school during the summer of 1838. This 
young lady arrived at the settlement on a visit to 
her sister, Mrs. Harwick, and was induced to re- 
main as teacher. 

The first regular religious services in Brighton 
were commenced by Rev. William A. Clark, D.D., 
who came from New York City and settled in the 
township in the spring of 1837. Occasional ser- 
vices had, however, been held here before that 
time by Elder John Cosart of the Methodist, and 
by Rev. Jonathan Post of the Baptist, denomina- 
tion, as well as by some other clergymen. 

Lewis M. Curry and wife came from Bradford 
Co., Pa., and in May, 1837, located within the 
village, as it was called even then, though it con- 
tained but very few settlers. Most of the Noble 
plat was still covered with the original forest-trees, 
and these the owner would not allow to be felled 
until the lots were purchased. The young boys 
of the neighborhood, determining that some of 
them should come down at all hazards, assembled 
one night, built a fire, and feigning to be on a hunt 
for coons, began a vigorous chopping of the trees 
to secure the animals, as they pretended. One un- 
suspecting citizen rushed out with his gun and fired 
several shots before he comprehended the ruse. 
Mr. Curry purchased a lot on the corner of Grand 
River and North Streets, and erected upon it a 
house of unusual pretensions for those times. 
Some of the lumber for this house was drawn from 
Farmington, Oakland Co., and the remainder was 
supplied by Maltby's saw-mill, on Ore Creek. 
After Mr. Curry had been here a brief time, the 
prospects of the village not equaling his expecta- 

the " McCauley addition" was platted. " McPheison's addition" 
was made Dec. 8, 1871. Soon after, fine maps of this plat were 
distributed through the country, and after much advertising the lots 
were offered at auction, many inducements having been extended 
to attract purchasers. A large number of the lots in this jilat were 
sold in that way, and some of them have since had comfortable 
and elegant residences built upon them, the sales having been 
mainly efiected by the prospective growth of Brighton, incidental 
to the completion of the railroad, wliich runs nearly through the 
centre of the " McPherson plat." 



VILLAGE OF BRIGHTON. 



20.1 



tions, he rented his lioiise for a year and returned 
to the East, resuniin<; liis residence in Brighton at 
the expiration of tliat time. He spent but a por- 
tion of his time in tlic village, his occupations 
calling him much from home. Though making 
no pretensions to e.vcelience above his neighbors, 
lie established a reputation for kindness and gen- 
erosity, and many instances of the substantial aid 
he afforded the needy and suffering are related. 

An incident illustrative of his character was re- 
lated to the writer by Mrs. Curry, who is now Mrs. 
David Thomson, of Brighton township. Mr. 
Curry had subscribed towards the support of re- 
ligious services, and his wife concluded one pleas- 
ant Sabbath morning that she would attend mcctinsf, 
and perhaps, if invited, assist in the singing, for 
which she had an excellent voice. Arraying her- 
self in her black silk gown, with her best bonnet 
adorned with bright flowers, relics of a more Iu.k- 
urious life at the East, she proceeded to the prim- 
itive church. On arriving she found herself late 
and the door closed against her. The steward 
confronted her with the question, " Are you a 
member of the church ?" She replied, " No, but 
we help pay the preacher, and I've come to join in 
the worship." "Are you seeking religion?" he 
added. " No," she replied, and (being probably a 
little incensed at the question) intimated that she 
would find very little of it in that church if she 
were. The steward informed her that the doors 
were closed, and she could not be admitted. 

Filled with indignation, Mrs. Curry returned 
to her home, and was met by her husband, who 
inquired the trouble. Benjamin Cushing, who from 
his house opposite had observed her on her de- 
parture, and wondering at her sudden return, came 
over to inquire also as to its cause. She replied, 
relating the facts. Mr. Curry was very angry, and, 
with some strong expressions, remarked that he 
would soon make an opening in that church-door. 
He went to the fence and, securing a stout rail, 
summoned Cushing to his aid. Together they 
departed for the church with the rail on their 
shoulders, determined to batter down the door. 
On their arrival one of the deacons appeared, 
and, asking them the occasion of their formidable 
preparations, was informed of their errand. He 
assured them that an easier entrance could be ob- 
tained, and, throwing open the door, invited them 
in. They entered, and remained till the .service 
was over, while Mrs. Curry remained at home to 
cook a good dinner for the deacon. 

Lewis V. Curry, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. M. 
Curry, was born Oct. 25, 1837, — the first white 
child born in Brighton village. 

The first death in the village was that of Tru- 



man B. Warden, who died Nov. 29, 1837. He 
had come to Brighton in 1836, and located on the 
spot now occupied by the Methodist parsonage. 
The second death was that of Ebenczcr G. Fox, 
on the 19th of the following April. 

The first marriage in the village also occurred 
in 1837, it being that of a Mr. Winchell to a 
widow lady, whose name has not been ascertained. 
The ceremony was performed by Maynard Maltby, 
J. P. 

William R. Cobb came from Vermont to Brigh- 
ton in the fall of 1838, and opened a store on the 
present site of the Methodist church on Grand 
River Street. Later he removed to a building 
which he had purchased, standing on the present 
site of Cobb & McHench's Block. The building 
was removed to make room for the new block, and 
it is still standing on Mill Street. Mr. Cobb re- 
tired in 1864. His present residence is on East 
Street, where he has a tract of some 24 acres of 
land. 

Daniel C. Marsh, one of the oldest and most 
highly esteemed of the early pioneers, and who still 
survives, established himself in Brighton, May, 
1839. He was the first attorney in the village and 
township. In 1841 he was appointed prosecuting 
attorney and master in chancery for the county of 
Livingston. He is still residing in Brighton, but 
is not actively engaged in the practice of his pro- 
fession. 

John D. Appleton arrived in 1839, ^"d followed 
the occupation of carpenter and joiner. He built 
the residence on Grand River Street, just below 
the Presbyterian church, and later erected a pub- 
lic-house of considerable size opposite the Brigh- 
ton Hotel. The building is generally known as 
the Appleton Block. 

Harvey T. Lee came early, and was both f.irmer 
and hotel-keeper. He afterwards followed his 
calling of landlord at B\ron, Mich. 

Robert McLester was a pioneer of 1837, and en- 
gaged in the sale of dry goods soon after in part- 
nership with William R. Cobb. 

The earliest blacksmith was Abram Fralick, 
whose shop stood on the site now occupied by the 
Appleton Block. 

Among others who resided in the village in 
1839 were A. P. Dickinson, who for many years 
served as constable, and died in 1878; Charles 
Spencer, who died the same year in the suburbs of 
the village; John G. Spencer, who died during the 
war of the Rebellion ; Elijah Fitch, who was an 
early merchant, but removed from the place; John 
Wilson, a mason ; J. D. Davis and S. S. Saunders. 

Frederick C. Whipple, the second attorney of 
the village, and who became the most brilliant 



204 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



of the lawyers of Livingston County, came to 
Brighton in 1840. He was the first editor of the 
old Livingston Courier, which was established in 
this village by Nicholas Sullivan in 1843, and be- 
came prosecuting attorney, circuit court commis- 
sioner, and judge of probate of Livingston County. 
He was associated in business with George W. 
Peck, another eminent lawyer, who came a year 
or two later to Brighton and afterwards held sev- 
eral high offices, among them being that of repre- 
sentative in the Thirty-fourth Congress. Both 
those gentlemen left Brighton early, Mr. Whipple 
removing to Howell in 1846. He died in Oceola 
township in 1872. 

. Among the settlers who came to the village in 
or about 1840 were Horace Lee, Warren Hill, 
Warren Acker, Daniel S. Lee, Sanford Beacroft, 
William Moon, Malcolm Fitch, Peter Fitch, Sum- 
ner Ross, F. D. Acker, Amrod Moon, and William 
McCauley, — the latter of whom attained consider- 
able political distinction and filled several offices, 
among which was that of State Senator, to which 
he was elected in 1852. 

Orson Quackenbush, an early settler in the vil- 
lage, erected, in 1840, the flouring- and grist-mills 
now owned by Albright & Thomson, on Ore 
Creek. This enterprise was a great advantage to 
the people of the neighboring settlements and an 
advancement of the interests of the village. 

David Thomson, having visited Brighton in its 
earliest days, and being favorably impressed with its 
prospects, became a permanent resident in 1843. 
He leased a building where the Presbyterian 
church now stands, and converted it into a foundry, 
which was the first one established in the county, 
and which he soon after purchased in connection 
with Charles Spencer. In 1856 he built the pres- 
ent brick foundry, on the corner of Grand River 
and North Streets. He resides upon a farm in the 
suburbs. 

Ira W. Case came to the county in 1840, and to 
Brighton in 1847. He has been since that time 
actively engaged in mercantile pursuits. 

The rivals in trade at this early day were Robert 
Thomson, a typical Scotchman, and William Noble, 
Jr., who recorded the first plat of the village. Both 
were characters in their way. Thomson kept a 
small store, suited to the wants of his customers, 
and exercised considerable ingenuity in the mark- 
ing of his goods, the value being generally gov- 
erned by the scarcity of the commodity. The 
store which he built was planned by the eccentric 
Daniel Jones, who, it was said, whittled the model 
of the building from a pine block with his pocket- 
knife. Mr. Thomson did not achieve any success 
in mercantile pursuits in Brighton. 



Hugh Gordon, a corpulent son of the Emerald 
Isle, was the proprietor of a distillery in Brighton, 
in its early days. He was an exceedingly popu- 
lar man, for the commodity which he manufac- 
tured was always kept by him free, at the dis- 
posal of his numerous friends, who quaffed many 
a glass to the health of the burly host. 

Ira P. Bingham, M.D., came to Brighton as 
early as 1835, but did not remain. In 1841 he re- 
turned and effected arrangements for a permanent 
residence the following year. Since that time he 
has been one of the influential citizens of Brighton. 
He enjoys an enviable reputation in his profession, 
which he has not followed assiduously since the 
cares of other business have absorbed his attention. 

Thomas Lee, a Yorkshireman, was a quaint 
character. He was a tailor by occupation, and 
kept in connection with his shop, a small grocery- 
stand. Thomas established an unenviable reputa- 
tion for beating his wife, and when the unfortunate 
victim timidly exclaimed that "she had no rights," 
he replied, with an additional blow, " Yes, }-ou 
have; you have the right to do just as I bid you." 

Erastus A. Pratt came from Lapeer County in 
1844, and followed the vocation of blacksmith in 
the village of Brighton for twenty-two years, during 
which time he made most of the plow-irons used 
in the surround ng country. His first shop was 
located where the foundry of Mr. David Thom- 
son now stands. There was but a small portion 
of the village built when Mr. Pratt first came, 
preaching being held at the house of Daniel C. 
Marsh for want of a church edifice. A school- 
house had been built in the upper portion, the 
building being still standing, and used as a barn, 
lower down on Fitch Street. In 1867 Mr. Pratt 
bought a farm in Green Oak, on the banks of 
Silver Lake, and has resided there since, enjoying 
the retirement which a life of labor has brought 
him. 

He relates an incident, which afforded him some 
amusement at the time, in connection with a series 
of Spiritualist meetings which were held in the 
village. Some wags had informed an itinerant 
exponent of that belief that Mr. Pratt and his 
family were ardent believers. He accordingly 
presented himself at their house, accompanied by 
his wife, bearing a letter of introduction and claim- 
ing their hospitality. Not at all dismayed by their 
presence, Mr. Pratt gave them a cordial welcome, 
and aided them in securing a place in which to 
hold meetings. The place was filled night after 
night, and the lecturer and medium were told that 
the house of their host was open to them, until 
what was intended as a joke, resulted in the most 
popular gathering of the season. 



VILLAGE OF BRIGHTON. 



205 



L. Corydon Pratt, brother of Erastus, came from 
Fredonia, N. Y., in 1845, and has since resided in 
Brighton. He has served as postmaster of the 
village, but has now retired from active business. 

Egbert F. Albright came into the county with 
his father, Amos F. Albright, who located at 
Hartland Centre, building the first house at the 
village and also the first grist-mill. The son, after 
pursuing for several years his trade of millwright 
in various parts of the State, came on the first day 
of May, 1848, to the township of Brighton, and in 
July, 1853, located in the village. After a brief 
interval in the mercantile business, he purchased, 
in connection with his partner, the flouring-mills 
built by Orson Quackenbush. His clear recollec- 
tion of early events has aided greatly in the compi- 
lation of the village history. 

Brighton became an incorporated village in 
1867, with the limits befoie mentioned. The 
platted area is not compactly built, but it contains 
many good and substantial, and some elegant, 
residences. Ore Creek, which flows through the 
central part of the village in a southerly direction, 
furnishes water-power to the mills within the 
corporation. For many years the village itself 
bore the name of this stream, being known as 
" Ore Creek" settlement, or village, and even at 
the present time an old settler will sometimes find 
himself employing this old name, when speaking 
of Brighton village. 

An impulse was given to Brighton by the build- 
ing of the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad, 
and property advanced considerably on that ac- 
count. A reaction subsequently took place, and 
the village has not since that time made any ma- 
terial advance. 

Sketches of the various churches and public and 
private organizations of Brighton are appended, 
together with mention of some of the leading 
business enterprises. 

RELIGIOUS. 
METHODIST EPISCOr.\L CHURCH. 

The early settlers of this locality embraced a 
large number of individuals of both sexes who 
had previously united with the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church elsewhere, and a class of members 
of this church was early called together. 

Among those who presided at these early ser- 
vices may be mentioned Elder Cosart, a local 
preacher, and Elder Bibbins; and in the year 1837, 
Elders Fleming and Gillet were delegated to the 
neighborhood, each remaining one year. In 1843 
was held the first quarterly meeting in the village. 
It was convened at the house of D. C. Mar.sh. 
The house, having at that early date been inclosed, 



but not yet occupied, afforded a comfortable and 
convenient place in which to hold worship. It is 
still standing at the corner of the Grand River and 
Ann Arbor road, and is occupied, as formerly, by 
Mr. Marsh. This meeting was presided over by 
Rev. Mr. Colclaser. 

Rev. James S. Smart, a clergyman of some 
prominence in the denomination, became pastor 
of the charge at Brighton in 1847, and combined 
with his clerical labors the profession of teacher, 
in which he won a deserved reputation. Rev. 
John Levington, having been called from Milford, 
his residence, to minister on a funeral occasion at 
the house of Daniel S. Lee, in December, 1853, 
was invited to preach at Brighton, semi-monthly, 
until the meeting of the next Annual Conference. 
He accepted the invitation and organized a class 
of seven members, embracing Mrs. D. S. Lee, Mrs. 
A. Clark, Roswell Bains, Joseph Placeway, Mrs. 
Placeway, and Mrs. D. C. Marsh. Mr. Levington 
was a man of talent and an efficient worker in this 
new field. In 1853, Conference assigned Rev. 
William Benson and Elias Prindle to the Brighton 
church for one year. They were succeeded, in 
1854, by Rev. William M. Hevener, under whose 
pastorate the little flock was separated from the 
Milford charge, with whom they had been formerly 
associated, and were accorded a distinct identity 
under the title of the Brighton charge. At this 
juncture the society organized itself under the 
State law as the Methodist Episcopal Church of 
Brighton. The first trustees were John G. Spencer, 

Israel Arms, Hannibal Lee, Jasper H. Buck, 

Hendig, and Roswell Barnes. Desiring to have a 
permanent place of worship, the trustees, aided by 
their pastor. Rev. Mr. Hevener, purchased ground 
and erected their first house of worship and par- 
sonage, the former of which was on its completion 
dedicated with interesting ceremonies, the Rev. 
Seth Reid presiding. Since that time to the pres- 
ent the following pastors have been in charge of 
the church : Rev. L. C. York, who came in 1856, 
and remained two yea-rs, and was succeeded by 
Rev. Mr. Birdsall and Rev. J. M. Crippen, who 
filled a term of one year in 1858. In 1859, Rev. 
Jacob Dobbins officiated, and was followed by 
George Foote, who acted as supply for a year. 
Rev. J. O. Bancroft remained two years, and in 
1863, Rev. J. S. Salton acted as pastor until his 
successor, Rev. D. A. Curtis, came in 1865, who 
remained two years. In 1867, Rev. Thomas 
Nichols was assigned to the charge, and remained 
one year, when Rev. W. J. Clack filled the pulpit 
for two years, and v.'as followed by Rev. John 
Levington in 1870. In 1872, Rev. L. C. York 
became pastor. Rev. F. W. Warren officiated in 



2o6 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



1874, and his successor, in 1876. was Rev. A. 1*". 
Hoyt, who remained one year; and after him. 
Rev. D.J. Odell was installed as pastor. In 1S78, 
Rev. James Kilpatrick was assigned to the field, 
and is at present acting as pastor. Connected 
with the church is a flourishing Sabbath- school, 
under the superintendence of L. B. Stewart. 

ROM.A.X C.\THOLIC CHURCH. 

The nucleus of a Roman Catholic Church was 
first formed in the township of Green Oak at an 
early date, the visitations having been made by 
Rev. Father Morrissey, who made his circuit not 
oftener than once in three or four months. He 
was succeeded by Rev. Father Cullen, who re- 
sided in Ann Arbor, and held a monthly service, 
and instructed the children in the catechism. He 
was followed by Rev. Father Patrick Kelley, who 
became a resident priest, and held service and in- 
structed the children in the catechism at private 
houses until the autumn of 1838, when a log 
church w-as built, which was located in Green 
Oak, nearly two miles north of its centre. Sub- 
sequently the ser\ice, which had been previously 
held during the week, became an established Sab- 
bath service. 

As suggestive of the scantiness of the worldly 
outfit of the holy father, it may be mentioned that 
his effects consisted of the vestments which he 
carried in a small satchel, and a trunlc full of books. 
Oceola, Deerfield, and Beneker Hill were also a part 
of his mission, to which places, for many years, he 
repaired on foot, but finally his means permitted 
the purchase of a horse and saddle, which afforded 
him more comfortable means of travel. His old 
friend and parishioner, Mathew Brady, having re- 
moved to Genoa, prevailed upon Father Kelley to 
remove to tliat township, as being more central 
than his former residence. Here he purchased 40 
acres of land adjoining that of his friend, and re- 
sided with him until 1S57, when he was appointed 
parish priest of Dearborn, where he remained 
until his death. Rev. Father Lambert next suc- 
ceeded to the vacant field, who resided at Deerfield 
and made a post at Brighton, where he held ser- 
vice for two years at the houses of Thomas Ken- 
nedy and John Collins. In the year 1859 he was 
replaced by Rev. Father F. X. Pourclt, who at 
first resided in Deerfield, but ultimately removed 
to Oceola, and continued his monthly visits to 
Biighton. the congregation having meanwhile stead- 
ily increased until it was found necessar)', in 1862, 
to have more room. A vacant house was secured, 
in which service was held until 1S64, when a site 
for a church was purchased from Ira W. Case, em- 
bracing one acre of ground. Nicholas Kennedy, 



of Brighton, prepared a subscription paper with a 
view to raising funds for the erection of the new 
edifice, and presented it to Rt. Rev. P. P. Lefevre, 
bishop of Detroit, for approval, who very gener- 
ously headed the list w'ith a gift of Sioo. Many 
Protestants also contributed and showed much 
kindly interest in the new project. 

The following list embraces some of the sub- 
scribers towards the enterprise: John Long, Pat- 
rick F. McCabe, John Duane, John Laughlin, Rev. 
F. X. Pourett, Brian Timmons, Nicholas Ken- 
nedy. J. B. Lee. Ira W. Case. \V. R. Cobb, Lyman 
Judson, L. C. Pratt; Moore, Foot & Co., and 
Oliver Bourke, Detroit. 

There were other subscription papers circulated 
by Nicholas Kennedy, John Duane, and Niel 
O'Hearn, who resided near the site of the new edi- 
fice, and consequently lent a willing hand to the 
work. The pastor was also assiduous in his 
laboi-s, and contributed not only in actual labor, 
but in zeal and enthusiasm, greatly to the success 
of the undertaking. 

The progress of the new edifice towards com- 
pletion was rapid. Every individual who had the 
interests of the church at heart gave cheerfully, 
either of his substance or in such labor as he was 
able to perform. Ere long they were able to enjoy 
the fruit of their efforts in the completion of the 
exterior of the building, and service was held 
within its walls before the interior was finished. 

Father Pourett continued his ministrations to 
the little flock at Brighton until 1870, when he was 
placed in charge of the church at Redford, near 
Detroit, and was succeeded by Rev. Father Rafter, 
who brought with hira the same zeal and enthu- 
siasm that had made the presence of his prede- 
cessor so invaluable in the Brighton field. He 
devoted his energies to the liquidation of the debt, 
and verj' soon was afforded the satisfaction of wit- 
nessing the church building free of incumbrances. 
He was called to Bay City in 1S72. His suc- 
cessor was Rev. Father Wheeler, who made Fen- 
tonville his residence until 1876, when the bishop 
instructed him to occupy the residence that had 
been completed in Brighton. 

Father Wheeler was ver\' successful in his work, 
having endeared himself greatly to his people. He 
left verj- tangible evidence of his labors in the 
diminished debt, and the decided improvement in 
the morals of the Catholic portion of the commu- 
nity. In 1877 he was appointed parish priest at 
Owosso, and was succeeded by Rev. J. G. Dough- 
erty, in March of that year, who entered upon his 
labors with a debt of Siooo confronting him. 
Bringing much energ>- to the work, he succeeded 
the first year in liquidating the obligation, and soon 



VILLAGE OF BRIGHTON. 



207 



after remodeled the church, ornamented it with 
stained-glass windows, at an additional cost of 
gSoo, and made a very perceptible improvement in 
the grounds. Evergreens were planted, the street 
graded, and a substantial and ornamental iron 
fence inclosed the lawn. 

The society this present year is entirely free 
from debt, and the congregation has grown so 
rapidly as to necessitate the building of a consid- 
erable addition to the church. A vestry and 
steeple are also among the improvements contem- 
plated. In addition to the Brighton field, Father 
Dougherty has charge of the missions at Iosco, 
Oceola, White Oak, and Fowlerville. At Howell 
a new and elegant church has just been completed, 
and the one in Oceola has been thoroughly re- 
modeled. In Brighton there arc jo families, 90 in 
Oceola, 38 in Howell, 14 in Iosco, 20 in White 
Oak, and 14 in Fowlerville. 

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

In giving a history of the First Presbyterian 
Church of Brighton, it would seem proper to give 
an idea of the state of society and the causes which 
conduced to its organization. 

In the autumn of 1852, a little more than a 
year previous to the oiganization of the church, the 
Rev. Chauncey Osborn and wife, of Grand Blanc, 
Mich., came here with a view to establishing per- 
manent religious worship. There had been pre- 
vious efforts made by other leading denominations, 
but they had not been successful. Brighton, like 
many other villages in a new countr}', had an un- 
enviable reputation, both religiously and morally. 
It was much like the town that Sandy resided 
in, who, being inquired of as to the state of re- 
ligion in his village, replied, " It is very low, very 
low, only myself and Davie, and I have my doubts 
about Davie." 

During the first year of Mr. Osborn's labors, the 
Rev. John Levington, of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church of Milford, organized a class in Brighton. 

Mr. Osborn being asked what induced him to 
come, replied that he had heard " they had no 
minister, never had, and did not intend to have;" 
but he came in the name of his Master, who said, 
" Go into all the world and preach the gospel ; and 
lo! I will be with thee alwaj-s." Trusting in him, 
he came. 

Mr. Osborn held two services in the school-house 
each Sabbath during the year. Mrs. Osborn opened 
a select school at their residence to assist in their 
support, her husband having no stated salary at 
that time. 

On Saturday, Dec. 10, 1853, the following per- 
sons assembled at the residence of Mr. Osborn, 



and were examined for reception into the church : 
Jason Clark and Mrs. Mary Clark, his wife, by 
letter from Presbyterian Church, Green Oak ; Mr. 
Isaac Smith and Mrs. Catharine Smith, his wife; 
Mrs. Lydia Benjamin, by letter ; Mr. John T. Wat- 
son and Mrs. Harriet Watson, his wife, from Pres- 
byterian Church, Howell ; Mrs. Samantha B. Lee, 
Congregational Church, Farmington ; Mrs. Su- 
.sannah P. Osborn, Congregational Church, Grand 
Blanc; and Miss Mariah Osborn, Congregational 
Church, Monson, Ohio. 

These formed the nucleus of the First Presby- 
terian Church of Brighton, of whom, at this 
writing, July, 1879, three only are living, viz., 
Mrs. Samantha B. Lee, Mrs. Lydia Benjamin, and 
Mrs. Harriet Watson. 

The following persons were chosen as officers of 
the church : Jason Clark, Isaac Smith, and John 
T. Watson, as elders ; Jason Clark and Isaac Smith 
were chosen deacons; John T. Watson, Treasurer, 
and Isaac Smith, Clerk. 

The articles of faith and covenant of Washte- 
naw Presbytery were adopted, and sixteen by-laws 
for the government of the church were adopted. 

The oiganization of the church was consum- 
mated on Sabbath-day, Dec. 18, 1852, by the fore- 
going members publicly giving their assent to the 
articles of faith and covenant of the church, after 
which the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was 
admini-stered by the pastor. Feb. 15, 1854, the 
church was received under the care of the Wash- 
tenaw Presbytery. 

Eighteen members were added the first year, and 
$75.24 was contributed to the Incidental and Be- 
nevolent F'und, which will compare favorably with 
more recent contributions. The first death among 
its members was that of Mrs. Baetcke, Aug. 24, 
1855. The first baptism was administered Sept. 6, 
1857, to Charles S. Lee, William O.Lee, and Wal- 
ter E. Lee, sons of J. B. and S. B. Lee ; also to 
William S., infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Kel- 






The Methodist congregation, now having a regu- 
larly appointed minister from Conference, with the 
Universalist denomination, occupied the school- 
house a part of the time; Mr. Osborn, therefore, 
opened his own house to his congregation. In 
February, 1855, the Masonic Hall was secured for 
one year. In June following, Mr. Osborn's health 
failing, he went East and remained until the next 
March, when he returned and occupied the school- 
house again, the lease of the hall having expired. 
During the greater part of his absence services 
were kept up by ministers from Washtenaw Pres- 
bytery, sermons being read by some of the mem- 
bers. 



208 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



In the winter of 1857 the subject of building a 
house of worsliip was agitated, and a society was 
organized in February for that purpose. March 
23, 1857, a committee was appointed to act with 
the trustees of the society, — Mr. J. B. Lee, Deacon 
J. Smith, and Hiram Kellogg. A subscription- 
paper was circulated and enough subscribed to 
warrant the trustees in entering into a contract 
with Mr. Frederick D. Acker to build a house of 
worship 32 by 48 feet, with i8-feet posts, for $1500. 
In June, the corner-stone was laid with appro- 
priate ceremonies by Mr. Osborn. 

The church was completed and dedicated March 
3, 1858. The dedicatory sermon was preached by 
the Rev. Mr. Hoyt, with prayer by the pastor; the 
Rev. Mr. Foster preaching in the evening, — all of 
whom " rest from their labors and their works do 
follow them." The Ladies' Benevolent Society 
contributed their share (as they usually do) in car- 
peting and furnishing the church. The society 
received ^300 from the Church Erection Fund, 
without interest, on condition that there be a col- 
lection taken up yearly until it was all repaid. The 
conditions have been fulfilled. 

Mr. Osborn's last sermon was preached March 
14, 1858. He received for his labors $400 a year, 
about one-half of which was paid by the American 
Home Missionary Society. Mr. Osborn gave one- 
tenth of his income to benevolent objects. He 
was an accomplished scholar, a sound theologian, 
and a great worker in his Master's vineyard. Mr. 
and Mrs. Osborn's religious influence was percep- 
tibly felt for many years. A man residing in the 
village was heard to say that " he used to chop 
wood on the Sabbath, and thought it no harm ; 
but, somehow, since Mr. Osborn came, it did not 
seem respectable." Mr. Osborn removed to Dear- 
born, near Detroit, where, after a few years of 
faithful labor, he, with his wife, were called home 
to receive their reward. 

The Rev. D. L. Eaton, of Howell, succeeded, 
preaching his first sermon March 28, 1858. He 
preached every alternate Sabbath, in Pinckney, for 
the first year. He with Mr. O. Parker, of Flint, 
held a revival-meeting for three weeks, hopefully 
converting fifty-five persons. Mr. Eaton closed his 
labors April i, i860. The congregation was with- 
out a pastor about four months, when the Rev.- 
William King, of Jackson, preached his first ser- 
mon Aug. 5, i860, and remained with the church 
until March, 1861. He also has gone to his rest. 

Mr. King was succeeded by Rev. R. G. Mc- 
Carthy, a licentiate of Detroit Presbytery, who 
preached Sabbath afternoons at New Pludson. He 
was ordained by the Washtenaw Presbytery, June 
5, 1861. He closed his labors in March, 1864. 



Tlie Rev. Benjamin Franklin, of Saline, began 
his labors as pastor July 23, 1864. He preached 
in the afternoon at different times at Pleasant Val- 
ley, Bitten's School-House, and Hartland Centre. 
Mr. and Mrs. Franklin were great workers in the 
church, having a large congregation and Sabbath- 
school. Mr. Franklin did much to improve the 
church edifice and build up the congregation. He 
remained with the church nearly si.x years, preach- 
ing his last sermon April 24, 1870. 

The Rev. William Grandy, of Lansing, was then 
called to the pastorate, preaching his first sermon 
April 2, 1 87 1. He had a large congregation, and 
was a very popular preacher. He also made many 
improvements in the church edifice. He preached 
his last sermon in July, 1874. 

The Rev. E. W. Borden, of Midland, Mich., 
succeeded Mr. Grandy, commencing his labors in 
February, 1876, the church being without a pas- 
tor nearly two years. He remained with the church 
two years, when he removed to Ann Arbor to edu- 
cate his children. 

At the present time (July, 1879) the congrega- 
tion has no pastor. 

The whole number received into the church since 
its organization is 177 (on profession, 124; by let- 
ter, 53); during the same time the number dis- 
missed has been 83, — by letter, 62; by death, 2\. 
The present membership is 70. Stated pulpit sup- 
ply, twenty-one years ; amount paid for the same, 
$10,800. Original cost of house, grounds, and 
furnishings, $1800; repairs and improvements, 
;^750; contributions to benevolent objects, $1000; 
incidentals, ;^8oo ; total, $15,150. 

The church celebrated its twenty-fifth anniver- 
sary on Dec. 10, 1878, the Rev. D. L. Eaton, of 
Ovid, Mich., preaching the sermon, and Mr. J. M. 
Holden, of Green Oak, reading the church history. 

THE FIRST WESLEY.\N METHODIST CHURCH.* 
This church is situated on the "west side," cor- 
ner of Washington and Fourth Streets, and has 
the following history : There were a few members 
of the Pleasant Valley Wesleyan Church residing 
in and near the village of Brighton, and others in 
sympathy with their principles, who desired the 
labors of the Pleasant Valley pastor. Rev. J. H. 
Canfield, in the ministration of the Word, where it 
could be more conveniently enjoyed. To accom- 
plish this he was invited to establish an appoint- 
ment at the village, and the old Appleton Hall was 
secured, and supplied with temporary seats, a dry- 
goods bo.K being used for a pulpit ; and under 
these circumstances the first Wesleyan Methodist 
services were held in the village of Brighton. 

* Prepared by the pastor. 



VILLAGE OF BRIGHTON. 



209 



In tills hall, on April 5, 1S74, the First Wes- 
leyan Methodist Society was organized, with a 
membership of 7 persons, and 2 received on pro- 
bation. Notwithstanding the disadvantages con- 
nected with their place of worship, they were happy 
in being able to worship God according to the 
dictates of their own consciences. 

On one or two occasions they came to the place 
of meeting and found the seats removed from the 
room, and they were compelled to bring in boards^ 
wagon-seats, etc., to furnish seats for the congre- 
gation. During the week the seats were restored 
to their proper place in the hall, ready for the next 
service. 

After using the " dry-goods box" pulpit a short 
time, a young mechanic volunteered to make a 
pulpit, which, when it was finished, looked very 
much like a grocery-store counter ; but it answered 
the purpose, and was thankfully received by 
the society. One of the members then furnished 
an old-fish ioned sofa, which was covered with 
common calico, and with this fitting out for the 
pastor and congregation, they started on the road 
to prosperity. They were soon apprised, however, 
of the fict that they were meeting with opposition 
on every hand. The members had all belonged to 
the Methodist Episcopal Church in the village, and 
had severed their connection therewith on account 
of its association with secret societies ; and because 
of their unpopularity in this respect they suffered 
much annoyance. 

They continued their meetings in the hall, with 
encouraging prospects, until the man who had 
control of it began buying wool and storing it away 
in the back end of the room. The odor from the 
wool was so offensive that they were compelled to 
abandon the hall, and were left without a place to 
hold their services. A short time after this the 
Presbyterian Society kindly offered them the use 
of their church, and they continued their appoint- 
nients there until their own house of worship was 
completed. The society enjoyed prosperity, and 
on the 1st day of November had increased its 
membership to 27. 

June 30, 1874, a legal organization was effected, 
and in a short time steps were taken for building a 
house of worship. To encourage the building, 
Mr. E. G. Mcl'herson, of Howell, donated two lots 
on the corner of Washington and Fourth Streets, 
and subscribed $100 towards building the church. 
Other friends of the cause came nobh' forward 
with a helping hand, and notwithstanding unfore- 
seen embarrassments, which were very discourag- 
ing, the house was completed. 

The contract for the building was given to Enos 
H. Buck by the Board of Trustees, consisting of 
27 



Alanson P. Dickenson, Ambrose M. Sweet, and 
Charles B.irnhart, Sept. 3, 1874, and work on the 
building began immediately. The church is 50 by 
32 feet, and the posts are 20 feet high. The belfry 
and tower extend about 40 feet above the roof of 
the building, and have a device at the top consist- 
ing of a hand with the forefinger pointing upward. 

The cost of the building was Si475. exclusive of 
the wall, which was built by the society and not 
included in the contract. The building was dedi- 
cated Jan. 30, 1875, Rev. L. N. Stratton, of Syra- 
cuse, N. Y , editor of the American Weslejan, 
ofificiating. 

Brighton Church was made one of the appoint- 
ments on Kensington and Brighton charge, and in 
view of the number of appointments on the charge, 
services were held here only on alternate Sabbath 
mornings. Notwithstanding this disadvantage the 
society witnessed a goodly degree of prosperity. 

In the fall of 1875 Rev. D. A. Richards became 
their pastor, and, like his predecessors, labored hard 
to build up the cause and the societies under his 
care. He moved his family to Brighton and se- 
cured a residence near the church ; the attachment 
between pastor and people became very strong. 
Revival meetings were held at the church the fol- 
lowing winter, which resulted in much good, and 
some accessions to the church ; congregations in- 
creased, and though the society were meeting with 
persistent opposition, the sun of prosperity shone 
more brightly on them than ever before. A good 
organ, of the "Sterling" manufacture, was pur- 
chased, and a suitable choir selected ; these made 
no small addition to the interest of the society in 
connection with their public services. 

In the fall of 1875 the Michigan Conference of 
the Wesleyan Methodist connection was held at 
Brighton, and notwithstanding the fact that the 
attendance was unusually large, all were well cared 
for by the people of Brighton and vicinity. The 
devotional exercises of the Conference were very 
interesting and profitable, and the society was per- 
manently benefited by them. The number of min- 
isters and delegates in attendance, and the earnest- 
ness manifested in the work of salvation, were 
among the noticeable features connected with the 
Conference, and had a tendency to decrease the 
prejudice that had previously existed against the 
society. 

In the fall of 1877 a change of ministers again 
took place, and Rev. E. W. Bruce (the present 
incumbent) became pastor of the charge. He also 
moved his family to Brighton and dwells among 
his people. At a quarterK- meeting held during 
the spring of 1878, the Quarterly Conference voted 
to so arrange the appointments as to give the 



210 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



church at Brighton an app>ointment even- Sabbath 
morning, and the result of the change was ver>' 
soon perceived in the increased congregation and 
interest tliat followed. At the regular yearly re- 
organization of the Sabbath-school the pastor was 
chosen superintendent, and was re-elected to the 
same position the present year ( 1 879). The Sibbath- 
school has been, and still is, in a prosperous con- 
dition, and assists ver\- materially in sustaining the 
interests of the church. 

During tlie past year the church edifice has been 
somewhat beautified and improved by putting new 
carpet on the floor, and hanging beautiful mottoes 
upon its walls. A goodly number of persons have 
been added to the membership of the church, and 
in the fall of 1S7S the work was enlarged so as to 
require the services of two preachers. Rev. M. 
Cuthbert was called to a part of the field. There 
has been a regular interchanging of appointments 
between the two pmstors during the piast year 
(1879), which has been both agreeable and profit- 
able. 

From the commencement to the present date 
this societj' has had many difficulties, ordinar}' and 
extraordinan.% to contend with, but it is believed 
that for it there is a prosperous future, on the 
conditions of puritj- and fidelity. 

B.VPTI.ST CHURCH. 

The Baptist Societj' of the village of Brighton is 
a comparatively recent organization, the denomi- 
nation, though represented in the persons of sev- 
eral prominent citizens, never ha\nng taken meas- 
ures to effect a permanent foothold in the commu- 
nitj-. The societj- was at a later date reorg;anized 
by a council and admitted to the WajTie Associa- 
tion on th.it occasion, its constituted members being 
G. W. Jenks, Lewis Scott, Lyman Banks, Charles 
C. Jenks. Abagail Tiiom.as, Louisa Jenks, Amanda 
Fuller, Sarah E. Burgess, Sarah H. Cook, Susannah 
Banks, Kate Trune, Helen Anthony, and Clarissa 
G. Scott. 

Rev. G. F. Ellis has preached to them since the 
organization of the church, the service being held 
on Sabbath afternoon in the Methodist Episcopal 
church, which is secured for the purpose. The 
present membership is 25. The society are pre- 
paring to erect a house of worship on lots pur- 
chased for the purpose. Mrs. G. S. Burgess is 
church clerk. 

THE SCHOOLS OF BRIGHTON. 

The first school-house in the village of Brighton 
was erected in the summer of 1837, upon ground 
now occupied by the dwelling of Patrick Donley, 
on Grand River Street. In some mysterious way, 
unknown to the presertt generation, though, seem- 



ingly, not at all to the surprise of the past, this 
school-house was built before the organization of 
the district, that not having taken place until the 
year 183S. Strange as it may seem, however, the 
truth of this statement is established bej'ond a 
doubt by the records, in which it is seen the in- 
sf)ectors call a meeting of the voters of the district 
on the 30th of April, 183S, only ten days after the 
time of organization, this meeting to be held in 
the school-house. 

It is also noticeable in the records that the 
name of Wm. Noble as director is found appended 
to several rejx)rts preceding the one in which he 
is recorded as elected to that office. It is but 
another instance of the peculiar faculty the pioneers 
of knowledge in Brighton seemed to have had of 
reversing the natural order of things, — in fact, of 
putting tlie cart before the horse. 

However, these seeming inconsistencies are in a 
manner explained by the fact that the oldest in- 
habitants have a \-ague remembrance of a district 
organization, with Maynard Maltby as director, 
which existed at the time of the building of the first 
school-house. But if there ever e.visted such a 
body, it seems to have disdained all records or 
written reports of its meetings. 

This school-house was used by the district until 
the year 1S47. when, becoming dissatisfied with it 
for various reasons, it was sold. The building 
was moved by Orlando A. Fuller to the south side 
of Fitch Street, west of Grand River Street, on a 
lot now owned by John Becker and occupied by 
Manfred L. Derby. It was used for a blacksmith- 
shop until the year 187S, when it was moved to 
tlie rear of the lot and since used as a bam. 

For the ensuing three years the district owned 
no school-house, but rented houses for school 
purposes. A house called ■' The Old Largee 
House," situated in a field on a line with the 
eastern continuance of Fitch Street, was rented 
by Daniel C. Marsh, director, for a temporarv' 
school-room. This is the only house recorded 
as rented in the three years intervening between 
the sale of the old school-house and the building 
of a new one, though it is hardly supposable 
that it was the only one rented during that 
period. 

Finally the district became wear\- of shifting the 
school "from pillar to post,'' and determined to 
possess a building of its own, in which the \'illage 
lads and lasses might have ample opportunity for 
the expansion of tlieir minds. 

At a district school-meeting, held Nov. 20, 
1S47, the first move was made towards the building 
of a new school-house. But nothing seems to 
have been accomplished until 1849, when, at the 



VILLAGE OF BRIGHTON. 



211 



annual meeting, on the motion of Jolin D. Apple- 
ton, it was resolved to build a new school-house 
the ensuing year. It was also voted to raise by 
tax the ensuing winter S350 to build the same. 
William Gushing and John M. Ten Eyck were 
appointed a committee to act in conjunction with 
the district board, James B. Lee, John O. Apple- 
ton, and Roswell Barnes, as building committee. 
The building was completed and occupied late in 
the fall of the year 1850. It was located on the 
northeast corner of East Street and Spencer Road. 
It was used by the district until 1868. In July, 
1870, it was sold to Elisha Case for $^^6. It was 
afterwards used by Charles A. Withey as a car- 
riage-shop. In the year 1873 it was burned to 
the ground. 

At the annual school-meeting, held Sept. 16, 
1863, the first steps were taken towards the build- 
ing of the present school-house. At this meeting 
it was voted that S1500 be raised by ta.x for the 
erection of the same. At an adjourned meeting, 
held October 14th of the same year, a committee 
was appointed, consisting of Egbert V. Albright, 
James B. Lee, and Everett Wilson, for the purpose 
of selecting a site. Nothing, however, was actually 
accomplished until Sept. 24, i865, when it was 
voted " to locate the site for a new school-house on 
lands west of the Ann Arbor road, south and east 
of lands and dwelling owned by D. C. Marsh, and 
north of land owned by Charles Baetger ; and also 
that the sum of $2500 be raised by tax on the 
ta.\able property of the district for the purpose of 
purchasing a site and buying materials for building 
a school-house in said district." At a session of 
the Legislature, held early in the year 1867, an act 
was passed authorizing the trustees to issue the 
bonds of the district to the amount of $7500 for 
the purpose of building a school-house. These 
bonds were issued and negotiated, furnishing, to- 
gether with the ta.x voted, the money for building 
the house. 

At a meeting of the board of trustees, held Feb. 
7, 1867, the site selected by the committee was 
bought of Ira W. Case and Spaulding N. Case, and 
the sum of $487.50 paid for the same. Proposals 
for building the house by contract were advertised 
for and received, but all were rejected. The build- 
ing was commenced early in the spring of 1868, 
under the superintendence of the board of trus- 
tees, which embraced the following gentlemen : 
William R. Cobb, Henry W. Pipp, William H. 
Naylor; Ira P. Bingham, Moderator; Egbert F. 
Albright, Director ; and John ¥.. Weichers, As- 
sessor ; and was completed at an expense of 
§10,400, exclusive of the site, and occupied the 
first Monday in December, 1868. 



The early schools in Brighton partook largely 
of the nature of all other first district schools, — 
that is, were extremely primitive in their character. 
Their teachers were not required to be familiar 
with many studies besides "the three R's, — read- 
ing, 'riting, and Vithmetic," — and generally were 
not very learned individuals. A lady was em- 
ployed to teach the summer school ; but a gentle- 
man was always engaged for the winter, partly, no 
doubt, because he was supposed to be wiser and 
more capable of instructing the older class of pu- 
pils that attended at that season, but principally 
because he was endowed with strength to subdue 
the "big boys" if any insubordination should arise. 
The school-house was a cheap and small structure, 
capable of holding only a limited number of pupils. 

The first settlers, no doubt, felt the need of a 
school ; witness the following copy of a teacher's 
certificate given by the school inspectors. It is 
taken verbatim from the recording-book of the 
district : 

" Tlie undersigned School inspectors of the Township of 
Brighton Do Certify that A regular meating of the Boarard of 
.School inspectors on the 15 Day of April, Did personely Examon 
Miss Marrett S. Hoges in respect to Moral Charractor, Larning, 
And Co., And find her well qualified to teach A primery Skool In 
District No. 5, in the township of Brigliton for one year from the 
date here of, unles the inspectors for the tim Being Shall Sooner 
Revoke or Cansel this Certificate. Give under our hand .\nd 
Seel this 15 D.iy of Aprile, 1844." 

But as years went by the educated portion of the 
community constantly increased, and consequently 
the school became of a more elevated character, 
until finally it was graded, and teachers were em- 
ployed capable of giving instruction in the lan- 
guages, sciences, etc. 

TEACHERS. 

The following is a list of the teachers who have 
taught in the public schools, and is as nearly per- 
fect as to names and dates as it is practicable to 
make it. 

183S. — Mr. Jer.ald, Sophia Olney. 

1839. — Mr. Jerald, John C. Culver. 

1S40. — John C. Culver, Miss E. Clark. 

1841.— Mr. Williams. 

1S42. — Miss Mary Ann Hinckley. 

1843. — Corydon Lee. 

1844. — Corydon Lee, Miss Mnrielte Hodges. 

1845. — Corydon Lee, John Gilluly. 

1846. — John Gilluly, Daniel C. Marsh. 

1847. — Daniel C. Marsh. 

1848. — Amos Foster. 

1849. — Nathan Ames, Miss Ella Nichols. 

1850. — Fredciick Carlisle. 

1851. — Otis Whitney, Jr., Miss Margaret Gilluly. 

1852.— William Marsh. 

1853. — Norman L. Emhury, Miss Sarah Dana. 

1854. — Martin Cranston, Miss Esther Foster. 



212 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



1855. — Heniy Pieison, Miss Maigaret Gilluly, Mrs. Fanny M. 
Gilluly. 

1856. — Orlando B. Wheeler, Mrs. Lucy Spencer, Miss Caroline 
Gregory. 

1857. — John GilUily, Mrs. Lucy Spencer. 

1S58. — John Whithecli, Sinclair Hamlin. 

1S59. — Darius F. Boughton, Sinclair Hamlin, Miss Auriella Jud- 
son. 

i860. — Levi D. Cook, Miss Mary Case. 

1861. — Levi D Cook, Miss Carrie O. A. Jaques, Miss Marian 
Jones. 

1862. — Egbert Mapes, Miss Orzilla Acker. 

1S63. — Darius F. Boughlon, Miss Adelaide Judson, Richard J. 
Lyon, Miss Orzilla Acker. 

1S64. — Darius F. Boughton, Miss Florence Chadwick, Miss Maiy 
Tock, Miss Orzilla Acker. 

1S65. — Lucius Ball, Miss Marian Jones, Miss Ann Woodruff. 

1866. — Miss Adelaide Judson, Miss Marian Jones, Miss Florence 
Chadwick. 

1S67. — John W. Crippen, Miss Juliette Fonda, Miss Adelaide A. 
Pease. 

1868.— Orson W. Tock, Miss Juliette Fonda. 

1869. — George A. Cable, Miss Hannah J. Dartt, Miss Adelaide 
Judson, Miss Florence Pratt. 

1870. — G. J. Holbrook, Miss Hannah J. Darlt, Miss Adelaide 
Judson, Miss Carrie Withey. 

1S71. — Benj. F. Hickey, Miss Mary L. .Sprout, Miss Emma E. 
Thurber, Miss Lizzie Potter. 

1872. — Benj. F. Hickey, Miss Mollie Blanck, Miss Emma E. 
Thurber, Miss Althea Pitkin, Miss Viola Cook. 

1873. — George A. Cady, Miss Lizzie Foster, Miss Emma E. 
Thurber, Miss Lizzie Potter, Miss Adelaide A. Pease. 

1874. — Hiram S. Reed, Miss Emma E. Thurber, Miss Lizzie Pot- 
ter, Miss Helen M. Elliotle. 

1875. — Hiram S. Reed, Miss Lizzie Potter, Miss Eugenie Hal- 
leck. Miss Helen M. Elliotle. 

1876. — John Whitbeck, Miss Emma E. Thurber, Miss Lizzie Pot- 
ter, Miss Martha Weichers. 

1S77. — John Whitbeck, Miss Emma E. Thurber, Miss Elizabeth 
A. Lignian, Miss Ettie Underwood, Miss Martha A. Wei- 
chers, Miss Elizabeth H. Buck. 

1878. — Harry S. Myers, Miss Mary McNamara, Miss Ettie Un- 
derwood, Miss Elizabeth H. Buck, Miss Martha A. Weichers. 

1879. — Harry S. Myers, Miss Mary McNamara, Miss Ettie Un- 
derwood, Miss Lucy Smith, Miss Flora Stewart. 

Of the vaiiou.s teachers who have been employed 
to mould the young ideas of the village of Brighton 
but little can be said. The records for several of 
the first years are very imperfect, and, in fact, the 
name of the first teacher does not appear at all, but 
is recalled by some of the first settlers and schol- 
ars in both of the forms given in the list. John 
C. Culver formerly resided in Green Oak, on the 
farm now occupied by Isaac H. Smith. Corydon 
Lee was a resident of the village of Brighton, and 
at different times filled the offices of township clerk 
and school inspector. John Gilluly graduated from 
the law school in the University of Michigan, en- 
tered upon the practice of law in the village of 
Brighton, represented the county of Livingston in 
the Legislature, enlisted as captain in the 5th Mich- 
igan Infantry in 1 86 1, was promoted to the rank 
of lieutenant-colonel of the same regiment, and 
was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 



13, 1862. Daniel C. Marsh is still living in the 
village of Brighton. Martin Cranston now lives 
on a farm in the township of Tyrone. Mrs. Fanny 
Gilluly went with her hiisband, James Gilluly, to 
Kansas, where she is now living, at Lawrence. 
Many of the citizens of Brighton well remember 
Miss Caroline Gregory, of Northville, who taught 
school in 1856. She was somewhat strong in mind 
and body, and defied the directors' efforts to dis- 
miss her from the school. Mr. Lee having locked 
her out of the school-room, she broke the door 
open, and, after thus forcibly effecting an entrance, 
went on with her school with few or no scholars. 
A compromise was finally effected, hostilities 
ceased, and Miss Gregory returned to her home in 
Northville. Mrs. Lucy Spencer, wife of John G. 
Spencer, is living in the State of New York. John 
Whitbeck, after teaching in 1858, was for several 
years principal of one of the ward schools of De- 
troit, and is at the present time living on his farm 
in the township of Hamburg. Darius F. Bough- 
ton, after leaving Brighton, studied medicine, be- 
came an M.D., removed to Wisconsin, and now 
holds the position of superintendent in the State 
Asylum for the Insane. Miss Aureilla Judson, 
wife of George G. Smith, still resides in the village. 
Levi D. Cook filled the office of township clerk 
and school inspector. He removed to Le Roy, 
N. Y., where he died some years since. Miss 
Mary Case was a resident of Hamburg, and has 
been dead some years. Miss Carrie O. A. Jaques 
was a resident of Nankin, W'nyne Co., and returned 
to her home after teaching in Brighton. She is 
still living, and is the wife of Charles Church, a 
preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
Miss Marian Jones, now the wife of Willard Hen- 
drick, resides in Hamburg. Miss Orzilla Acker, 
wife of Andrew Fuller, is now residing at Au 
Sable. 

Miss Adelaide Judson and Richard J. Lyon are 
yet residents of Brighton, and are alinost the only 
teachers of ten years ago who have not found a 
mate. Miss Florence Chadwick has since married, 
and is now living in Illinois. Miss Mary Tock, 
now deceased, married Henry Lake. Ann Wood- 
ruff, wife of George P. Dudley, is still living in 
the village. John W. Crippen is yet living, and is 
a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
Juliette Fonda removed to Saginaw City, where 
she has been for many years, and is yet teaching 
in the Union School. Adelaide A. Pease has taught 
iTiore or less since her term in 1867, and is still 
a maiden lady. Orson W. Tock studied medicine, 
graduated at the University of Michigan, and is now 
practicing at Gaines. George A. Cable, when last 
heard from, was studying medicine in Cleveland. 



VILLAGE OF BRIGHTON. 



213 



Hannah J. Dartt was a graduate of a normal 
scliool of Pennsylvania, married Frank Holden, 
and died in 1877. Florence Pratt, wife of Elvin 
Stiles, resides in Green Oak. G. J. Ilolbrook, 
when last heard of, was residing in New Jersey, 
and was agent of a life insurance company. Carrie 
Withey, wife of George Wagner, now lives in h'lint. 
Benj. F. Hickey married, removed to Kansas, lost 
his wife, returned to Michigan, and is now a resi- 
dent of Oakland County. Emma E. Thurber is 
still a resident of Brighton. Mollie Blanck when 
teaching here was a resident of Howell. Lizzie 
Potter, since 1876, has been teaching in the public 
schools of Jackson. George A. Cady lives at 
Wayne, and has developed into a lawyer. Viola 
Cook married James Phillips, and now resides at 
Grand Rapids. Lizzie Foster, a former resident 
of Howell, married Wilbert Smith, and now re- 
sides at Big Rapids. Hiram S. Reed was and 
still is a resident of the township of Marion. 
Helen M. PLlliotte, wife of Spencer D. Albright, 
resides at Stanton. Mrs. Eugenie Halleck is still 
living in Brighton. Martha A. Weichers, Ettie 
Underwood, Elizabeth H. Buck, Mary McNamara, 
Lucy C. Smith, and Flora Stewart are as yet misses 
of Brighton. Elizabeth A. Ligniaa is living at 
Ovid. Harry S. Myers, the last principal, at the 
close of school, took the memorable advice of 
Horace Greeley, and at once " went West." 

LIST OF DISTRICT OFFICERS. 

Moderator. Director. 

1837 M.iyn.ird M.iltby. 

1S38 Elijah Fitch. William Nolile. 

1S39 J. Cjootlspeed. William McCnuley. 

1S4O Orson Qiiackenbush. Ch.irles Spencer. 

1S41 Lewis B. Fonda. 

1S42 Wilher Fisher. 

1843 William Noble. James I!. Waits. 

1846-47 " " Truman D. Fish. 

1848 Robert D. Power. Daniel C. Marsh. 

1849 James B. Lee. John D. A|)|ileton. 

1850 " " Stephen K. Jones. 

1851 " " Robert D. Power. 

1852 Lyman Judson. Diivid Thomson. 

1853-54 Wni. McCauley. Stephen K. Jones. 

1855 Erastns A. Pratt. James B. Lee. 

1856 Frederick D. Acker. Wm. R. Cobb. 

1S57 David Thomson. James B. Lee. 

1858 David Thomson. 

1859-60 Ira W. Case. Egbert F. Albright. 

1861-62 " " Frederick D. Acker. 

1863 James B. Lee. " " 

1864 " " Luther C. Pratt. 

1865 " " Lyman Judson. 

1866 Ira W. Case. Egbert F. Albright. 

1867-69 Ira P. Bingham. " " 

1870 William J. McIIench. 

1871 Lewis B. Fonda. William J. McIIench. 

1872 " " Lyman Judson. 

1873 " " Royal C. Runisey. 

1874 " " Wm. R. Cobb. 

1875-77 Ira W. Case. " " 

1S78 Lucien B. Stewart. " " 

1879 " " Nichol.\s Kennedy. 

John A. Weichers has been assessor since 1866. 
The growth of the district will be seen by com- 



paring the figures of the earlier with the later 
years, in the following table : 

children in dis- Amount paid Paid for build- Primary money 
trict between teachers. ing, repairs, received. 

5 and 2o years. etc. 

183S 46 S5OO 

1840 61 $70.00 15.00 S24 40 

1850 67 So.oo 350.00 2550 

1855 80 157-00 4500 53-76 

i860 129 23S.00 48.00 58.42 

1865 148 310.00 120.00 64.80 

1870 206 1795.00 185 00 96.60 

1875 278 1494.00 266.00 130.00 

1879 267 1470.00 342.00 128.16 

Since 1838 the district has expended for teach- 
ers' wages, 520,625 ; for buildings, repairs, and 
contingent expenses, §16,321 ; and the amount of 
primary money received aggregated 52385.13. 

SELECT SCHOOLS. 

The first of the select or private schools of 
Brighton was taught by Miss Mary B. Pratt, in 
the second story of the " Balch House," now occu- 
pied by Morris Du Bois as a blacksmith-shop. 
Miss Pratt was a graduate of Fredonia Academy, 
Chautauqua Co., N. Y., from which place shecanie 
with her brother, Erastus J. Pratt (now of Green 
Oak), in 1845, and opened the first term of her 
school soon after her arrival. She taught several 
terms so acceptably that the public school was 
closed part of the time that she taught in Brighton. 
Sickness intervened. She closed school in 1847, 
returned to her home in Fredonia in the winter of 
1848, and died in the spring of the latter year. 
She was succeeded by James Smart, who taught 
one term, either in the first school-house erected, 
or in the " Worden House," which stood on the 
site of the present Methodist Episcop.al church. 

It is thought by some of the pioneers that Amos 
Foster taught a select school in the year 1848 or 
1849. 

Williain Marsh, brother of Daniel C. Marsh, 
kept a private school during the summer of 1852 
in the second story of the dwelling now occupied 
by Thomas T. Tunis. Mr. Marsh was assisted by 

Miss Carrie Sharp and Miss Chamberlain. 

He was succeeded in the same school-room by 
Miss Maria Osborn, sister of the first pastor of the 
Presbyterian Church. 

Miss Lavinia B. Fuller (now Mrs. Fonda) taught 
a select school during the summer of 1863 and 
1864, in the " McCauley store," on the southwest 
corner of Grand River and North Streets. Miss 
Mattie Cope opened a private school in the build- 
ing on the northwest corner of Grand River and 
North Streets, now occupied by Simeon B. Lock- 
wood as a furniture-store, and taught one or more 
terms. Miss Adeline A. Pease kept a private 
school in John E. Weichers' store. 



214 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Miss Sarah Ellen Case taught an infant school 
for a short time, in a room in the first story of the 
Appleton Block. John D. McLawlin taught 
several terms of select school, first in a room in the 
dwelling of James B. Lee, afterwards in " Weichers' 
store," also in the second story of John Duane's 
grocery, and in the Appleton Block. He was re- 
cently tutor in a commercial college in Detroit. 

Rev. Christian Warth taught a private German 
school in the dwelling of John E. Weichers, in the 
year 1864. Rev. Carl Schmalz, in the fall of 1875, 
kept open for one term, a German school, in the 
brick building on the west side, formerly used by 
Charles Schmidt as a bakery. Miss Paulina 
Ragoetzky also taught a German School, from 
July, 1878, to February, 1879. She has recently 
(July, 1879) opened her school for another term. 

For the above comprehensive view of the schools 
of Brighton the historian is indebted to Miss Kate 

C. Albright. 

MASONIC. 
BRIGHTON LODGE, No. 42, 

received its charter Jan. 9, 185 i, the officers named 
therein being William McCauley, W. M. ; Robert 

D. Power, S. W. ; John Ross, J. W. The first 
regular communication was held Jan. 16, 185 i, at 
which meeting the officers for the ensuing year 
were chosen, as follows : George W. Peck, W. 
M. ; John G. Spencer, S. W. ; Charles Butterfield, 
J. W. ; Roswell Barnes, Sec. ; Wm. McCauley, 
Treas. ; Charles Spencer, S. D. ; Samuel D. Sayre, 
J. D. ; Frederick Carlisle, Nathaniel G. Butterfield, 
Stewards; Truman D. Fish, Tiler. 

In 1857 the charter of the lodge was surren- 
dered and a reorganization effected later under the 
title of 

BRIGHTON LODGE, No. 247. 

A dispensation was granted Feb. 3, 1858, to the 
following officers : Adolph Buch, W. M. ; John A. 
Meyer, S. W. ; Egbert F. Albright, J. W. The 
first regular communication was held March 2, 

1868, and a charter obtained bearing date Jan. 15, 

1869, the officers being the same as under the dis- 
pensation. The first communication under the 
charter was held Jan. 25, 1869, the officers being 
installed by Charles W. Haze, of Pinckney, as fol- 
lows : Adolph Buch, W. M.; John A. Meyer, S. 
W. ; Egbert F. Albright, J. W. ; Chester Thom- 
son, Treas.; Wm. J. McHench, Sect.; Benj. T. 
O. Clark, S. D. ; Louis Meyer, J. D. ; Robert J. 
Mountain, Tiler ; Samuel H. Conely, John W. 
Stiles, Stewards. 

The present officers are William M. Power, W. 
M. ; William W. Mann, S. W.; Thomas F. Lown, 



J. W. ; Egbert F. Albright, Sec. ; Chester Thom- 
son, Treas. ; Orson Toncray, S. D. ; Freeman 
Vanderlip, J. D. ; W. R. Cobb, Samuel P. Moon, 
Stewards. 

THE BRIGHTON CITIZEN 

was established in September, 1871, and was first 
published under the name of the Brighton Bulletin 
by A. G. Blood, and printed in the office of the 
Howell Independent. The same year it was pur- 
chased by George W. Axtell, then of Howell, 
who at the same time secured a complete outfit 
for a printing-office and removed to Brighton, 
where he issued the paper until Nov. 18, 1877. 
Its title was by him changed to the Citizen, the 
first number of which appeared Jan. 2, 1872. The 
task of publishing successfully a weekly paper in 
Brighton was a difficult one, and with its slender 
income the proprietor found its revenues hardly 
sufficient to meet the daily wants of his family ; 
but with perseverance came success, and the 
Citizen soon became an established and profitable 
fact. Its circulation rapidly increased, and its 
columns, filled with advertisements of the business 
men of the county, were evidence of the hold it 
had obtained upon the popular regard. It had at 
first been issued as a seven-column folio, but its 
publisher soon found it necessary to change it to 
a five-column quarto. In November, 1877, W. H. 
Bowman, of Howell, and J. D. Ellenwood, of 
Brighton, purchased the Citizen of G. W. Axtell, 
and continue to publish it under the firm-name of 
Bowman & Ellinwood. The circulation has con- 
siderably increased since their management of its 
columns, and it now ranks among the leading 
papers of the county. Connected with the office 
is a job-printing department, where the various 
styles of work are executed with a promptness 
that has given universal satisfaction and won for 
the office much patronage. 

BRIGHTON GUN CLUB. 

The country which surrounds Brighton presents 
a most attractive aspect to a lover of sport with 
the gun and fishing-rod, the numerous beautiful 
lakes abounding in various kinds of fi^h, while 
their banks, together with the adjoining woods, 
are frequented by woodcock, wild duck, partridges, 
etc. With a view to enjoying these sports in their 
season, and at the same time establishing such 
rules as would lead to the preservation of game 
and the prevention of indiscriminate shooting out 
of season, a number of the residents of Brighton 
have organized the Brighton Gun Club. It has 
an elaborately drawn constitution and by-laws, 
which each member is required to sign, while at 
the same time he pays a nominal entrance fee. 



VILLAGE OF BRIGHTON. 



215 



Its membership is divided into tiiree classes, — 
active, life, and honorary, — no individual being 
eligible to the latter distinction who is a resident 
of the county. Its first meeting was held Aug. 
15, 1877, at which the following officers were 
elected : G. J. Baetcke, President ; F. T. Hyne, 
Vice-President; R. E. Baetcke, Secretary; Charles 
Gushing, Treasurer; Luther Frink, Prosecutor; 
and Henry Soule, O. W. Babcox, Henry Rohn, 
George W. Thomson, Directors. 

As affording an opportunity for practice, the 
club have made special arrangements for glass- 
ball shooting, the adjoining fair-grounds affording 
a fine opportunity for this diversion. The club 
has a membership of 31. 

THE BRIGHTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

In February, 1876, a committee of nine were 
appointed by the Common Council of the village, 
pursuant to a public call at the office of S. H. 
Concly & Co., for the purpose of organizing a hook- 
and-ladder company, to be called the " Brighton 
Hook-and-Ladder Company, Number i," for the 
protection of the village against fire. 

George G. Smith was chosen chairman, and S. 
H. Conely secretary of this committee. A sub- 
committee was appointed to draft a constitution 
and b)'-laws, consisting of W. W. Lewis, R. J. 
Lyons, Jr., and S. H. Conely. The following gen- 
tlemen enrolled their names as the first members 
of the company: George Carpenter, William Mann, 
A. Giles, W. VV. Lewis, S. H. Conely, George G. 
Smith, C. Dewitt, Gib Abrams, R. J. Lyons, George 
Ratz, Ira Thonison, H. Soule, August Schmidt, 
A. A. Reed, G. W. Sweet, James Van Loon, Robert 
Jolly, C. A. Birge, William Sutherland. 

The first officers were chosen by ballot, as fol- 
lows: Samuel H. Conely, Foreman ; W. W. Lewis, 
Assistant Foreman ; R. J. Lyons, Secretary ; Clin- 
ton De Witt, Treasurer. 

The matter of purchasing a hook-and-ladder 
truck and other appointments incidental to a com- 
plete equipment of the fire company having come 
before the Council, after much discussion it was 
decided to purchase one of Babcock's hook-and- 
ladder trucks, with four complete ladders and eight 
patent fire extinguishers, — four on either side, — 
the cost of which was S900. James Thomson was 
elected keeper of the chemicals. A uniform was 
adopted, consisting of a black silk cap, red shirt, 
and patent-leather belt, and on the 4th of July of 
the year of organization the company made its first 
public parade in its new uniform. Many compli- 
ments were bestowed upon their fine appearance, 
and to the ladies they were especially indebted for 
floral offerings and other decorations. 



For the year 1877, Samuel H. Conely was elected 
Foreman; Clinton De Witt, Assistant I-"oreman ; 

F. J. Lown, Secretary and Treasurer; and Henry 
Soule, Keeper of Chemicals. 

For the year 1878, Henry Soule was chosen as 
Foreman ; Eugene Slayton, Assistant Foreman ; 
T. F. Lown, Secretary ; C. E. Gushing, Treasurer; 

G. VV. Thomson, Keeper of Chemicals. 

The present officers are Henry Soule, Foreman ; 
Eugene Slayton, Assistant Foreman ; Thomas F. 
Lown, Secretary ; Charles E. Gushing, Treasurer ; 
George W. Thomson, Keeper of Chemicals; and 
O. A. Birge, his assistant. 

The following names comprise the department 
as it at present exists : Henry Soule, Luther Frink, 
Thomas F. Lown, Ira Thomson, Charles E. Gush- 
ing, Eugene Slayton, Peter Fay, William W. Pentlin, 
John Hutchings, William Stanfield, Thomas Wil- 
liams, Henry Rohn. 

BRIGHTON CORNET B.^ND. 

The association which embraces this band was 
formed Jan. i, 1875, the gentlemen who comprised 
it being S. Davis, R. J. Lyons, Charles Withey, S. 
J. King, R. M. Fillmore, G. W. Thomson, and 
George Wagner. It was deemed best to raise as 
far as possible, by subscription from the towns- 
people, a portion of the funds necessary to pur- 
chase instruments. This was done, and $112 very 
willingly subscribed, after which the instruments 
were secured, and an addition to the membership 
occurred. With their advent, the band was re- 
garded as fully organized, embracing the following 
names: George Wagner, S. J. King, William Big- 
ham, George W. Thomson, C. Kuhner, William 
Sturburg, C. A. Withey, R. J. Lyons, J. D. Ellen- 
wood, and John Donley. George Wagner was 
chosen as leader, and the services of John Kinsman, 
of Milford, were obtained as instructor, under whom 
the band made rapid progress. 

Their first public appearance was made on the 
following Independence Day, and a festival for 
their benefit was given in the evening, which re- 
sulted in an addition of $50 to their treasury, and 
materially aided them in the purchase of a band- 
wagon, which became, with the frequent calls from 
abroad, a necessity. In August of the same year, 
George W^agner resigned, and J. D. Ellenwood was 
elected to the position of leader. At the expira- 
tion of four months the members concluded to dis- 
pense with the further services of an instructor, 
and depend upon their leader and regular practice 
to attain proficiency. 

Their services were in much demand during the 
summer of 1876, and funds were secured which 
enabled the band to pay all its indebtedness. 



2l6 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Early in the fall of the same year an effort was 
made by several residents of the village to organize 
another band, and for a time with so much success 
that James Savage, of Detroit, was secured as in- 
structor, a set of instruments were obtained, and 
considerable progress was made by the members. 
It soon became apparent, however, that Brighton 
was not a village of sufficient compass to sustain 
two musical organizations, and with the expiring 
year ended the existence of the new band. 

In the early part of the year 1876, Mr. Ellen- 
wood resigned the position of leader and his 
membership, and C. H. Coe became his successor. 
In the .spring of 1878 a complete uniform was pur- 
chased, which enabled the organization to present 
themselves fully equipped on public occasions. 

The Brighton Band, after having passed througli 
many vicissitudes, is still a perfect organization, 
and at the present time has a reputation commen- 
surate with the perseverance and skill of its mem- 
bership. Its present organization is Walter Acker, 
Edgar Weichers, S. J. King, H. A. Coe, R. J. 
Lyons, E. F. Albright, Herman Loehne, Nelson C. 
Thomas, and Charles H. Cobb. 

Herman Loehne acts as leader, but during his 
temporary absence J. D. Ellenwood fills the posi- 
tion. 

THE BRIGHTON MILLS, 

known for a brief time after their erection as the 
Ore Creek Mills, are at present owned by Albright 
& Thomson. They were built and owned by Or- 
son Quackenbush in 1840, and sold in December 
of that year to William A. Clark. In 1845, Mr. 
Clark resold the mill to its original owner, who 
remained its proprietor until 1847, when it was 
sold to Evert Woodruff Two years later Lyman 
Judson purchased it. The mills had been run pre- 
viously by a breast water-wheel of a fashion long 
since rendered obsolete, but with Mr. Judson's ad- 
vent as proprietor, a French turbine wheel was in- 
troduced in 1852, and the mills enlarged, the north 
wing having been added. In 1856 the present 
proprietors took possession, and have owned them 
since that time. They are almost e.xclusively de- 
voted to custom work, and two run of stones are 
employed. The mills are located at a central 
point in the village of Brighton, and are largely 
patronized by the surrounding community. Under 
the proprietorship the old turbine wheel has been 
replaced by three others of improved style, and 
considerable addition has been made to the ca- 
pacity of the mills. 

C. T. HY.\E & SON. 
This firm, which is composed of Charles T. Hyne, 
and his son, Frederick T., are buyers and shippers 



of grain and farm produce, and dealers in lime, 
plaster, coal, etc. They ship about 150,000 bushels 
of wheat annually, which is loaded by an elevator 
connected with their storehouse, run by horse- 
power, which enables them to transfer the grain 
direct to the cars without intermediate handling. 
It is shipped by the Detroit, Lansing and North- 
ern Railroad, whose track runs directly past their 
establishment, and finds its way to Detroit, and 
from thence to the Eastern market. They are also 
large buyers of wool, and may be regarded as 
among the important business entei prises of 
Brighton. 

CONELY & SMITH'S STEAM PLANING-MILL. 

This firm confines its business principally to the 
nianuficture of mouldinsjs, floorinsr, sidincr, ceilinef, 
and are also dealers in lath and shingles. The 
timber, which is procured in Montcalm County by 
rail, is received in the rough state, after sawing, and 
by them dressed and converted into more finished 
material. 

They employ a steam-engine of twelve horse- 
power, and find a ready home market for all their 
product, though a limited quantity is shipped by 
rail to adjoining towns. This firm are also dealers 
in agricultural implements, and the various appli- 
ances connected with them. 

B. H. LAWSON & COMPANY'S BANK 

was organized in April, 1871, under the name of 
B. H. Lawson's Bank. In June, 1873, it was reor- 
ganized under the style of B. H. Lawson & Com- 
pany's Bank. It has most of the patronage of the 
village and the surrounding country. 

THE GLOBE IRON-WORKS 

enjoys the distinction of being the first foundry 
within the limits of the county. Mr. David Thom- 
son became a citizen of Brighton in 1843, and early 
sought an opportunity to engage in the mechanical 
pursuits he had followed in his native land. He 
obtained the lease of a building whose location was 
accessible, and converted it into a foundry, which 
he soon after purchased, having taken into business 
with him a partner, the firm being known as 
Thomson & Spencer. 

Finding the increasing trade required more 
spacious quarters, he built, in 1856, the substantial 
brick foundry corner of Grand River and Fitch 
Streets, and removed to it. At the time Mr. 
Thomson first embarked in business farmers were 
obliged to depend upon Ann Arbor and Dexter 
for all agricultural implements which were neces- 
sary to the cultivating and breaking of the soil, 
and even the sharpening of plow-irons necessitated 



VILLAGE OF BRIGHTON. 



217 



a journey of twenty miles. It will readily be .seen 
that Mr. Thomson's foundry was a source of much 
congratulation, and many demands were made 
upon liis skill. 

Most of the wares manufactured arc such as are 
used in agricultural pursuits, the .staple article 
being plows. 

Wheelbarrows arc also made, and the demand 
for them has been considerable in the immediate 
vicinity. An engine of ten horse-power is cm- 
ployed in the building, and the market for the 
products of the foundry is principally found in this 
and adjacent counties. All the implements made 
have established the reputation of the proprietor 
for the excellence of his work. 

THE WESTERN HOTEL 
was erected in 1873, and is now owned by P. D. 
Skillbeck, the present proprietor, R. M. Filmore, 
having leased the building from him. It is a sub- 
stantial brick structure, three stories in height, 
with numerous spacious rooms, and conveniently 
located within walking-distance of the depot. It 
enjo)'s a liberal share of patronage from the travel- 
ing community. 

THE BRIGHTON HOTEL 
was built as early as 1850, by Benjamin Gushing, 
and additions have been made to it since that time. 
It is located in the centre of the village, on Grand 
River Street, and is kept by M. C. Case. Having 
been long established and well maintained, it en- 
joys a reputation that brings to it a considerable 
portion of the custom of the neighboring country 
as well as much from abroad. 

VILLAGE OFFICERS. 
The village officers elected since Brighton ob- 
tained a village charter, are as follows : 

1867.— Daniel C. Marsh, President; Benj. T. O. Clark, Clerk; 
Clirisloplier C. Caine, Stephen K. Jones, Everett Wil- 
son, John E. Weichers, Eli L. Soule, Wni. H. Naylov, 
Trustees; Egbert F. Albright, \Vm. J. McHench, As- 
sessors; Chester Thomson, Treasurer; John Jones, 
Marshal; Franlilin Smith, George C. Tanner, Street 
Commissioners; A. P. Dickinson, Fire Warden; John 
B. Wood, Poundniaster. 

1868.— James B. Lee, President; Herman C. House, Clerk; John 
E. Weichers, William R. Colib, William H. Naylor, 
Patrick Donley, David Thomson, Everett Wilson, Trus- 
tees ; William B. Cu-hing, Treasurer; Joseph E. Place- 
way, Marshal; Ira W. Case, Assessor; Allen Norton, 
Eli L. Soule, Street Commissioners; Wallace Case, 
Fire Warden ; Edgar Mair, Poundniaster. 
28 



1869. — Henry W, Pipp, President ; JI. C. House, Clerk ; Luther 
C. Pratt, William B. Gushing, F. D. Acker, Nelson C. 
Thomas, Everett Wilson, John Duanc, Trustees; Geo. 
P. Dudley, Treasurer; Iia P. Bingham, Wm. R. Cobb, 
Assessors; Henry Becker, Benj. T. O. Clark, Allen 
Norton, Street Commissioners; Alanson P. Dickinson, 
Marshal; William H. Xaylor, Patrick Donley, Fire 
Wardens. 

1870. — Henry W. Pipp, President ; H. C. House, Clerk; John 

E. Weichers, Patrick Donley, Rich ird Lyons, John 
Duane, William B. Cushing, Nelson C. Thomas, Trus- 
tees ; George P. Dudley, Treasurer; Nicholas Kennedy, 
Marshal; William J. McHench, Thomas Lown, Asses- 
sors; Allen Norton, Henry Becker, Chester Thomson, 
Street Cimimissioners; John W. Power, William H. 
Naylor, Fire Wardens ; John Krause, Poundmaster. 

1871. — Ira W. Case, President; Milton Thom.as, Clerk; John E. 
Weichers, Assessor; George P. Dudley, Treasurer ; E. 

F. Albright, P.atrick Donley, John W. Power, Luther C. 
Pratt, Elisha Case, William J. McHench, Trustees; 
Allen Norton, .Street Commissioner; John Jones, Mar- 
shal. 

1S72.— Luther C. Pr.att, President; Milton Thom.as, Clerk; 
Thomas F. Lown, Treasurer; James Durbary, Joseph C. 
Burch, Byron S. Knapp, Trustees ; Nelson C. Thomas, 
Street Commissioner; John E. Weichers, Assessor; 
Warren D. Belding, Marshal. 

1873. — Richard Lyon, President ; Milton Thomas, Clerk; George 
P. Dudley, 'I'reasurer; William W. Lewis, Arthur E. 
Boylan, James B. Wilkie, John W. Power, Trustees; B. 
Howard Lawson, Assessor; Warren D. Belding, Mar- 
shal; Chester Thomson, Street Commissioner. 

1874.— Henry C. Pipp, President; B. T. O. Clark, Clerk; Myron 
H. Knapp, William Pipp, William R. Cobb, John E. 
Weichers, Assessor; George P. Dudley, Treasurer; 
Asa Smith, Street Commissioner; George W.Thomson, 
Martial. 

1875. — B. Howard Lawson, President ; Max Brewer, Clerk; 
James B. Lee, Thomas F. Lown, Grant S. Burgess, 
Trustees; Solomon 1. King, Treasurer; John E. 
Weichers, Assessor; Philip Standlick, Marshal; Clinton 
De Witt, Street Commissioner. 

1876.— L. N. Clark, President; Henry P. Martin, Clerk ; Samuel 
Phelps, Augustus Reiner, William D. La Bonta, Trus- 
tees; Nicholas Kennedy, Treasurer; John E. Weichers, 
Philip Standlick, Marshal; Asa Smith, .Street Couimis- 
sioner. 

1S77.— Benjamin T. O. Clark, President ; H. P. Martin, Clerk ; 
Rudolph Baetcke, Charles E. Cushing, Ira W. Case, 
Trustees; Nicholas Kennedy, Treasurer; John C. 
Weichers, Assessor; James Anderson, Street Commis- 
sioner; John Soule, Marshal. 

1878. — Benjamin T.O. Clark, President; Augustus Reiner, Clerk ; 
Frederick T. Ilyne, Henry Alvord, John A. Meyer, 
Trustees; Nicholas Kennedy, Treasurer; Thom.as F. 
Lown, Assessor; James Anderson, Street Commis- 
sioner; Peter Hartman, Marshal. 

1S79. — Benjamin T. O. ("lark. President; Augustus Reiner, Clerk; 
James D. Ellenwood, George W. Cushing, Patrick Don- 
ley, Trustees ; Joseph E. Placeway, Thomas F. Lown, 
Assessor-; John Hutchings, Street Commissioner; John 
Jones, Marshal, 



BRIGHTON TOWNSHIP. 



Brighton, though not the oldest, is by no means 
the least considerable of the townships of the 
county of Livingston. Like many other town- 
ships it had at first no separate organization, but 
composed an important part of the township of 
Green Oak, and it was not until April of 1838 that 
it was accorded a distinct existence. The first 
meeting was held at the residence of Daniel Lane, 
on section 17, William A. Clark, D.D., being 
chosen moderator, and the first supervisor elected 
was Richard Lyons; William Noble, Jr., being 
made township clerk, and Maynard Maltby and 
Philip S. Hubbell elected justices of the peace. 

Following are the names of the original pur- 
chasers of land embraced in the present township, 
with dates of purchase: 



Elijah Marsh, Nov. 1S32. 
Eliza Ann Teiiny, Jin', 183;, 
Philip S. Hul)l)ell, Nov. 1835. 
Stephen ISaker, Nov. 1835. 
Jacob Peters, Aug. 1836. 
N. Thurston, Aug, 1836. 
Fred. W. Goodenoe, Nov. 1S33. 
Eliza Ann Tenny, June, 1835. 
P. S. Huhhell, Nov. 1835. 
Aurelia Goodenoe, Dec. 1835. 
Nelson W. House, May, 1S36. 
Franklin Dait, May, 1836. 
Jude Field, Aug. 1836. 
Nath. Thurston, Aug. 1836. 

F. W. Goodenoe, Oct. 1838. , 
Peter W. Smith, Jr., Jan. 1835. 
Hiram Goodspeed, Mar. 1835. 
Isaac Bisbee, April, 1835. 

H. Goodspeed, May, 1835. 
Reuben Moore, Sept. 1835. 
R. Moore and W. N. Carpen- 
ter, May, 1835. 
Gotleib Nieman, Aug. 1835. 
Jude Field, Aug. 1835. 
Isaac S. Piatt, Aug. 1835. 

G. M. Jackson, Feb. 1835. 
John Williams, April, 1835. 
Fred. Ringe, June, 1835. 
W. Jackson, March, 1837. 
Floyd Williams, Aug. 1837. 
Jerusha Fox, June, 1838. 
Philetus Smith, June, 1833. 
Charles Robinson, June, 1833. 
Benjamin Blain, Nov. 1833. 
Seth Bidwell, Sept. 1S35. 
Benjamin Blain, Jan. 1836. 
Harriet Winchell, Feb. 1836. 
V. H. Ketchum, July, 1836. 
Fred. Ring, Aug. 1836. 

218 



William A. Clark, Jan. 1S37. 
Charles Robinson, June, 1833. 
Benjamin Blain, June, 1833. 
Aaron H. Kelly, June, 1833. 
Charles Robinson, July, 1S34. 
Wm. S. Conely, Aug. 1835. 
Leonard Burnhani, Oct. 1S35. 
II. McCloud, May, 1836. 
Nath. Thurston, Aug. 1836. 
Benjamin Tanner, Se^it. 1836. 
Aaron H. Kelly, Nov. 1833. 
Jacob Winchell, Sept. 1834. 
Wm. S. Conely, Aug. 1835. 
S. T. Williams, Aug. 1S35. 
Arnold Douglas, Sept. 1835. 
William Winchell, Sept. 1835. 
Wm. A. Clark, .Sept. 1836. 
Seth Bidwell, Sept. 1835. 
Jacob Winchell, Feb. 1836. 
Charles Si')encer, March, 1S36. 
F. A. House, June, 1836. 
Samuel Waldoe, Aug. 1836. 
Arnold Douglas, Aug. 1836. 
Allen McDonald, Aug. 1S36. 
Wm. N. Clark, Sept. 1836. 
Elijah Clark, Feb. 1834. 
C.ilh. Thompson, March, 1834. 
Chas. W. Pease, April, 1834. 
E. Chamberlain, July, 1S36. 
Isaac Van Voorhies, Aug. 1836. 
Thos. J. Le Cuunt, Se|)t. 1836. 
H. H. Warner, Nov. 1S36. 
Elijah Clark, Feb. 1834. 
Richard Lyons, Sept. 1 834. 
E. D. Fisher, Sept. 1834. 
John S. Johnson, Oct. 1835. 
Julia A. Amies, April, 1S35. 
Geo. W. Biircli, June, 1836. 
Horace BrastSr, June, 1S36. 



Fred Ring, Aug. 1836. 
Richard Lyons, Aug. 1836. 
H. H. Warner, Nov. 1836. 
H. V. Libhnrt, Oct. 1832. 
Gardner Bird, Feb. 1833. 
Aaron Beach, Oct. 1833. 
Smith Beade, Oct. 1833. 
John Van Heuven, Nov. 1834. 
I.«aac Bisbee, April, 1835. 
Ibrook Tower, April, 1835. 
Isaac Bisbee, May, 1835. 
Ibrook Tower, May, 1835. 
Jacob Petus, Aug. 1836. 
Jude Field, Aug. 1836. 
Elijah Ma.sh, Oct. 1832. 
Job Cranston, Oct. 1832. 
Ezra McComlier, Oct. 1833. 
Job Cranston, Oct. 1833. 
Gaines Fuller, July, 1835. 
Mary L. Cranston, July, 1835. 
Elijah Marsh, Oct. 1835. 
R. ILirrington, Feb. 1835. 
Marcus Pullz, June, 1836. 
Anson Cranston, July, 1836. 
Henry Thurston, Aug. 1836. 
R. Ilarriiiglon, Feb. 1837. 
Andrew Wohtrabe, Feb. 1837. 
Gardner Bird, Feb. 1833. 
Melzer Bird, July, 1833. 
Gardner Bird, Nov. 1834. 
Hiram Johnson, Nov. 1835. 
L. Fuller, M.arch, 1836. 
Wm. N. Betts, Aug. 1836. 
John C. Allstadt, Aug. 1836. 
H. H. Warner, Nov. 1836. 
Cath. Thompson, March, 1834. 
Wm. .S. Conely, Nov. 1834. 
Isaac L. Piatt, June, 1835. 
Cyrus Jackson, June, 1836. 
Wm. N. Betts, Aug. 1836. 
Peter Lane, Dec. 1835. 
Nehemiah Paine, June, 1S36. 
Florus A. House, June, 1836. 
John M. Kenzie, Aug. 1836. 
William Tunis, Aug. 1836. 
Orman Coe, May, 1833. 
Wm. Winchell, Sept. 1834. 
Hugh Gordon, Nov. 1834, and 

Feb. 1835. 
Wm. S. Conely, Sept. 1835. 
Wm. Winchell, Sept. 1835. 
Wm. S. Conely, July, 1836. 
Abram Pieteh, Aug. 1836. 
George Post, July, 1836. 
E. C. Allen, May, 1833. 
John Cronet, Aug. 1835. 
Erastus Kellogg, Feb. 1836. 
John Moore, July, 1836. 
John Dean, Nov. 1S36. 
Elias .Sprague, Nov. 1836. 



Oliver Sprague, Nov. 1836. 
George Moon, April, 1837. 
Rastus H. Ransom, April, 1837. 
Samuel II. Fox, June, 1838. 
B. B. Kercheval, Nov. 1836. 
John S. Winkler, Aug. 1836. 
Joshua Sheffield, June, 1835. 
Abel Palmer, June, 1835. 
William Palmer, June, 1835. 
Orange Bruce, Sept. 1835. 
Sarah Knowles, Sept. 1835. 
Samuel M. Conely, .Sept. 1836. 
Elias Sprague, Jan. 1836. 
Simeon Carpenter, June, 1S36. 
John Powell, July, 1836. 
Salmon Porter, Aug. 1S36. 
William Paul, Aug. 1836. 
Benj. W. Conklin, Sept. 1834. 
Robert L. Lam, Sept. 1834. 
Peter Wemmill, Sept. 1834. 
Geo. N. Kuckle, March, 1835. 
John S. Johnson, April, 1835. 
Isaac S. Piatt, June, 1835. 
Peter Wemmill, Aug. 1S35. 
Samuel D. Tuthill, Aug. 1833. 
Aaron Beach, Oct. 1833. 
Smith Beade, Oct. 1833. 
Richard Lyiuis, Sept. 1834. 
Wm. Valentine, June, 1835. 
Richard Lyons, Sept. 1835. 
Abram J. Andrews, June, 1834. 
H. C. Andrews, May, 1835. 
Otis Durfee, July, 1835. 
Hiram Johnson, Nov. 1835. 
Robert L. Lam, July, 1836. 
Jacob Binderrnagle, Aug. 1836. 
Andrew Wohbrake, Sept. 1836. 
Hiram Johnson, June, 1833. 
George Bailey, Nov. 1833. 
Jacob Ijindeimagle, Aug. 1836. 
Andrew Wohbrake, Feb. 1 837. 
Jacob Binderrnagle, Feb. 1837. 
Henry Thurslou, .Sept. 1836. 
William Sterling, May, 1835. 
Philip I. Johnson, June, 1835. 
Elijah Johnson, Sept. 1835. 
John Arnold, June, 1835. 
Caleb Carr, Jr., Oct. 1835. 
W. W. T. Ward and others, 

April, 1836. 
Garret Martin, May, 1836. 
John McConnell, May, 1833. 
David Durfee, July, J834. 
Robert Edgar, Nov. 1834, and 

Aug. 1835. 
Henry C. Andrews, Feb. 1836. 
Obd. J. Norton, Feb. 1836. 
Joseph Flanders and Samuel S. 

Kitchan, July, 1836. 
Robert L. Lam, July, 1836. 




:)L^ l ij^^j;,ii i |j i p.j^u,-.tMLi;jjjtjiii) 



BRIGHTON TOWNSHIP. 



219 



Isaac S. Piatt, Aug. 1836. 
Reuben Hickox, Sept. 1833. 
Richard Lyons, Sept. 1834. 
F. T. Le Count, Sept. 1834. 
William S. Conely, Oct. 1834. 
Richard Lyons, March, 1835. 
Moses Lyon, March, 1835. 
Isaac L. Piatt, June, 1835. 
Joseph Flanders and S. S. 

Kilchan, June, 1835. 
Evruider T. Fisher, .Sept. 1834. 
Moses Lyon, Sept. 1834. 
William T. Tunis, Sept. 1834. 
William S. Conely, Oct. 1834. 
Moses Lyon, March, 1835. 
.M.irlc Healey and B. B. Ker- 

cheval. May, 1836. 
Elijah Bancroft and Benjamin 

Flanders, Nov. 1835. 
Robert S. Bowne, July, 1836. 
Joseph Williams, Sept. 1836. 
Daniel Dean, .March, 1837. 
Charles Ross, Aug. 1837. 
A. M. Fox, Feb. 1838. 
John G. Spencer, Sept. 1838. 
Robert Thomson, Dec. 1843. 
Grace Sitlcr, Sept. 1844. 
K. S. Bingham and Robert 

Warden. 
Andrus and Ezra Rood, Sept. 
. «S36. 

Eli M. Fergo, -Sept. 1834. 
Josiah Leonard, May, 1836. 
William Noble, June, 1836. 
John S. Mundy, Dec. 1832. 
Mary Fuller, June, 1835. 
Orlando A. Fuller, June, 1835. 
Jacob Lc\vry,Aug. 1835. 
John Ileniy, Feb. 1836. 
Edward Mundy, May, 1836. 



P. C. B.irtlett, Jan. 1836. 
William Tunis, Aug. 1836. 
Lewis B. Fonda, Oct. 1S32. 
Stephen Bunnell, May, 1833. 
John Henry, Oct. 1S33. 
George NL Cracken, Sept. 1834. 
Moses Lyon, Oct. 1835. 
Marie Healey and B. B. Ker- 

cheval, May, 1836. 
Joseph L. Briggs, Aug. 1836. 
William Wagner, .'\ug. 1836. 
Evert Wijodrud', March and 

April, 1833. 
George W. Glover, May, 1833. 
Hugh Alexander, Dec. 1833. 
Smith Parks, Jr., Jan. 1834. 
Richard Toncray, May, 1835. 
Joseph L. Briggs, Oct. 1835. 
Daniel Marlatt, March, 1836. 
John Davis, April, 1836. 
Horace Toncray, July, 1836. 
Luther Parshall, May, 1833. 
Richard Toncray, May, 1833. 
John W. Peavey, May, 183S. 
James Cnrey, May, 1835. 
Horace Toncray, May, 1834. 
Luiher Parshall, Dec. 1835. 
Joseph W^atkins, Aug. 1836. 
Orlando Rogers, June, 1836. 
Isaac L. Platl, Aug. 1836. 
Thomas Curtis, Dec. 1835. 
George W. Glover, May, 1833. 
Luther Parshall, Nov. 1833. 
Joseph Wood, April, 1834. 
Thomas Curtis, June, 1834. 
John S. Beach, June, 1834. 
Joseph Wood, June, 1834. 
Emma Parshall, July, 1834. 
Gariy Gri-.wold, June, 1835. 
Thomas Curtis, Oct. 1835. 



SETTLEMENTS AND SETTLERS. 

It seems an established fact that Elijah Marsh 
was the first settler in the township of Brighton 
outside the village limits. He left Hadley, Mass., 
in 1832, and purchased from the government, on 
the 20th of October of that year, the southwest 
quarter of section 12. Later he added 40 acres on 
section i. With Mr. Marsh came Job Cranston, 
who shared with him all the privations of his pioneer 
life, having entered at the same date 80 acres on the 
same section. These two settlers for a brief period 
lived alone, with no neighbors save the migratory 
Indians, who paid them brief visits, and furnished 
them venison and other game for the very scanty 
returns they were able to make. Soon, however, 
their loneliness was cheered by the presence of 
Gardner Bird, who reached the county in Feb- 
ruary' of the following year, and entered 160 acres 
on sections ii and 17. Mr. Bird devoted himself 
at once to clearing a tract of land whereon to erect 
his cabin and sow his grain. Meanwhile he en- 
joyed such rude hospitality as was cheerfully ac- 



corded him by his neighbors. After this he 
returned, and in April brought his family, Mrs. 
Bird being the first married lady who took up her 
residence in the township. Meanwhile, Messrs. 
Marsh and Cranston had returned for a visit to 
their families, and Mr. and Mrs. Bird were left the 
sole occupants of the forest of Brighton from April 
until the following September. 

Mr. Marsh, as soon as he was able, employed 
two men to split rails with which to inclo.se a por- 
tion of the land he had purchased, and on his re- 
turn from the East made a comfortable home for 
his wife and children in the shanty he had occu- 
pied. Three children were born after the removal 
of Mr. and Mrs. Marsh to Michigan, the first of 
whom, born April 22, 1834, was among the first 
in the township. 

Mr. Marsh might be termed a Yankee peddler, 
and followed this calling soon after he became a 
permanent settler in the township, loading his 
primitive cart with such marketable wares as were 
in demand among his patrons, and depending upon 
his faithful oxen to carry hirn from point to point. 
The nearest blacksmith-shop was eighteen miles 
away, and Ann Arbor the nearest market town. 
Mr. Marsh died in 1857, and his son, Richard J., 
now occupies a fine farm opposite his father's for- 
mer home. 

Mr. Bird remembers the difficulties he encoun- 
tered in reaching his new home, and the absolutely 
unbroken condition of the country. Deer and 
wolves roamed the forests at pleasure, and forty of 
the former were seen by him on his way to his 
new possessions. After the land was sufficiently 
cleared to admit of being broken, the plow became 
a necessity, and he was compelled to travel to 
Dexter, twenty-two miles away, to have the irons 
sharpened and repaired when necessary. Mr. Bird, 
before coming to Brighton, had resided for a brief 
season in Webster, Washtenaw Co. On one occa- 
sion, when coming from there to -Brighton, he 
brought with him a hog and nine pigs, driving 
them the distance of eighteen miles. After re- 
maining a few days to split rails, he returned to 
Webster, leaving, as he supposed, his recent ac- 
quisition of stock behind, but his surprise was 
great to find that they had followed him and ar- 
rived almost as soon as himself, much preferring 
the comforts of civilization in Washtenaw County 
to pioneer life in the wilds of Brighton. While 
Mr. Bird was breaking up his land the lad he em- 
ployed to drive the ox-team was confined to the 
house by illness, but the work was not impeded, 
for Mrs. Bird herself went into the field with the 
oxen and assisted to plow four acres. Joseph Bird, 
their oldest son, born in Michigan, was among the 



220 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



first children born in the township, the date of his 
birth being October, 1834. 

In the year 1833, Melzer Bird, a nephew of Gard- 
ner Bird, was induced, by the emigration of his 
uncle to Michigan and the advantages the State 
offered to young men of energy, to place his name 
upon the roll of pioneers. He arrived from On- 
tario County, N. Y., in 1833, and entered 120 acres 
on section 14. In May of the following j-ear he 
started in a wagon drawn by oxen and laden with 
his wife and two children, and such household 
goods as he could bring, and wended iiis way 
to the tract of land which was ])enceforth to be- 
come to them a home. They came by way of De- 
troit and were exceptional in the fact that they 
experienced very little difficulty in reaching their 
destination. They followed the Indian trail, which 
was an unerring guide, and on their arrival found 
a welcome to the home of Gardner Bird until 
Melzer could erect a shanty for himself The 
same summer he cleared 10 acres and sowed it 
with wheat, fencing three sides of the lot, the 
fourth side joining his uncle's land, which ren- 
dered fencing unnecessary. He was rewarded by 
a harvest of 200 bushels, which he regarded as a 
very satisfactory return for his industry, and Mr. 
Bird, in the winter, recalled with gratitude the 
progress he had made during his first season as a 
pioneer. Indeed, he and his family seem to have 
been fortunate in escaping many of those depriva- 
tions and annoyances which are incident to early 
emigration, and in a very pleasant interview with 
this venerable gentleman, the writer was unable to 
recall to his mind any memories of early days 
which did not afford a pleasing retrospect. 

A post-office was established very early in the 
neighborhood, which was known as the Pleasant 
Valley office, and for years Elijah Marsh held the 
position of postmaster. His successor was Peter 
Delamater, who, not wishing to qualify, transferred 
the emoluments of the office, together with its 
honors, to Melzer Bird, who held it for six years 
and distributed the not very weighty mail which 
arrived weekly from Brighton, or Ore Creek, as it 
was then designated. 

The first residents of the township early turned 
their attention to the means of education for their 
children, and erected, in 1834, on government land, 
on section 11, a small log school-house, in which 
the little ones of the neighborhood were congre- 
gated under the supervision of Miss Sarah Hunt- 
ley, of Hartland. The teacher enjoyed in turn the 
hospitality of all her patrons, and was certainly the 
earliest instructor in the township, as the building 
in which she taught was unquestionably the first 
school-house in the township. 



The little community were saddened by a death 
which occurred June 13, 1835, at the house of Mr. 
Robert Edgar. A young man, named Abram L. 
Andrews, twenty-seven years of age, had been in- 
duced, by the hope of improved health, from the 
active exercise that the clearing of a new country 
necessitated, to enter 80 acres of land on section 
23. He lived but three weeks in his new home, 
and there being at the time no clergyman to per- 
form the funeral rites, Mr. Edgar officiated on the 
occasion and delivered an address. Melzer Bird 
took from his barn the boards with which to make 
the coffin. This was the first death which occurred 
in the township. One of the earliest settlers men- 
tions another early death, — that of Abel Whalen, 
a teacher, which occurred in a house on the hill 
north of the Woodruff mill. 

Benjamin Blain emigrated to the State of Mich- 
igan from Orleans Co., N. Y., in 1833. Having a 
brother in Green Oak, he repaired to his house, on 
the banks of Silver Lake, and remained with him 
a brief time, meanwhile locating 160 acres of land 
on sections 5 and 6, in the township of Brighton. 
For a year and a half he was employed by Kinsley 
S. Bingham and Robert Warden, but being desirous 
to establish a home for himself, he began, in Oc- 
tober, 1834, the erection of a log house on his land. 
This house, though simple in design, required as 
much time and labor in the construction as many 
more elegant habitations of the present day. Very 
few tools were procurable with which to assist the 
work, but Mr. Blain made stakes for the roof and 
cut sticks for the chimney, and in the ensuing spring 
secured boards enough at Woodruff's saw-mill with 
which to lay two floors, — a ladder serving as stair- 
case from the lower to the upper story. Four 
acres of the land were cleared and planted with 
potatoes. The first winter his quarters were shared 
with Seth Bidwell and Leonard Barnham, the lat- 
ter gentleman afterwards becoming sexton of All 
Saints' Church, of New York City. 

Upon the occasion of Mr. Blain's first visit to the 
place not a tree had been felled from the forest 
standing on the site of the future village of Bright 
ton. The Indian trail followed the course of the 
present Grand River Street, turning to the left 
near the house now occupied by George Gushing, 
crossing the creek just above the residence of 
John A. Meyer, and returning in a line nearly 
parallel with the street. Mr. Blain was skillful in 
the use of the rifle, and found in the forests of Liv- 
ingston County an ample range for the gratifica- 
tion of his favorite pastime. The first year of his 
residence, eighty deer were among the trophies of 
his skill. For six years he continued the isolated 
life of the hunter, varied occasionally by long pil- 







.Ux ^^'rk* . 



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y^y.-\^- -Vj.,. 



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m 



Residence or the late AARON H. KELLEY, Brighton. Livingston County, Mich 

■ "^' ■- '■- -'/ •■■^" -' - r 





■ 
■ 


Be4v'fc>M-!&Jfe»4AH-■^«^!!.?M^r.■M•«,• 








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HLS\Di.NCL or O.K. VAN AMBURG, BRIGHTON, M/CHIGAN 



BRIGHTON TOWNSHIP. 



221 



fjrimagcs in search of land. He seemed a verita- 
ble Leather-Stocking, a kindly, silent soul, delight- 
ing in hunting, and loving solitude. His present 
iiome is Air from the traveled thoroughfare, and 
accessible only through a succession of fields and 
gates. On the west bank of a beautiful lake is 
located his quiet residence, where, with an old- 
time hospitality, he welcomes his friends and en- 
joys with them the recollection of his early years. 

In the spring of 1833, Evert Woodruff entered 
l6o acres on section 34, and took up his residence 
upon it, with his family, on the last day of May 
of that year. To Mr. Woodruff the township is 
largely a debtor for the enterprise he manifested 
in the erection of mills, which aided greatly in its 
development. In the fall of the same year of his 
arrival he built a saw-mill, and a grist-mill was 
erected the year following, being supplied with 
water-power from a stream on which it was built, 
known generally as Woodiuff's Creek. It was at 
that time the most northerly mill in the county, all 
the other mills being in the southerly range of 
towns. Evert Woodruff" bore a reputation far and 
wide for sound business principles, probity, and 
honesty. His dealing with his customers was 
modeled after the good old golden rule, and no 
charge was ever made that too much toll was ex- 
acted at the Woodruff mills. His son, Egbert 
Woodruff, was the first child born in the township, 
and soon after, Richard McConnell was born in the 
neighborhood, a very early birth, and possibly the 
second. 

Mr. Woodruff"s miller, Mr. ScoUard, was a man 
whose eccentricities were only equaled by the 
fidelity with which he served his em[)loyer. He 
was a man of muscular frame, and the weighty 
bags of grain were lifted and tossed as easily by 
him as though his employment were a mere diver- 
sion. Combined with a certain brusqueness of 
manner was an earnest desire to satisfy all cus- 
tomers, and to receive a snubbing from the miller 
rendered it by no means certain that the grist 
would meet a similar indifferent handling. Mr. 
W^oodruff and his miller are both remembered by 
the survivors of those early days for many acts of 
kindness in the neighborhood, to whose comfort 
they were large contributors. On one occasion a 
settler appeared at the house of Mr. Scollard with 
an urgent request that he should depart from his 
inflexible rule to grind no grists on Sunday. He 
was told at once that the Sabbath was a day of rest, 
and that both mill and miller were entitled to the 
respite from labor which the fourth commandment 
enjoined upon them. The man explained that he 
had started the previous Friday from home, a dis- 
tance of many miles, hoping to return on Saturday, 



and on the way he had met with an accident which 
luul rendered haste impossible; at home were his 
wife and children entirely destitute, and depending 
upon the flour which he should bring them for 
food. The heart of the miller relented, the grist 
was ground, and the man went on his way rejoic- 
ing. 

The first marriage-service was performed by 
Justice Peavey. This event occurred in 1834, and 
the happy couple were named respectively Mr. 
Joseph L. Briggs and Hester Fisher, the marriage 
taking place at the house of the justice. 

Fred. W. Goodenoe entered land on section 2 in 
1833, and added to it in 1836. He made rapid 
progress in the improvement of his possessions. 
Soon after his arrival he cleared 25 acres, and 
when his nearest neighbor came, in 1835, had 
already erected a house and barn and dug a well. 

None of the early pioneers were better known 
or more distinctly remembered than Robert Big- 
ham, or " Uncle Robert," as he was more fre- 
quently called. He was born near Belfast, Ire- 
land, in 1789, emigrated in 1810, came to this 
township in 1834, and for years kept a house of 
entertainment about one mile north of the village. 

Many of his surviving neighbors recall the 
quaint old sign " Call and C," which was planted 
some distance beyond his house to attract the eye 
of the traveler in .search of food and shelter. This 
old sign was long a landmark, and those who re- 
sponded to its invitation to " Call and C" Uncle 
Robert always found a warm welcome. His bear- 
ing was cordial alike to rich and poor. He pos- 
sessed all the qualities that make the e.xcellent 
landlord, and, together with the good cheer which 
his wife provided with a liberal hand, his unfailing 
humor was always a source of diversion to his 
guests, and his tavern a resort for some of the most 
prominent characters in theState. Mr. Bigham pur- 
chased a tract of land of the late Governor Kinsley 
S. Bingham, but by mistake settled upon land ad- 
joining, to which John Gushing afterwards laid 
claim and obtained, Bigham retiring to the tract of 
147 acres, which he afterwards occupied. Later 
still he purchased the land on which the tavern was 
located, and at the time of his death, which oc- 
curred Sept. 30, 1876, was living in the village of 
Brighton, having been the poprietor of the pres- 
ent Brighton House. 

Aaron H. Kelly, lately deceased, entered 63 
acres on section 6, and 208 acres on section 7, 
in 1833. He built a sub.stantial house and a saw- 
mill, and made many improvements on the land 
he owned. 

Richard Toncray came from Oswego Co., N. Y., 
in 1S33, and entered So acres of land on sec- 



222 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



tion 35, and two years later 40 on section 34. 
His brother Horace also located 80 acres on 
section 35, and a year after 40 on the adjoining 
section. Many members of the family have since 
died, and others left the township. 

Another character of prominence in the town- 
ship was Sherman D. Di.x, who resided upon a fine 
farm east of Woodruff's ]Mil!s, and was well known 
in connection with the Kensington Bank, of which 
he was cashier and director. He was a man of 
much polish of manner, adroit in business, with a 
keen eye for a bargain, and withal one of the most 
generous and kindly neighbors that an early settler 
could desire. 

The bank scheme, of which he and Alfred A. 
Dwight were the originators, finally brought dis- 
aster, and he repaired to Texas and engaged in 
cattle speculations. At one time he projected the 
idea of making the point where the Woodruff mills 
are located, a village, which was to supersede 
Brighton, and witii that end in view, he had maps 
made of a village plat, with regularly laid out 
streets and all the appointments of a growing 
town, including a large flouring-mill and an 
equally large hotel, which he took to New York, 
and easily disposed of the lots to parties in search 
of Western investments. It was christened Liv- 
ingston. 

Henrj- T. Ross emigrated from Ohio in 1835, 
and purchased 160 acres of his present farm, which 
had been previously entered from government, 
and had 10 acres cleared and a shanty erected. 
This he occupied until he was able to erect a sub- 
stantial farm-house. At this time there were 
many Indians in the immediate vicinity, and their 
camp-fires were often seen upon the grounds of 
Mr. Ross, though they congregated in larger num- 
bers upon the banks of Long Lake, in Hartland. 

The wolves at this time were the especial ene- 
mies of the sheep, as well as of calves and year- 
lings, and the neighbor of Mr. Ross experienced 
so much difficulty in raising them that, after the 
gradual depletion of his flock of sheep, he gave up 
all further efforts. Finally, but one old ram of all 
his fine flock remained, who seemed proof against 
all the ravages of the destroyer. His days were, 
however, numbered, the hungrj- pack having one 
day surrounded and destroyed him in broad day- 
light, under the very eyes of his owner. Mr. Ross 
established a reputation in early life as a skillful 
hunter. He is also well known as a lover of bees, 
which he. turns to very profitable account. Hav- 
ing caught a swarm the first year of his arrival, he 
has never been without them since. 

Benjamin Blain entered, in 1853, 80 acres on 
section 5, and in 1836, 40 acres on the same sec- 



tion. Some years later he removed to Hartland 
township, where he now resides. Seth Bidwell lo- 
cated 80 acres upon the same section in 1835, and 
a like numbier of acres upon section 8, at the same 
date, and still resides upon it. 

In the year 1836, Rev. William A. Clark, D.D., 
arrived in the township from New York City, and 
made large entries of land on sections 5, 6, 7. and 
8, and in the following year arrived with his 
family, and took up his residence in Brighton. 
Mr. Clark had been the rector of an Episcopal 
Church in New York City previous to coming to 
the State. He at first located upon section 7, but 
in 1839 purchased the mill now owned by Albright 
& Thomson, and also erected a saw-mill on sec- 
tion 5. He introduced the first sheep into the 
township, having purchased a large flock in Ohio 
and distributed them throughout the neighbor- 
hood. Mr. Clark, who was the father of the 
present postmaster of Brighton, B. T. O. Clark, 
Esq., did much by his capital and enterprise to 
develop and improve the township. He opened a 
store for the accommodation of the numerous men 
whom he constantly employed, and he had also 
through his influence a post-ofiice established near 
his residence, which was called the Mont Lake 
Post-Office. His death occurred in Brighton, Sept. 
13, 1842. 

Another early settler was Lewis B. Fonda, who 
came from Plattsburg, N. Y., in October, 1832, and 
entered the west half of the southwest quarter of 
section 32, and still occupies this ground with the 
additions he has made to it. He arrived first at 
Detroit in the old steamer "Superior," and from 
there walked to Ann Arbor, where he remained 
five years. At the expiration of that time he 
removed to his land, having in 1834 erected upon 
it a frame house, said to have been the first in the 
county, which was at the time regarded as a dwell- 
ing of considerable pretension. The timber with 
which it was built was drawn from Ann Arbor, a 
distance of eighteen miles, with ox-teams. At the 
time that Mr. Fonda entered his land, the only 
near neighbor he had was a man named Cornish, 
who had preceded him and entered 160 acres 
across the lake in the township of Green Oak, 
which was subsequently owned by George W. 
Walker. The government road had previously 
been surveyed, and caused much excitement 
among lookers for land, who discovered in the 
forests lying adjacent to the road a fine oppor- 
tunity for speculation. Mr. Fonda on his arrival 
enjoyed the hospitality of Mr. Stephen Lee, who 
had previously located in Green Oak. The country 
was then almost entirely unbroken, and numerous 
Indian wigwams dotted the banks of the lake now 



BRIGHTON TOWNSHIP. 



223 



known as Fonda's Lake. In 1833 a man was 
placed upon the farm to split rails, and the house 
having been built the following year, the family of 
Mr. Fonda, on their arrival in 1835, found the 
place in something like a habitable condition, 
though it was not until two years later that they 
made it a permanent home, meanwhile residing in 
Ann Arbor. 

Ezra Macomber, a native of Massachusetts, set- 
tled in Pleasant Valley in 1834, having entered land 
in the vicinity of that occupied by Richard Marsh. 
He is now residing in Tuscola County. 

K. G. Durfee came from Orleans Co., N. Y., to 
Washtenaw Co., Mich., in 1831, and removed in 
1835 to the township of Brighton, where his father 
had leased a farm on section 34. In the year 1849 
he purchased a farm on sections 10 and 20, and has 
also a blacksmith-shop, to which he devotes a por- 
tion of his time. 

Cyrenus Morgan, one of the active spirits of 
the township, was from Jefferson Co., N. Y., from 
whence he came to Brighton in September, 1837. 
He bought 104 acres on section 28, and later dis- 
posed of it and purchased the farm lie at present 
occupies, embracing 150 acres. Mr. Morgan has 
been deputy-marshal and auctioneer, which posi- 
tions have given him an extended acquaintante 
throughout the county. In the early days of his 
settlement here he was a peddler, and traded 
quite extensively with the Indians in Shiawassee 
County. 

In the year 1833 the cholera prevailed to such 
an extent in New York City as to induce manj' 
people to think of seeking homes away from the 
metropolis. Among them were a number of gilders 
and other artisans who had heard of the advan- 
tages offered to settlers in Michigan, and deter- 
mined to purchase land in the Territorj% some of 
them intending to become residents here. With 
that end in view, one of their number, Richard 
Lyons, of New York, was intrusted with about 
gSooo with which to make purchases in the county 
of Livingston. He came in 1835 and located 
many hundred acres, and with such entire satisfac- 
tion to those for whom he had acted, that in the 
following year he was intrusted with a similar 
commission. The aggregate number of acres pur- 
chased by him was nearly 20.OOO, most of it being 
in this county. Mr. Lyons, who settled later upon 
a portion of this land, was preceded by William 
Valentine, for whom he entered 160 acres on sec- 
tion 22, and who took possession of his land in 
1836. He does not seem to have met a very happy 
experience in his efforts to become a pioneer far- 
mer, for at the end of one j-ear the club of gilders, 
of whicli he was a member, by a subscription of 



$10 apiece, raised a sufficient sum to enable him to 
return to New York and resume his former occu- 
pation. 

The following is a list of the parties for whom 
Mr. Lyons entered land, together with the sections 
on which they were located: Francis J. Le Count, 
80 acres on section 7 and 200 acres on section 9 ; 
Samuel M. Conely, 80 acres on section 27 ; Wm. 
Porter, 40 acres on section 20; Isaac L. Piatt, 160 
acres on section 21, 160 acres on section 15, 80 
acres on section 3, and the same number on sec- 
tion 27; William T.Tunis, 160 acres on section 
28 and 320 acres on section 17; I.saac Van 
Voorhes, 160 acres on section 9; William S. 
Conely, 80 acres on section 27, 80 acres on sec- 
tion 28, and 80 acres on section 15; Evander D. 
Fisher, 80 acres on section 28 ; Moses Lyons, a 
gold-beater, i6o acres on the same section ; N. T. 
Thurston, a gilder, 35 acres on section 6, 160 acres 
on section 4, 80 acres on section i, and 120 acres 
on section 13; J. McKinsey, 160 acres on section 

17 ; Allan McDonald, 80 acres on section 8 ; 

Ring, 40 acres on section 5 ; B. W. Conklin, 80 
acres on section 21 ; Robert L. Lane, 80 acres on 
section 21 ; Peter Hemmel, an upholsterer, 160 
acres on section 21 ; George W. Ruckle, 40 acres 
on section 21 ; W. N. Betts, 80 acres on section 
15, and 80 acres on section 14; Lemuel F. Wil- 
liams, 160 acres on section 7; H. Thurston, 40 
acres on section 24 ; Jacob Bendernagle, 480 acres 
on the same section and 240 acres on section 23 ; 
A. Woolrabe, 80 acres on section 23 and 120 acres 
on section 1 3 ; Robert Lane, 80 acres on section 
21, 80 acres on section 23, and 40 acres on section 
26; William Paul, 80 acres on section 20; J. S. 
Winkler, 80 acres on the same section. Mr. Lyons 
entered for himself 160 acres on section 22 and 
an additional 120 acres on section 27. 

Of this number Messrs. S. M. Conely, Lyons, 
Fisher, William S. Conely, Tunis, and Rogers 
came. in 1837, and became permanent residents. 
William Paul, a gilder, found that his land em- 
braced the waters of a lake in the township, and 
returned to the city in disgust. Mr. Rogers worked 
upon the farm of William S. Conely until he pur- 
chased for himself 40 acres on section 20, and later 
he added to it another 40 acres, which he secured 
from Conely and Le Count. William S. Conely 
added to the land he entered 200 acres on section 
7, 160 acres on section 18, and 65 acres on sec- 
tion 6. Much of this land was bought on specu- 
lation, while upon a portion of it the owners settled 
some years later. 

Richard Lyons with his family and the settlers 
from New York who accompanied him, left Detroit 
on the 1 6th of June, 1837, for their homes in 



224 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Livingston County, the portion of the township 
they located in having been known as upper Green 
Oak, until it was later set off as Brighton. Before 
leaving Detroit Mr. Lyons had provided himself 
with two farm-wagons, two yoke of oxen, three 
milch cows, their calves, and a man to assist him 
in clearing his farm. They arrived at their desti- 
nation in Brighton on the 19th of June, 1S37. The 
log house built by William Valentine during the 
brief time he remained on his farm afforded them 
all a comfortable shelter until they could erect 
cabins on their own land. In this little house 
twelve persons took refuge, and a few weeks later 
the number had swelled to twenty-two, by the 
arrival of Samuel VV. Conely's family from New 
York City, whose land was adjacent to that of Mr. 
Lyons. William S. Conely and Isaac L. Piatt 
joined the little colony a few years later. Both of 
these early settlers are since deceased. Most of 
these settlers built for themselves comfortable frame 
houses the same year of their arrival, and in these 
houses early religious services were held until a 
school-house was built in the neighborhood, which 
was for years known as the Lyons School-house. 
The first clergyman who ministered to the early 
settlers was Elder Cosart, though Elders Bibbins, 
Fleming, and Giilet also held services during the 
first settlement of the township. Father Padley 
also held very early services in the house of Mr. 
Scollard, near Woodruff's mills. The second town- 
ship-meeting was held at the house of Richard 
Lyons, whose hospitable wife on that occasion pre- 
pared a dinner for the electors, making preparations 
for sixty, but the whole number present did not 
exceed forty, who partook with grateful hearts of 
her hospitality, and re-elected her husband to the 
office of supervisor. 

The farming experiences of these settlers from 
the city of New York were certainly novel, and 
their ignorance of everything pertaining to their 
calling was a source of much diversion to their 
more practical neighbors. They persevered, how- 
ever, and with each year came the wisdom which 
is born of experience, until bountiful crops re- 
warded their industry and they became prosperous 
and contented. 

Evander Fisher, one of the New York emigrants, 
let his farm, and reniained in Detroit to follow his 
trade of cabinet-maker, and with him Mr. Samuel 
M. Conely and family remained for a time. In fact, 
Mr. Fisher's house seems to have been the hospit- 
able headquarters of neaily all the early emigrants 
who left the comforts of New York City for the 
privations of the Western wilderness. After pur- 
chasing an ox-team, wagon, flour, pork, and such 
other goods as they might need, Mr. Conely, with 



his wife, sister, and four children, started on his 
journey, not knowing the way, and depending 
entirely upon the uncertain guide which might 
be obtained from the blazed or marked trees along 
the way. Not being accustomed to oxen, they had 
much trouble in managing them. On one occasion 
they became so refractory that he was wholly un- 
able to guide or control them, and he called to his 
assistance a woman whom they passed on the way, 
and who very soon brought the stubborn beasts 
to terms. On reaching the end of their journey 
they found t^^ie farm entirely unbroken. Mr. Val- 
entine's log house afforded them shelter, thoui;h 
it seemed already to be more than full, Mr. Lyon 
and family, Mr. Tunis, and Mr. Rogers being al- 
read\' domiciled within its walls. For three weeks 
the little hovel contained 22 people, — the men 
being sent to the upper story for lodging, while 
the ladies occupied the more lu.xurious quarters 
below. But soon a house was completed with the 
aid of Allan McDonald, to which Mr. Rogers and 
Mr. Tunis transferred the families. 

Elder Post, a Free-Will Baptist, came very early 
from Allegany Co., N. Y., and located on section 
18. He held religious services soon after his ar- 
rival, and is thought by one or two old residents 
to have been the first preacher in the township, 
though it is almost certain that he was preceded 
by Elder Cosart. Elder Atwood and Rev. Mr. 
Morgan, father of Cyrenus Morgan, were also early 
ministers. The farm of Elder Post was purchased 
by Charles Prosser, who made the first brick in the 
township, which were used for chimneys, no resi- 
dent at that time having aspired to the luxury of 
a brick dwelling. 

Ansel Crippen arrived in the township from 
New York State in 1836, and purchased 120 acres 
on section 7. The same year came Edward Mun- 
dy from Washtenaw County, and settled on section 
35. Robert Edgar settled on 80 acres on section 
26, and still resides there. He is prominently 
connected with the first clearing of the township, 
and is known as an able expounder of divine truth. 
John McConnell entered 160 acres on section 26, 
which he subsequently sold and became the pro- 
prietor of a hotel on what is known as the Gravel 
road, in Green Oak township. Timothy Warner on 
his arrival here from Livingston Co., N. Y., in July, 
1837, purchased a farm, to which he has since added 
until it now embraces 500 acres. His brother, H. 
H. Warner, entered 40 acres on section 1 1. Smith 
Beach, of Ontario Co., N. Y., entered 160 acres on 
section 22 in 1833, but did not occupy it until 
1839. His family came with him, and his son, 
Willard Beach, now resides upon the farm, his 
father having died in 1849 Aaron Beach came in 



T*■' t : ^ ' ■ ' -^A ; - ; u. '; ,j.yVJ^>s i f..y y r;i y .i».; '''^ ^n ' ;: ' Vf-^^^ ' ^ 





Residence: Of &E0, W. CONELY, Brighton , MiCHiGArj 




residence: OF, SAMUEL M. CONELY, Brighton, LIVINGSTON Co.MiCH 



BRIGHTON TOWNSHIP. 



225 



1838, and located upon tlie southeast quarter of 
section 23, and is still living tlicre. 

An event occurred in the year 1841 whicli cast 
its gloomy shadow over the entire community, and 
threw one of its families into tlic most profound 
mourning. Merlin Doyen, from New Hampshire, 
came into the township in 1839, and being for the 
time unable to obtain a house, moved with his 
fimily consisting of his wife, her father, and a lad 
named Mortimer, who was nearly four years old, 
into the house with Richard Lyons' family. At 
the expiration of one year, finding the quaiters 
rather limited for two families, Mr. Lyons built a 
small liouse for Mr. Doyen, allowing him to work 
a portion of his land. The occujjants took pos- 
session of the dwelling, which was half a mile from 
tJic farm-house, early in November of 1841. About 
a week from that time Mrs. Doyen had occasion to 
go to the garden of their former home and allowed 
the lad to accompany her, wrapping a shawl closely 
about him as a protection against the November 
winds. The little fellow started full of happiness, 
and suggested to his mother that he intended run- 
ning away from her. Finally, discovering his father 
not far away from their destination, he obtained 
permission to join liim, she meanwhile awaiting 
his return in the garden. He remained with his 
father a while, who finding him a hindrance to his 
labor, told him to run back to his mother. Mean- 
while, Mrs. Doyen, having completed her task in the 
garden, repaired to the house for a short call upon 
Mrs. Lyons. The child not finding his mother in 
the garden, started in pursuit. In his haste he 
chose the wrong path, which led him away from 
his home. It was supposed that after discovering 
his mistake he attempted to return to his father, 
and becoming bewildered chose a cross-path, wliich 
led him a mile from home. Here the child sat 
down upon a log, the prints of his little feet being 
distinctly visible in the sand, as they were also in 
the path. From there he crossed a wide marsh 
which brought him near the liouse of Mr. Tunis, 
who distinctly heard his cries as the darkticss ap- 
proached, as did also his grandfather several iiours 
before. After wandering for some hours he finally 
reached a swamp, where, probably from exhaustion 
or fright, he lay down to the sleep from wliicli he 
never awoke. Here he was fountl the morning of 
tlie tliird day of his absence. Meanwhile, the 
neighborhood hail been aroused, and for miles 
around came kind friends to aid in the search for 
the lost one. On the second day it was arranged 
that signals should be fired to indicate their suc- 
cess — one shot if he were alive — two, if not. The 
distracted mother had been apprised of these sig- 
nals, and was with one of the parties engaged in 
29 



the search. She heard the firing of a gun, and, 
not waiting for a second shot, flew to embrace her 
little one. The scene is described as inexpressibly 
painfid as the truth was imparted to her. She 
never recovered from the shock, and the settlers 
who still survive, describe the event as the most 
heart-rending of their early recollections. 

Tlie following is a list of the names of resident 
tax-payers in the township of lirighton in 1843, 
being taken from the assessment-roll for that year: 

Isr.iel .\rin'^. J"l*'i Johnson. 

John Aiulrews. Uavkl Jolly. 

Hany A. Andrews. Jos. M. Johnson. 

John Appleton. Marsena Jourden. 

Edwin Ackley. liain.ird Kclley. 

Selh Uiilwell. Aaron II. Kelley. 

Melzer IJiid. Kohl, and Mary Kennedy. 

Cardiier Hird. John Lane. 

Slejihen Baker. James 13. Lee. 

John B. Biirnham. Alvin N. Loveridge. 

George W. Burch. J. B. & D. R. Lee. 

George D. B.ailey. Ilarvey T. Lee. 

John S. Beach. Tliomas Lea. 

William Brown. Richard Lyon. 

.Smilli Beach. R. L. Lane. 

Ansel Crippen. Jacob Leroy. 

John Gushing. Moses Lyon. 

Benjamin Gushing. William McCauley. 

Mrs. Curry. William Nohle. 

William Gushing. Charles Norton. 

William Cohb. Norton & Power. 

William Cooper. Issacher Osborn. 

James Covey. John Osborn. 

Job Cranston. Osborn & Post. 

Dr. Thomas Curtis. Jacob Peters. 

Mary Carpenler. Granger Pe.xse. 

Samuel M. Gonely. John W. Peavey. 

Gushing & Gordon. Wdliam Parker. 

Jacintha Clark. Luther Parshall. 

John Dean. Owen Pierce. 

A. P. Dickinson. R. D. Power. 

Fred. Dickinson. Daniel Lane. 

Jacol)us Davis. Lectus Lane. 

Kdward Ducfee. William Moore. 

Sherman D. Dix. Ezra Macomber. 

Franklin Dart. Jesse Malleson. 

11. Doine. Elijah Marsh. 

Peter Delamater. D. C. Marsh. 

Robert Edgar. Allen McDonald. 

L. B. F'onda. William Palmer. 

Wiiber Fisher. Abel Palmer. 

Fields & Appleton. Jonathan Post. 

Nelson Fuller. Nehemiah Paine. 

J. Goudspeed. Amos Rogers. 

Malcomb Fitch. Sumner Ross. 

W. R. Field. O. A. Ross. 

Barak Cibbs. H. P. Ross. 

Hugh Gordon. B. Searle. 

F. W. Goodcnow. Robert Sleaford. 

Michael Gaffney. Allen Stephens. 

Eben Hand. Elias Sprague. 

Jabez llaight. James Seed. 

Warren Hill. J. A. Sterling. 

Nelson House. N. Sullivan. 

John Henry. Andrew Shiner. 

Godfred Hyne. Joshua Sheffield. 

Edmund Johnson. Benjamin Sawyer. 



226 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Charles Spencer. 
Joshua Sheffield. 
Gayley Spencer. 
Alva Ferry. 
Horace Toncray. 
John Toncray. 
Richard Toncray. 
Robert Thomson. 
James Taylor. 
Alva Perry. 
Perry & E. Marsh. 
Grace Thompson. 
William Tunis. 
John Van Luven. 



Mary Valentine. 
Evert Woodruff. 
Williim Wood. 
Joseph Wood. 
William Ward. 
Mrs. Warden. 
Elias Withey. 
Whipple & Peck. 
F. C. Whipple. 
J. B. Waite. 
Jacob Winchell. 
Robert Bigham. 
Crawford Fox. 
Ross & Norton. 



The largest ta.x was paid by Jacintha Clark, this 
amount being $4e,./i. 

The soil of the township of Brighton varies 
greatly in localities, and may be generally de- 
scribed as a gravelly loam with an occasional mi.x- 
ture of sand and streaks of clay. The crops that 
it yields, though not always abundant in quantity, 
are generally of a superior quality. The surface 
is undulating, comprising some level stretches of 
excellent land varied by gentle slopes. Many 
very picturesque lakes add variety to the surface, 
chief among which are Beach Lake and School 
Lake in the centre ; in the southern portion. Wood- 
ruff Lake and a portion of Fonda Lake ; and Mont 
Lake on the western side ; and numerous smaller 
bodies of water are scattered throughout the bound- 
aries of the township. Ore Creek rises in Long 
Lake, Hartland township, flows in a southerly 
course until it reaches the township, when it mean- 
ders along its western boundary. 

RELIGIOUS. 
KENSINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH. 

The Baptist denomination have had for more 
than a quarter of a century a society in the town- 
ship of Brighton. Previous to that time, the at- 
tendants upon the Baptist services worshiped at 
Kensington, hence the name of the organization. 
In the year 1854, the membership in Brighton 
having reached nearly 30 in number, it was 
deemed expedient to erect a house of worship. 
A plain but commodious structure was built, and 
since that time the condition of the church has 
varied. Five years ago the Rev. G. T. Ellis filled 
a pastoral relation with the people, and infused 
new life and energy into the society. His labors 
have been greatly blessed, both spiritually and in 
a temporal sense. The house has been remodeled 
and greatly improved, and the membership has 
reached 80. A flourishing Sabbath-school is also 
maintained in connection with the church. Gard- 
ner Spring is the church clerk. 



THE PLEASANT VALLEY WESLEYAN METHO- 
DIST CHURCH.* 

This church is located in Pleasant Valley, about 
five miles east of the village of Brighton, on the 
road to Milford. 

The society was organized March 9, 1873, by 
Rev. John C. Martin, of Williamston, Ingham 
Co., who took charge of the church as its pastor, 
and labored arduously to promote the Interests of 
the work committed to his care. At the time of 
its organization there were 24 members, nearly all 
heads of families, and they found that much per- 
sistency was required to stem the tide of opposi- 
tion that set against them. The society held their 
services at that time in what is known as the Lyon 
School-house, and notwithstanding the persistent 
opposition, their numbers increased, and they 
steadily and confidently looked ahead to the pros- 
perity that awaited them. In the fall of 1873, 
Rev. J. H. Canfield was invited to serve them as 
pastor, and during the following winter his labors 
among them resulted in a powerful revival of reli- 
gion, the influence of which was widely felt. 

In the spring of 1874 a project was entered into 
to build a house of worship, and through the 
energy and persistent efforts of the pastor, assisted 
by some of his members, sufficient subscriptions 
were raised to cover the entire expense of the con- 
templated building. They looked upon the " pay- 
as-you-go" system as being safest in the end, 
hence all bills were promptly paid ; and when the 
church was completed, it was dedicated to the 
Lord as free property, without a mortgage or 
debt. The church is 48 feet long by 32 
feet wide, and the posts are 18 feet high. 
The seats are so arranged as to comfortably 
seat about 250 persons. Mr. Thomas Hunter 
took the contract for building, and the work 
was executed conscientiously, and to the entire 
satisfaction of the committee. It was completed 
and dedicated in the fall of 1874, and a large con- 
gregation listened to the dedicatory sermon 
preached by Rev. Adam Crooks, of Syracuse, 
N. Y., who was called a few months after to enter 
his eternal rest. The whole cost of building the 
church, as reported by the board of trustees, was 
^1727.50. 

The society having a house of worship of their 
own, took new courage, and as they put forth in- 
creased efforts to improve the moral condition of 
the community, they were permitted to see a cor- 
responding degree of increase in the interests of 
the society. New members were added froin time 
to time, and many who had not been in sympathy 
with them attended their meetings. 

* Prepared by the pastor. 



BRIGHTON TOWNSHIP. 



227 



In 1 874 another society was formed in the village 
of Brighton by the pastor, and 8 of the members 
of the Valley Church, who resided near Brighton, 
withdrew and united witli that church. They 
were somewhat weakened by the withdrawal of 
these members, but were comforted with the 
thought tiiat they were sending a part of their num- 
ber to labor in an adjoining community for the ex- 
tension and establishment of those principles which 
they liad struggled so liard to defend. Shortly 
after the organization of this new society, another 
society was formed in Milford township, the three 
societies thus established being connected with an 
older society at Kensington, si.v miles from Brigh- 
ton, and the whole formed a charge or circuit, to 
be known as the Kensington and Brighton charge. 
Rev. J. H. Canfield served the charge as pastor until 
September, 1 875, when Rev. D. A. Richards became 
his successor, and entered upon the duties assigneil 
him. He was the first Wesleyan pastor whose 
family had accompanied him to the charge, and 
they soon found a residence in the village of Brigh- 
ton, and a home in the hearts of the people. The 
church at Pleasant Valley was much the strongest, 
numerically and financially, and they assumed 
more than one-third (nearly one-half) of the pas- 
tor's salary, which proportion they have continued 
to assume, and it may be said to their credit that 
they pay promptly the amount of their apportion- 
ment. The congregations increased under the 
labors of the new pastor, and the attachment be- 
tween pastor and people became very strong. On 
one occasion they manifested their appreciation of 
his services by meeting at the church for a dona- 
tion, and leaving for his benefit about 5 150. He 
held a series of meetings, at which time several 
members were brought into the church as a result 
of his labors. He served the church as pastor two 
years. 

In September, 1877, they again exchanged pas- 
tors, and called to the work Rev. E. W. Bruce, who 
still labors with them as pastor of the charge. He 
moved his family also to Brighton, and dwells 
among his people. Two series of meetings have 
been held by him with the church at the Valley, 
each being attended with a measure of success 
and resulting in some conversions and accessions 
to the church. The first year the people expressed 
their esteem by a donation, leaving for the benefit 
of the pastor and family about ^$165, and repeated 
their appreciative act during the present year by a 
similar donation amounting to $201.25. 

The society commenced with 24 members, and 
an average attendance at services of from 30 to 35. 
Since that time the membership has reached 76, 
and there is now an average attendance of from 



1 20 to 1 30 persons. From the 76 members re- 
ceived one has died, eleven have been granted let- 
ters of dismissal, and three have been dropped 
from the membership without letters. In the 
spring of 1879 the society purchased a Beatty or- 
gan, and the use of it in the church is productive 
of increased interest in connection with the Sab- 
bath services. 

At the last Conference, in September, 1878, an 
associate pastor was obtained, in the person of Rev. 
M. Cuthbert, whose services were rendered neces- 
sary because of new ground that had been entered 
upon, thus making too large a field for one pastor, 
and an exchange of appointments has been so 
arranged that he preaches at the Valley Church 
once in three weeks. The united labors of the two 
pastors have been attended with success, and the 
future prospects of the Pleasant Valley Society are 



BRIGHTON GRANGE, No. 336. 

The Brighton Grange charter bears date March 
25, 1874, and is signed by the following officers of 
the National and State Granges : National Grange, 
Dudley W. Adams, M. ; O. H. Kelley, Sec. State 
Grange, S. F. Brown, M. ; J. T. Cobb, Sec. 

Charter members : J. B. Thurber, M. ; W. H. H. 
Dean, O. ; D. Thomson, L. ; A. D. Newman, S. ; 
Ira Bradley, A. S. ; S. Bidwell, C. ; C. Jacobs, T. ; 
G. Bradley, Sec; E. C. Sears, G. K. ; Mrs. N. E. 
Bidwell, Ceres ; Mrs. M. L. Dean, Pomona ; Mrs. 
A. L. Palmer, Flora; Mrs. S. A. Thomson, L. A. 
S. ; G. A. Blain, L. G. Bitten, Charles Hyne, Jean- 
nette Newman, Eunice Jacobs. 

The Brighton Grange has devoted itself more 
especially to the discussion of agricultural topics 
and subjects which should interest farmers, and 
has aimed by frequent intercourse to develop the 
social qualities of its members. The secretary has 
furnished the following statistics : cost of hall, 
^300 ; amount of goods for one year, $247 ; amount 
of farm implements, $215 ; amount of musical in- 
struments, ^390; amount of seeds, g 176.61 ; plaster 
for three years, 30 tons per year, $301.50 ; 25 tons 
refuse salt, $100. Goods were purchased for but 
one year, the grange not desiring to engage exten- 
sively in mercantile transactions. 

The following are the officers for 1879: S. Bid- 
well, M.; G. Bradley, O. ; J. B. Thurber, Lee; J. 
McClements, S. ; D. S. Kiernan, Av S. ; S. McClem- 
ents, C. ; G. A. Bidwell, T. ; William Palmer, Sec. ; 
J. C. Newman, G. K. ; Miss Maggie McClements, 
Ceres ; Miss Minnie S. Kiernan, Flora; Miss Julia 
Sleaford, Pomona; Mrs. Rachel Newman, L. A. S. 

The following is a list of township officers elected 
in Brighton since its organization: 



228 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



183S. — Richard Lyon, Supervisor; Willinm Noble, Township 
CleiU; Melzer IJird, Benjamin Blain, William Palmer, 
Assessors; Maynard Maltliy, Philip S. Hubhell, Justices 
of the Peace; Elias Withey, Collector; I". W. Good- 
enoe, Ezra Macomber, Directors of the Poor; Joshua 
Sheffield, Abram Dean, Malcolm Fitch, Highway Com- 
missioners; William W. Ward, Elias Sprague, Cyrenus 
Morgan, School Inspectors. 

1839. — Richard Lyon, Supervisor; John G.Spencer, Township 
Clerk; Elias .Sprague, Treasurer; Warren J. Acker, 
Melzer Bird, Richard Lyon, Assessors; Joshua Shef- 
field, Elias Sprague, H. A. Armstrong, Highway Com- 
missioners; William Noble, John G. .Spencer, May- 
nard Mallby, School Inspectors ; Charles Prosser, Col- 
lector. 

1840. — John W. Peavey, Supei"visor; Wilber Fisher, Township 
Clerk; O. A. Fuller, F. W. Goodenoe, R. Toncray, 
Assessors ; Elijah Fitch, Justice of the Peace ; E. Wood- 
ruff, Job Cranston, Seth Bidwell, Highway Commis- 
sioners; L. B. Fonda, Collector; J. A. Sterling, A. 
Whalen, Charles Senlill, School Inspectors; William 
McCauley, Treasurer. 

1841. — Smith Beach, Supervisor; John G. Spencer, Township 
Clerk; Aaron Beach, Treasurer; Elijha Billings, Jus- 
tice of the Peace. 

1842. — John W. Peavey, Supervisor; Charles S. Norton, Clerk; 
Benjamin Gushing, Treasurer; Lewis B. Fonda, Lsrael 
Arms, Assessors; J. H. Buck, Horace Toncray, Di- 
rectors of the Poor; F. C. Whipple, Ira P. Bingham, 
George W. Peck, School Inspectors. 

1S43. — Seth Bidwell, Su))ervisor; Corydon Lee, Township Clerk; 
Benjamin Cushing, Treasurer; William Brown, Job 
Cranston, Assessors; Fred C. Whipple, Ira P. Bingham, 
School Inspectors ; Israel Arms, Robert D. Power, Jus- 
tices of the Peace. 

1844. — John W. Peavey, Supervisor; Corydon Lee, Township 
Clerk; Horace Toncray, Treasurer; Jasper H. Buck, 
Aaron II. Kelly, Assessors; Wilber Fisher, School In- 
spector; Robert D. Power, Justice of the Peace. 

1845. — George W. Peck, Sui^ervisor; Wni. R. Cubb, Township 
Clerk; Orlando A. Fuller, Treasurer; Horace Toncray, 
Justice of the Peace ; Aaron H. Kelly, Solomon S. 
Sanders, Assessors; William A. Clark, School Inspector. 

1846. — Smith Beach, Supervisor; T. D. Fish, Township Clerk; 
Erastus A. Pratt, Justice of the Peace; John D. Apple- 
ton, Treasurer; Nelson Fuller, Elias Sprague, Assessors; 
Ira P. Bingham, William Noble, School Inspectors. 

1847. — Spaulding M. Case, Supervisor; Moses B. Hess, Township 
Clerk; Israel Arms, Justice of the Peace; William Cush- 
ing, Treasurer ; Amos Foster, School Inspector. 

1848. — Spaulding M. Case, Supervisor ; Truman D. Fish, Town- 
ship Clerk; Robert D. Power, Justice of the Peace; John 
Toncray, Treasurer. 

1849. — William A. Clark, Supervisor; Jasper H. Buck, Township 
Clerk ; Benjamin P. Vealey, Treasurer; Horace Toncray, 
F. Williams, Justices of the Peace; Nelson Fuller, Job 
Cranston, Assessors; Truman D. Fish, School Inspector. 

1850. — Nelson Fuller, Supervisor; John R. Butterfield, Township 
Clerk ; Ira \V. Case, John Yerington, Justices of the 
Peace; Benjamin P. Vealey, Treasurer; Ira P. Bing- 
ham, School Inspector. 

1851. — Lyman Judson, Supervisor; Rosnell Barnes, Township 
Clerk; Floyd Williams, Justice of the Peace; Nelson 
Toncray, Treasurer ; George W. Peck, School Inspector. 

1852. — Lyman Judson, Supervisor; John R. Butterfield, Township 
Clerk; Nelson Toncray, Treasurer ; Robert D.Power, 
Justice of the Peace; Ira P. Bingham, School Inspector. 

1853. — Lyman Judson, Supervisor; Orlando A. Fuller, Township 
Clerk; John Yerington, Justice of the Peace; Fred. D. 
Acker, Treasurer; Nelson Toi'cray, School Inspector, 



1854. — Lewis B. Fonda, Supervisor; John R. Butterfield, Town- 
ship Clerk; Samuel M. Conely, Treasurer; Lyman Jud- 
son, Justice of the Peace; George E. Smith, School 
Inspector. 

1855. — Lewis B. Fonda, Supervisor; John R. Butterfield, Town- 
ship Clerk; Samuel M. Conely, Treasurer; John E. 
Weichers, School Inspector; William S. Conely, Chester 
Thomson, Justices of the Peace. 

1856. — James B. Lee, Supervisor; John R. Butterfield, Township 
Clerk; Fred. D. Acker, Treasurer; Ira W. Case, Nelson 
Toncray, Justices of the Peace. 

1857. — S]5aulding M. Case, Supervisor ; William J. McHench, 
Township Clerk; Frederick D. Acker, Treasurer ; Ira 
P. Bingham, School Inspector. 

1858. — Lewis B. Fonda, Supervisor; George W. Rose, Township 
Clerk; Samuel M. Conely, Treasurer; Roswell Barnes, 
Justice of the Peace; Augustus Reiner, School In- 
spector. 

1859. — Spaulding M. Case, Supervisor; Egbeit F. Albiight, Town- 
ship Clerk; Eli L. .Soule, Treasurer; Lyman Judson, 
.Spafford K. Woodhull, School Inspectors. 

l85o. — Lyman Judson, Supervisor; Levi D. Cook, Township 
Clerk; Eli L. Soule, Treasurer; Daniel C. Marsh, Jus- 
tice of the Peace; Egbert F. Albright, School Inspector. 

1861. — Lyman Judson, Supervisor; John G. Spencer, Township 
Clerk; A. Sears, Treasurer; Willard A. Beach, Justice 
of the Peace; Richard Lyon, School Inspector. 

1862. — Lyman Judson, Supervisor; William J. McHench, Town- 
ship Clerk; Myron G. Hodges, Treasurer; Ira W. Case, 
Justice of the Peace; Levi D. Cook, School Inspector. 

1863. — Wheaton Hicks, Supervisor ; William J. McHench, Town- 
ship Clerk; Timothy Warner, Treasurer; John Carter, 
Justice of the Peace. 

1S64. — Record incomplete. 

1865. — John Carter, Supervisor; Herman C. House, Township 
Clerk ; Willard A. Beach, Justice of the Peace ; Timo- 
thy Warner, Treasurer; R. J. Lyon, School Inspector. 

l866.^John Carter, Supervisor; George P. Dudley, Township 
Clerk; Edgar G. Durfee, Treasurer; William J. Mc- 
Hench, School Inspector; Herman C. House, Justice 
of the Peace. 

1867. — Wheaton J. Hicks, Supervisor; Solomon I. King, Town- 
ship Clerk; John Carter, Samuel M. Conely, Justices of 
the Peace; William King, Treasurer; Orson W. Tock, 
School Inspector. 

1868. — Wheaton Hicks, Supervisor; Herman C. House, Town- 
ship Clerk ; Benjamin T. O. Clark, Justice of the Peace ; 
Joseph E. Placeway, Treasurer; Richard Lyon, School 
Inspector. 

1869. — Wheaton Hicks, Supervisor; John W. Power, Township 
Clerk ; Samuel M. Conely, Justice of the Peace; Joseph 
E. Placeway, Treasurer; Orson W. Tock, James W. 
Edgar, School Inspectors. 

1870. — Wheaton Hicks, Supervisor; William B. Cushing, Town- 
ship Clerk; Herman C. House, Justice of the Peace; 
Thomas F. Lown, Treasurer; Egbert F. Albright, 
School Inspector. 

1871. — John Carter, Supervisor; Milton Thomas, Township 
Clerk; John Carter, Justice of the Peace; Thomas F. 
Lown, Treasurer; Richard J. Lyon, School Inspector. 

1872. — John Carter, Supervisor; Milton Thomas, Township 
Clerk; Joseph E. Placeway, Treasurer; Eugene Hicks, 
School Inspector; Robert Warder, Justice of the Peace. 

1873. — James B. Thurber, Supeivisor; John W. Power, Town- 
ship Clerk ; Wheaton Hicks, Justice of the Peace ; Jo- 
seph E. Placeway, Treasurer ; Richard J. Lyons, School 
Inspector. 

1S74. — Lyman Judson, Supervisor; John E. Weichers, Township 
Clerk ; Charles A. Holdridge, Treasurer ; Eugene 
Hicks, School Inspector. 





Residence o"f JOHN CAf?TER , brigi- 




■^ t^^^- 




Livingston County, Michigan 



BRIGHTON TOWNSHIP. 



229 



1875. — Wheaton Hicks, Supervisor; John E. Weichers, Town- 
ship Clerk; Charles A. I loldridge. Treasurer; Lucian 
li. Stewart, Suiierinteiulent of Schools; Eugene Ilicks, 
School Inspector. 

1876. — Wheaton Ilicks, Supervisor; Henry I'. Martin. Town'^hip 
Clerk; G. C. Weslphal, Treasurer; William M. Power, 
David Pitkin, Justices of the Peace; Lucian B. Stew- 
art, Superintendent of Schools; Eugene Ilicks, School 
Inspector. 

1877. — James B. Thurher, Supervisor ; Nicholais Kennedy, Town- 
ship Clerk; Godfrey C. Westphal, Treasurer ; Whe.iton 
Hicks, Justice of the Peace; Lucian E. Stewart, Super- 
intendent of Schools; Augustus Reiner, School In- 
spector. 

1878. — John Carter, Supervisor; Charles II. Brown, Township 
Clerk; Augustus Reiner, Treasurer; Thomas T. Tunis, 
Justice of the Peace; Eugene Hicks, School Inspector. 

1879. — Eugene Hicks, Supervisor; Charles H. Brown, Township 
Clerk; Augustus Reiner, Treasurer; John Carter, Geo. 
W. Stewart, Justices of the Peace; Lucian B. Stewart, 
School Superintendent ; Richard J. Lyon, School In- 
spector. 



BIOGRAI'lIiCAL SKETCHES. 



HON. JOHN CARTER 

is of Irish birth and parentage. His father, Julian 
Carter, emigrated to this country from Ireland in 
1 82 1, and settled in Oswego, N. Y. He was a 
farmer, merchant, and lumber-manufacturer, and 
was actively engaged in business until his death, 
which occurred in 1873. John, his only child, 
was born in Queens Co., Ireland, Oct. 10, 1820. 
Soon after his birth his mother died, and he was 
reared by his grandparents. He attended school 
until he attained his eighteenth year, when he 
joined the "constabulary," a corps of men emploj'ed 
by the government to preserve order; he served in 
this organization until 1845, when he came to 
America, where he joined his father, with whom 
he was associated in business for three years. At 
this time he made an extended tour through Mich- 
igan, preparatory to choosing a home there. The 
following spring he removed to Milford, Oakland 
Co., and was engaged in a flouring-mill until the 
spring of 1850, when, deciding to engage in farm- 
ing, he purchased eighty acres of partially improved 
land, upon which he remained until 1856, when he 
sold and removed to Pleasant Valley, where he 
purchased two hundred acres of land which he 
now owns. He has since added to it two hundred 
acres ; his present farm is considered to be one of 
the most valuable in the county. 

Mr. Carter not only occupies a prominent posi- 
tion atnong the representative men antl leading 
farmers of the count)', but has identified himself 
largely with the politics of his district, county, and 
town. For several years he represented Brighton 



upon the Board of Supervisors, where he was con- 
sidered an able and efficient member. He was elected 
to the Legislature in 1872, and served in the extra 
sessions of 1873 and 1874. He was again nomi- 
nated in 1874, and although Livingston County is 
largely Democratic, he was defeated by only fifteen 
votes. In his own town his integrity and ability 
have won for him an enviable position, as is evi- 
denced by the fact that at his election in 1S75, as 
magistrate, he received every vote in the township 
but three. 

April 19, 1849, Mr. Carter married Jeannette, 
daughter of John and Jane Lambie, of Camden, 
N. Y. She was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, Jan. 30, 
1827. In 1831 the family emigrated to this country, 
and settled in Camden, Oneida Co., N. Y., where 
Mr. Lambie pursued his former avocation, that of 
a dairyman and stock-dealer ; he was a shrewd, 
enterprising man, and possessed of more than ordi- 
nar\- energy and determination. He died in Camden 
in 1834. 

It may be truly said of Mr. Carter that he has 
been " the architect of his own fortune." Com- 
mencing life in a new country-, with only his natural 
resources for his capital, he has attained success in 
all his undertakings. 



A.\RON H. KELLEY. 
Aaron H. Kelley was born in the town of Shafts- 
bury, Bennington Co., Vt, June 10, 1805, and first 
came to Michigan in the spring of 1 830. He re- 
turned to Vermont the subsequent fall, and re- 
mained there until 1833, when he again came to 
Michigan and lived in Di.xboro', Washtenaw Co., 
until 1837, during which year he removed to the 
farm he had located in Brighton township. He 
also built, in 1837, a saw-mill and operated it for 
some time. This mill, operated by water-power, 
was known far and wide in those early days, and 
furnished the lumber for many of the first build- 
ings erected in Livingston Count)'. About the 
last work done by this pioneer mill was sawing a 
quantity of plank for the Detroit and Howell 
Plank road. Mr. Kelley sold his first purchase, 
known as the Clark farm, and purchased one ad- 
joining of the Winchells, taking possession of it 
in 1837 ; he occupied a log house (built by Jacob 
Winchell, and one of the first in Brighton) until 
1S46, when he removed to a frame house near his 
mill. In 1836, while residing in Dixboro', he mar- 
ried Miss Emeline Grimes, a native of New York. 
She, his faithful companion in the hard pioneer 
struggle of early years, died in 1849. In 1851 he 
was married to Miss Mary I. Murra)', who, before 
her marriage, had been engaged for several )'cars in 



230 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



school-teaching. She taught three months in Green 
Oak township, and for eight years was a precep- 
tress in various school-rooms, both in Livingston 
and Oakland Counties. 

Mrs. Kelley was the daughter of Frederick Mur- 
ray, and was born in the town of Victor, Ontario 
Co., N. Y., in 1825. She accompanied her father 
and the other members of the family to the town- 
ship of Farmington, Oakland Co., Mich., where 
Mr. Murray purchased eighty acres of land. In 
1 84 1 he moved to Green Oak townsliip, Livingston 
Co., and bought one hundred and twenty acres. 
His death occurred in the latter township. All of 
Mrs. Kelley's family are now deceased except her- 
self and two brothers, one residing on the old 
farm in Green Oak, and the other in Le Roy town- 
ship, Ingham Co., Mich. Their father was a 
farmer, and had a family of eight children. Mr. 
Kelley is also deceased, — his death occurring Oct. 
26, 1877. 



REV. IRA W.\RNER, 

a minister of the denomination known as Christians, 
and who traces his ancestry back to Col. Seth War- 
ner, of Revolutionary fame, was born in Van Buren, 
Onondaga Co., N. Y., Nov. 10, 1809, and is one of 
a family of four children. His education was 
derived from the common schools of the time. 
At the age of nine years (Aug. 16, 1818) he was 
deprived of a father's care, the latter's death occur- 
ring at that date. The son remained upon the 
farm until he was eighteen, and on the 27th of 
December, 1829. when a little past twenty years of 
age, was married to Miss Laura Foster, the eldest 
of a family of thirteen children, and herself but 
si.xteen years old. The same winter Mr. Warner 
preached his first sermon in the school-house where 
he had first attended school. After that he did not 
preach again for ten years, paying his whole atten- 
tion to his farm. After changing his location sev- 
eral times, he moved with his family, in 1839, to 
Monroe Co., Mich., and settled in the township of 
Milan, where he purchased sixty acres of heavily- 
timbered land. Before clearing it up he began 
preaching, his calls being so numerous he could 
not attend to them all. After remaining ten years 
in Milan he traded his place for a farm of one hun- 
dred and twenty acres in Brighton township, Liv- 
ingston Co., to which he removed, and upon which 
he now lives, his wife of nearly fifty years occupying 
it with him. Mr. Warner has preached in nearly 
every school-house in Livingston County, and at- 
tended all the funerals in the neighborhood, yet for 
thirty-nine years' preaching and various services he 
has not received a total compensation of three 



hundred dollars. During one of his engagements, 
which required his presence every alternate Sun- 
day, the distance to the place being twenty-five 
miles, he succeeded in procuring a horse, but no 
saddle, and in lieu of the latter used blankets, with 
strings of basswood-bark for stirrups. He has 
twice received the appointment of missionary to 
this portion of the State. The summer of 1879 
was the first for many years that he did not fill 
regular appointments for preaching, but ill health 
prevented. Mr. and Mrs. Warner are the parents 
of six children, of whom one died, and the others 
are married and living in homes of their own. 



MELZER BIRD 



was born in Berkshire Co., Mass., in April, 1805, 
being one of a family consisting of seven girls and 
five boys. His ancestors were English. In 181 5 
his father removed to Ontario Co., N. Y., with 
the family. The son was employed on his father's 
farm until he was seventeen years of age, when he 
began learning the cooper's trade with his uncle 
Winslow, remaining with the latter seven years. 
For three years subsequently he conducted a shop 
of his own. On the 26th of October, 1829, he 
went to Rome, N. Y., and was married to Miss 
Laura A. Wentworth. Returning to his home, he 
continued working at his trade until 1833, when 
he came to Livingston Co., Mich., and purchased 
the one hundred and twenty acre farm upon which 
he now resides, in the township of Brighton. He 
has since purchased two hundred and forty acres 
additional. In the spring of 1834 he brought his 
wife and two children to their home in the West. 
During his residence in this State he has erected 
one hundred and three buildings for various parties, 
and for the first ten years every coffin used within 
a radius often miles was made by his hands. His 
children are eight in number, viz., F"rancis A., 
Catharine, Julia, Adeline, Gilbert (deceased), Oliver 
(deceased), Margaret (deceased), and Harriet (de- 
ceased). His faithful and loving wife died April 
23, 1869. Mr. Bird's barn was the first one built 
in the township of Brighton, and his log house the 
fourth one in the same territory. Mr. Bird has 
been a member of the Presbyterian Church since 
1826. In politics he is a sturdy, staunch Repub- 
lican. 



THOMAS WOULDS. 

South Kyme, Lincolnshire, England, is the 
birthplace of the gentleman named above. He was 
one of the oldest in a family of nine children, his 
father being a farmer. The son, until he was 






REV. IRA VKARNER 



MRS. IRA WARNER. 




i*"*^ 




MELZER BIRD. 



MRS.MELZER BIRD. 



BRIGHTON TOWNSHIP. 



231 



twenty-one years of age, worked by the year at 
farming, and after attaining to that age was em- 
ployed for three years on public works. Sept. 21, 
1852, he was married to Miss Anna Abbott, and 
three weeks later embarked in a sailing-vessel for 
America. After reaching New York City he pro- 
ceeded to Honesdale, Pennsylvania, where he re- 
mained one and a half years. He then came to 
Michigan, and, in company with his brother John, 
purchased two hundred and forty acres of land in 
the township of Brighton, where he now live.s. 
This was in the fall of 1855. His brother died in 
1858, after giving a deed for his share of the place 
to Thomas. In 1867, Mr. VVoulds, in company 
with Mr. Warner, bought the old " Woodruff 
Mill," and after expending considerable money in 
repairs, operated it about five years. Connected 
with the mill was a farm of one hundred and ten 
acres. In 1872 the copartnership was dissolved, 
and Mr. Woulds retained the mill, while Mr. War- 
ner took the farm. In the spring of 1878, Mr. 
Woulds sold the mill to Mr. Nye, and returned to 
his farm, upon which he has since remained. His 
place contains one hundred and sixty acres, includ- 
ing eighteen acres of timber, and is finely im- 
proved. Miss Anna Abbott, who became the wife 
of Mr. Woulds, was one of a family of seven chil- 
dren, and the daughter of a farmer. Her si.ster 
married a man named Young, and emigrated with 
him to America, and they induced Mr. and Mrs. 
Woulds to follow them, with what success is seen 
in the foregoing. 



GEORGE W. CONELY. 

George W. Conely was born in New York City, 
on Christmas-day, 1828. His father, S. M. Conely, 
was a carver and gilder by trade, and in company 
with a large number of his fellow-tradesmen came 
to Livingston Co., Mich., in 1837. G. W. Conely 
stayed with his father and worked on the farm in 
Brighton until he was twenty-one, after which he 
worked out at farming for three years, receiving 
eleven dollars per month for his services the first 
year and twelve the other two. Oct. 25, 1853, he 
was married to Miss Eliza N. Warner, daughter of 
Rev. Ira Warner, an early settler in the townslii[) 
of Brighton. One son and four daughters were 
born to them ; two of the children are now deceased. 
After his marriage Mr. Conely rented a farm near 
his father's for one year, and during the time pur- 
chased the farm upon which he now resides. He 
has added to it forty-eight acres, making one hun- 
dred and twenty-eight acres altogether. Twenty- 
three years after he was married his wife died, 
Icavin" him and three children to mourn her loss. 



Two years later (March 12, 1878) he was married 
to Mrs. Alice Lemonion, daughter of Cornelius 
W'iltse, one of the pioneers of Shiawassee Co., 
Mich. This lady was born in Shiawas.see County, 
July 27, 1846, and is one of a family of four children. 
At the age of twenty-one her first marriage was con- 
summated, her husband dying eight years later. 
By him she had one child, which is now living with 
her. Her marriage with Mr. Conely took place on 
the same day with the golden wedding of the latter's 
parents, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Ira 
Warner, father of Mr. Conely's first wife. Mr. 
Conely's eldest daughter, Ella, died at the age of 
twenty j^ears, shortly after her return from De- 
troit, at which city she had been perfecting herself 
in music. When, in 1854, Mr. Conely moved 
upon his present place, not a tree had been cut nor 
any improvements made; but the lapse of twenty- 
five years has witnessed its transition into a pro- 
ductive and finely-improved homestead. 



SAMUEL M. CONELY. 
Mr. Conely was born in the city of New York, 
on the 26th of September, 1806, and early learned 
the trade of a carver and gilder. His father, 
Jeremiah Conely, was a seaman, and was born at 
a place called Snow Hill, in Maryland, about 
1766. His mother was born at the east end of 
Long Island. His ancestors were among those 
who came to America with the famous Lord 
Baltimore. Mr. Conely was one of a family of 
seven children, — three sons and four daughters, — 
of whom all are deceased except his sister Eleanor 
and himself His father died when the son was 
fifteen years old, and the latter, at the age of six- 
teen, was apprenticed on Fulton Street, New York 
City, to learn the trade above spoken of There 
he remained until he was twenty-one. On the 
1 2th of March, 1828, he was married to Miss 
Rebecca Southard. For several years thereafter 
he continued to work at his trade. In 1837 he 
started, with his wife and four children, for Living- 
ston County, Mich., and after a passage to Buffalo 
by canal, thence to Detroit by steamer, they pur- 
chased a yoke of cattle, a wagon, a cow, and a 
barrel each of pork and flour, loaded up and drove 
through to their new home. Mr. Conely pur- 
chased one hundred acres of government land, 
which has since been his home. His children are 
eight in number, as follows : George W., married 
and living in Brighton township ; William B., a 
portrait painter, married and residing in Detroit; 
Benjamin F., living on a farm of his own in this 
township ; John A., living on his farm in Illinois; 
Francis M., occupying a farm in Brighton town- 



232 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



ship; Thomas J, on his own farm in Brigliton ; 
Henry, deceased ; and Mary E., married and 
living in this township. Henry died at his 
father's house, Feb. 14, 1873. Mr. Conely has 
twenty living grandchildren. During three winters 
after liis settlement in Michigan, he returned to 
New York and worked at his trade to earn money 
with which to provide for his family. Mrs. Conely 
was one of nine children, and was born on Long 
Island, July 5, 1809. Her ancestors were among 
the first settlers of the island. Both her own and 
Mr. Conely's mother died in Michigan. The 
house first built by Mr. Conely is yet standing; 
but he now occupies a new and more modern 
structure erected in 1876. In 1878, Mr. and Mrs. 
Conely celebrated their golden wedding, and at 
the happy gathering guests were present from 
Nebraska, Illinois, and Lansing and Detroit, Mich. 
A large number of presents commemorative of the 
occasion were received by the aged pair, who for 
fifty years — much more than the average length 
of man's existence — have together buffeted the 
reverses, and tasted the joys of life. 



O. K. VAN AMBURG. 

An example of what can be accomplished by 
perseverance and stern determination is presented 
in the case of Mr. Van Ambuig. He was born 
Dec. 16, 1803, in Milton, Saratoga Co , N. Y., and 
his father supported the family by day labor, hav- 
ing fourteen children dependent upon him. The 
son, when twelve years of age, left his home and 
worked by the month at farming until he was 
twenty-one. Shortly after attaining his majority 
he started for Michigan on foot, in company with 
his oldest brother, Matthew. After a hard jour- 
ney of fifteen days, they arrived in Oakland County, 
in the latter State. The first job was one in which 
they worked four days for an a.xe. They then 
took a job of clearing and fencing twelve acres of 
land, in order to earn some money. The younger 
brother, with the proceeds of his work, purchased 
eighty acres of timbered land in the township of 
Novi. During the first two years of his residence 
in the State he was sick fourteen months. March 
15, 1829, he was married to Miss Mary Ann Taft, 
daughter of one of the first settlers of Novi. For 
a year he worked with his father-in-law, and then 
moved upon his own place. Four years later he 
sold out and entered one hundred and sixty acres 



of government land in the same township, upon 
which he remained until 1845. In the latter year 
he exchanged for a farm of one hundred and seven 
acres on the Detroit and Grand River Turnpike. 
In December, 1850, his wife died, after having 
borne him seven children. In August, 1851, he 
married Miss Amanda M. Brown, who became the 
mother of two children. His children by his first 
wife were Louisa M., Orston T., Harriet Ann, Wil- 
liam H., Joseph T., Henry W., and Daniel O. ; by 
his second wife, Albert A. and Charles W. Mr. 
Van Amburg's ancestors lived for many years in 
Saratoga Co., N. Y. His parents both died in 
Michigan, at the home of their son. His children 
all reside in Livingston County, except two, — a 
married daughter in Oakland County and a mar- 
ried son in Ogemaw County. In 1857, Mr. Van 
Amburg exchanged his last-mentioned farm for 
one of two hundred and forty acres in Brighton 
township, Livingston Co., and is now living just 
across the line from his first building-spot in this 
county. For ten years he was a justice of the 
peace, and also for a number of years commis- 
sioner of highways. 



W. C. SEARS. 



Mr. Sears was born in Fabius,N. Y.,Dec. 20, 18 12, 
being one ofa family of six children. Hisfather, who 
was a farmer, moved to Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1829, 
and purchased forty acres of land near tiiat place. 
The son worked for his father several years. At the 
age of twenty-one he commenced to work at the 
carpenter's trade, continuing for a short time. In 
February, 1846, he came to the township of Brigh- 
ton, Livingston Co., purchased about two hundred 
acres of land, and built a log house, the remains of 
which are yet standing. About twelve years later, 
he built the house he now occupies. March 14, 
1853, he married Miss Elvira Toncray, who bore 
him a son, — Pitt, — his birth occurring Feb. 3, 1854. 
The son is now living with his wife on the farm, 
he having married Miss Ada Traverse, Dec. 11, 
1878. Mrs. W. C. Sears died July 17, 1878. Even 
at the date Mr. Sears settled in Brighton the country 
was yet new, and no improvements had been made 
on the land he purchased. Deer, wild turkeys, and 
wolves abounded. Mr. Sears carried his wheat to 
Detroit, and sold it for fifty cents a bushel, making 
the trip with his team of o.xen. He has at present 
one hundred acres of land under cultivation. 



HANDY TOWNSHIP. 



The territory designated in the field-notes of 
the United States survey as township No. 3 north, 
of range No. 3 east, was organized as a separate 
township in 1S38, and derived its name from Cal- 
vin Handy, its first settler. 

It is situated upon the west border of Living- 
ston County, north of the centre. 

Adjacent township organizations are Conway on 
the nortii, Howell on the east, Iosco on the south, 
and Leroy and Ingham Counties on the west. 

The surface, while comparatively level, undu- 
lates sufficiently to allow good surface-drainage; 
the more elevated portions being found in the 
northern part. 

The principal water-courses are the Cedar River 
and its branches. The main stream, or that which 
bears the name of Cedar River proper, enters the 
town by crossing the south line of section 34 ; 
thence it flows in a northerly direction through 
the central part of the township, until reaching the 
centre of section 10, when its course is changed to 
the northwest, finally passing into Conway from 
the north line of section 5. It again enters 
Handy, and forms a junction with the west branch 
in the north part of section 6. 

The East Branch enters from Howell township, 
and intersecting sections 24, 13, 14, and 23, makes 
a junction with the main stream in the north part 
of section 22. The West Branch first makes its 
appearance by crossing the south border of sec- 
tion 31, and flowing to the northwest, cuts the 
southwest corner of the same section, and passes 
into Ingliam County. It re-enters the township 
by crossing the west line of section 19, and thence 
continues northerly, through the west tier of sec- 
tions, until joining the main stream near the 
extreme northwest part of the township. 

Springs abound in many places, and, taken al- 
together, the township is well watered; yet no 
lakes are found within its borders, and its area of 
swamp surface is comparatively small. 

In a state of nature it was heavily timbered with 
the deciduous trees common to this portion of 
the State ; consequently its soil is strong and rich, 
well adapted to grazing, and the successful culti- 
vation of corn, fruits, and the various cereals, and 
in the quality and quantity of its productions per 
30 



acre. Handy is not surpassed by any township in 
Livingston County. 

It contains the thriving village of Fowlerville, 
and in 1874 the census reported a total popula- 
tion of 2144. The present voters are 600 in num- 
ber, and the present total population will aggre- 
gate 3000. 

ORIGINAL LAND-ENTRIES. 
The following comprises a li.st of names of those 
who purchased of the general government lands 
situated in the township of Handy, with the sec- 
tions on which they purchased and the dates of 
the several purchases. Those designated by an 
asterisk (*) became residents in the township. 

SECTION I. 

Horace \V. Vaughn, Oaklaml Co., Mich., March 25, 1836. 
Willi,im Harnett, Monroe Co., N. Y., April i, 1836. 
Joseph B. Craft, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 5, 1836. 
George Curtis, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 9, 1836. 
Joseph B. Craft, Livingston Co., N. Y., M.iy 13, 1836. 
Joel Banfielil, Tompkins Co., N. Y., June 9, 1836. 
Richard P. Bush,* Tompkins Co., N. Y., June 9, 1836. 

SECTION 2. 
Waity Smith,* Livingston Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1835. 
Ralph Fowler,* Livingston Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1835. 
Calvin Handy,* Tompkins Co., N. Y., March 25, 1836. 
Franklin Moore and Zachariah Chandler, Wayne Co., Mich., 

June 4, 1S36." 
Charles P. Bush,* Tompkins Co., N. Y., June 9, 1836. 

SECTION 3. 
Ralph Fowler,* Livingston Co , N. Y., Nov. 5, 1835. 
Charles P. Butler, New York City, April 2, 1836. 

SECTION 4. 
John B. F.>wler,* Livingston Co , N. Y., April 18, 1836. 
Henry \V. Di^^lavan, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Sept. 23, 1S36. 
Nicholas Grumli.ack, \V.ayne Co., Mich., .Vpril 25, 1S38. 
Phlneas Silshy,* Wayne Co., Mich., Aug. 7, 1838. 

SECTION 5. 
Cornelius Israel, Wayne Co., Mich., July 15, 1S36. 
John W. E.lmonds, Columhia Co., N. Y., Oct. 26, 1836. 
Gustave De Neven, Genesee Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1836, and 
April 13, 1838. 

SECTION 6. 
Henry W. Delavan, S.iratoga Co., N. Y., Sept. 23, 1836. 
Ebenezer McCormick, Genesee Co., N Y., Nov. 5, 1836. 
Gustave De Neven, Genesee Co , N. Y., April 14, 1838. 
Gi:orge E. Ad.ini-, Dec. 13, 1853. 
John Thomas, Dec. 13, 1S53. 

233 



234 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



SECTION 7. 

Polly Sandeis, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 2S, 1835. 
John B. Fo'wler,* Livingston Co., N. Y., Apiil 18, 1836. 
Nathan Jenks, Ontario Co., N. Y., June 14, 1836. 
John W. Edmonds, Columbia Co., N. Y., Nov. 4, 1S36. 
Malliew Straight, Wayne Co., Mich., Jan. 24, 1837. 
George W. Lee, Livingston Co., Mich , April 15, 1853. 

SECTION 8. 

John I?. Fowler,* Livingston Co., N. Y., April 18, 1836. 
P'lavius J. B. Crane, Livingston Co., Mich., April 23, 1836. 
Nathan Jenks, Ontario Co., N. Y., June 14, 1836. 
William C. Blackwood, Seneca Co., N. Y., July 13, 1836. 
Samuel Blackwood, Oakland Co., Mich., July 13, 1836. 
George W. Israel, Wayne Co., Mich., July 15, 1836. 
Samuel Bryant, Wayne Co., Mich., Jan. 24, 1837. 

SECTION 9. 

Peter A. Cowdrey, New York City, Oct. 23, 1835. 
George Mcintosh, Oakland Co., Mich., March 26, 1836. 
Joseph Lawrence, New London, Conn., May 2, 1836. 
Russell Forsyth, Albany Co., N. Y., Oct. 26, 1836. 

SECTION 10. 

Ralph Fowler,* Livingston Co., N. Y., Aug. 27, 1835. 
Peter A. Cowdrey, New York City, Oct. 23, 1S35. 
Henry W. Delavan, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Sept. 23, 1836. 
Amos Adams, Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 28, 1836. 

SECTION II. 

Chilson Sanford, Washtenaw Co., Mich., April 25, 1S34. 
Ralph Fowler,* Livingston Co., N. Y., Aug. 28, 1835. 
Harvey Metcalf,* Livingston Co., N. Y., Nov. 28, 1835. 
Charles P. Bush,* Tompkins Co., N. Y., March 26, 1836, and 

April I, 1836. 
Loren Tainter, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 7, 1836. 

SECTION 12. 

Flavins J. B. Crane, Livingston Co., N. Y., Nov. 27, 1835. 
Francis Field, Livingston Co.,N. Y., Jan. 11, 1836. 
William J. Hamilton, Cayuga Co., N. Y., April 25, 1836. 
Mary Tainter, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 7, 1836. 
Joel Banfield, Tompkins Co., N. Y., June 3, 1836. 
James E. Head,* Livingston Co , Mich., Sept. 23, 1836. 
Stephen Avery,* Livingston Co., N. Y., Dec. 8, 1836. 
Charles S. Harrison, Livingston Co., N. Y., Dec. 8, 1836. 

SECTION 13. 

James M. Hitchings, Monroe Co., N. Y., June 10, 1836. 
Amos Chaffee, Wayne Co., Mich., July 15, 1836. 
Morris Tompkins, New York City, Sept. 24, 1836. 
Daniel O'Conner, Columbia Co., N. Y., Oct. 25, 1S36. 
Wells Brockaw.ay, Ontario Co., N. Y., Oct. 27, 1836. 
Victory Curtis and Almon Whipple,* Livingston Co., Mich., 
Dec. 27, 1837. 

SECTION 14. 

Sanford Brilton, Wayne Co., Mich., April 25, 1836. 
Peleg Oatman, Orleans Co., N. Y., May 17, 1836. 
James M. Hitchings, Monroe Co., N. Y., June 10, 1836. 
James Hanmer, Wayne Co , Mich., Sept. 23, 1836. 
Victory Curtis and Almon Whipple,* Livingston Co., Mich., 
Dec. 27, 1837. 

SECTION 15. 

Ralph Fowler,* Livingston Co., N. Y.,Aug. 27, 1835. 
Nathaniel Dorr, Norfolk Co., Mas^., Aug. 28, 1S35. 
Nathaniel Jenks, Ontario Co., N. Y., June 14, 1S36. 



SECTION 16. 

W. H. Miller,* Oct. 5, 1852. 
Fowler & Power,* July 26, 1854. 
James Hawley,* Dec. 10, 1852. 
R. E. Adams, Nov. 23, 1853. 
M. W. Fradenburgh, Dec. 23, 1853. 
J. T. Sprague, Dec. 23, 1853. 
Charles Whitney,* 1870. 
John M. Ruggles,* 1870. 
James Castillon, Dec. 11, 1852. 

D. W. Adams, Nov. 23, 1853. 
David Dunn,* Oct. 9, 1866. 
P. H. Barber,* Oct. 9, 1866. 
Jonathan Fox,* Oct. 9, 1866. 
N. Coffey,* July 31, 1854. 
Edwin Schooley,* March 7, 1854. 
Belden Lyman, March 7, 1854. 

SECTION 17. 

Charles Place, New York City, Dec. 4, 1835. 

Henry Barber, Washtenaw Co., Midi., June 6, 1836. 

John and James Mulholland, Washtenaw Co., Mich., July i, 

1836." 
David A. McFarlan, Wayne Co., Mich., April 4, 1837, and 

April 5, 1837. 
John M. Ruggles,* Livingston Co., Mich., Sept. 23, 1857. 
Daniel S. Lee, Livingston Co., Mich., Jan. 27, 1854. 

E. Knickerbocker,* Livingston Co., Mich., Aug. 3, 1854. 

SECTION 18. 

Chai-les Place, New York City, Dec. 4, 1S35. 
Benjamin P. Vealy,* Wayne Co., Mich., June 14, 1836. 
Alanson Knickerbocker,* Wayne Co., Mich., June 17, 1836. 
Hannah Knickerbocker,* Wayne Co., Mich., June 18, 1836. 
George M. Rich, Wayne Co., Mich., Feb. 8, 1837. 
Almira Collins, Livingston Co., Mich., April 14, 1849. 
Martin Coffey,* Livmgston Co., Mich., Nov. 22, 1854. 

SECTION 19. 

Alanson Knickerbocker,* Wayne Co., Mich., June 17, 1836, 
Ebenezer J. Penniman, Wayne Co., Mich., June 17, 1836. 
Gabriel Dean, Jackson Co., Mich., June 25, 1836. 
Hannah Knickerbocker,* Livingston Co., Mich., Jan. 9, 1837. 
Harry Meech,* Livingston Co., Mich., March i, 1837. 
Timothy Lyon, W.ayne Co., Mich., March I, 1837. 

SECTION 20. 

Leonard Parker,* Genesee Co., N. Y., May 23, 1836. 
Charles Jennings, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 23, 1836. 
James McGregor and John A. McGavv, city of Boston, May 

24, 1836. 
Alanson Knickerbocker,* Wayne Co., Mich., June 17, 1836. 
Eiienezer J. Penniman, Wayne Co., Mich., June 17, 1836. 
Charles Strong, Living'-ton Co., N. Y., Aug. 3, 1836. 
Timothy Lyon, Wayne Co., Mich., March i, 1837. 

SECTION 21. 

James McGregor and John A. McGaw, Boston, Mass., May 

23, 1836. 
Clark C. Boutwcll, Wayne Co., Mich., M.ay 23, 1836. 
James McGregor and John McGaw, Boston, Mass., May 24, 

1836, and June 4. 1836. 
Nelson Coffey,* Livingston Co., Mich., Aug. 3, 1S54. 

SECTION 22. 

Hosea B. Thorp, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., May 19, 1836. 
James Williams, Wayne Co., Mich., May 30, 1836. 
Abram Bockhoven, Morris Co., N. J., June 9, 1836. 



HANDY TOWNSHIP. 



235 



SECTION 23. 

John Cosart, Livingston Co., Mich., July 14, 1836. 
Spaulding M. Case, VV.iyne Co., Mich., Aug. i, 1836. 
Ilosea L. Strong, Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 25, 1836. 
Russell Forsylh, Albany Co., N. Y., Oct. 26, 1836. 
Samuel Kilpalrick, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 27, 1836. 
Hosea L. Strong, W.ayne Co , Mich., Jan. 21, 1S37. 
William Guthrie, Washtenaw Co , Mich., July 24, 1838. 

SECTION 24. 
Marshall Chapin and Jolin Owen, Wayne Co., Mich., July 

14, 1836. 
Thomas O'Conner, Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 25, 1836. 
John McKinney, Livingston Co., N. Y., Oct. 25, 1836. 
Samuel Kilpatrick, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 27, 1836. 

SECTION 25. 

Elijah Crane, Wayne Co , Mich., July 14, 1836. 
Rufus A. Leonard, Slate of New York, Dec. 20, 1837. 
George W. Ilanmer, Tompkins Co., N. Y., March 16, 1837. 
Charles P. Uush,* Ingham Co., Mich., Nov. 17, 1S54. 

SECTION 26. 

Seth Belknap, Genesee Co., N. Y., June 6, 1836. 
George B. De Graff, Cayuga Co., N. Y., June 13, 1S36. 
Elijah Crane, Wayne Co., Mich., July 14, 1836. 
John Cosart, Livingston Co., Mich., July 14, 1836. 
Jason W. Powers, Madison Co., Mich., Aug. I, 1836. 
David Phelps, New York City, Sept. 24, 1836. 
Russell Disbrow, Genesee Co., N. Y., June i, 1S37. 

SECTION 27. 

Milo M. Stockwell, Cayuga Co., N. Y., May 19, 1836. 
Jeremiah De Graff, Cayuga Co., N. Y., June 13, 1S36. 
Hiram H. Slawson, .Seneca Co., N. Y., Aug. I, 1836. 
Charles Andrews, Wayne Co., Mich., March 16, 1837. 
Israel S Spencer, Madison Co., N. Y., Feb. 15, 1838. 
Malhew Knowles,* Wayne Co., Mich., June 22, 1839. 
Leonard Morse, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Aug. 27, 1847. 
Leonard Noble, Livingston Co., Mich., Feb. 5, 1853. 

SECTION 28. 

Alanson Church,* Genesee Co., N. Y., May 23, 1836. 
Clark C. Boutwell, Wayne Co., N. Y., May 23, 1836. 
Andrew King, Orange Co., N. Y., June i, 1836. 
Jesse Norton,* Genesee Co., N. Y., July 2, 1836. 

SECTION 29. 

Orson Church,* Genesee Co., N. Y., May 23, 1836. 

James McGregor and John A. McGaw, Boston, Mass., May 

24, 1836. 
Lewis Weslfall,* Wayne Co., Mich., June 27, 1836. 
James S. Kimberly, New York City, July 16, 1836. 
Samuel Porter, Oakland Co., Mich., March 16, 1837. 
Richard Parish, Wayne Co., Mich., June 25, 1836. 

SECTION 30. 

Lewis Westfall,* Wayne Co., Mich , June 27, 1836. 
John Whaley, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 30, 1836. 
Richard Parish, Wayne Co., Mich., June 25, 1836. 
David A. McFarlan, Wayne Co., Mich., March 18, 1837. 
Losson Gordon, Wayne Co., Mich., March 28, 1837. 
Alexander Grant, Wayne Co., Mich., April 24, 1838. 
Flavins J. B. Crane, Livingston Co., Mich., June 27, 1836. 

SECTION 31. 

Lewis Westfall,* Wayne Co., Mich., June, 1836. 
John Orr, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 23, 1836. 



SECTION 32. 

John B. Banta, Montgomery Co., N. Y., June 23, 1836. 
Roswell Shurtluff, Windsor Co., Vt., June 29, 1836. 
Orestes H. Wright, Addison Co , Vt., July i, 1836. 
Flavins J. B. Crane, Livingston Co., Mich., July 5, 1836. 
Orestes H. Wright, Addison Co., Vt., July 9, 1836. 

SECTION ii. 
Dennis Conrad,* Oakland Co., Mich., May 21, 1836. 
Lewis W. Decker,* Ontario Co., N. Y., M.ay 31, 1836. 
Joseph and Willard Blanchard, Onondaga Co., N. Y., June 

I, 1836. 
Adolphus Brigham, Wi\yne Co., Mich , June i, 1836. 
William Martin, Wayne Co., Mich., June I, 1836. 
Orestes H. Wright, Addison Co., Vt., July 9, 1836. 
James .S. Kimberly, New York City, July 16, 1S36. 
N.ithaniel Andrews, O.akland Co., Mich., March 16, 1837. 
Joseph S. Stockwell, Oakland Co., Mich., March 16, 1837. 

SECTION 34. 

Dennis Conrad,* Oakland Co., Mich., May 19, 1836. 

Silas Munsell, W.ayne Co., Mich , M.ay 30, 1836. 

Joel Choate,* Genesee Co., N. Y., July 2, 1836. 

Joseph S. Stockfield, Oakland Co., Mich., March 16, 1837. 

SECTION 35. 

Joel H. Prescolt, Ontario Co., N. Y., March 25, 1836. 
Benj.amin Smith, Wayne Co., N. Y., March 25, 1836. 
Reuben S. Durfee, Wayne Co., Mich., March 25, 1836. 
Luther Harmon, Ontario Co., N. Y., May 30, 1836. 
Joseph Morrow, Ontario Co., N. Y., May 30, 1836. 

SECTION 36. 

Dana Shaw, Orleans Co., N. \'., April 9, 1836. 
John A. Buckland, Orleans Co., N. Y., April 9, 1836. 
Daniel P. Biglow, Orleans Co., N. Y., April 9, 1836. 
Samuel Hill, Orleans Co., N. Y., April 9, 1836. 
Francis Middleberger, Oakland Co., Mich., June II, 1836. 
Aaron Lawrence, Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 17, 1836. 
James S. Kimlierly, city of New York, July 15, 1836. 

THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS. 

On the 25tli of March, 1836, Calvin Handy, a 
native of Bennington, Vt., then of Danbj', Tomp- 
kin.s Co., N. Y., purchased from the United States 
government the southeast quarter and the south 
part of the northeast fractional quarter of section 
2 in this township. He immediately began prep- 
arations for making a permanent settlement upon 
his purchase. Early in May of the same year he 
shipped Iiis household goods, together with a 
wagon and some agricultural implements, via the 
Erie Canal and Lake Erie to Detroit. His family, 
which consisted of himself, his wife. Patience, and 
children, Polly, Homer, and Eliza, traveled by the 
same route and mode to the City of the Straits. All 
arrived safely. He then bought a yoke of oxen, 
loaded his effects and the members of his family 
upon the wagon, and began a tedious journey over 
the Grand River Turnpike towards the western 
part of the newly-organized county of Livingston.; 
During the latter part of May they arrived at the 
log cabin of Sardis Davis, who was then living a 



236 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



short distance south of the present village of 
Howell. But the last day of their journey was 
marred by an accident which befell Mrs. Handy. 
The roads were very bad, full of ruts, roots, stumps, 
and mud-holes, and on the wagon, perched above 
the goods, sat Mrs. Handy, witli her children. An 
unusual jolt of the wagon threw her, with her 
youngest born, to the ground, and before the ve- 
hicle could be stopped one wheel passed over her 
foot. A stout shoe protected the member suffi- 
ciently, however, to prevent dislocation or the 
bones from being crushed, but she was rendered 
lame and almost helpless for some weeks after- 
wards. 

Mr. Handy 's family remained under the hospit- 
able roof of Sardis Davis — the pioneer of Marion — 
for some three weeks, or until his own cabin could 
be erected and rendered habitable. This was ac- 
complished on tlie l6th of June, 1S36. The same 
afternoon Frederick B. and Cecil D. Parsons, with 
four other men as companions, arrived at the cabin, 
and, after engaging the services of Charles P. Bush 
as guide to show them land in the present town of 
Conway, requested of Mr. Handy the privilege of 
sleeping on his jJooi- througli the night. He an- 
swered them in the negative. They seemed much 
astonished at this peremptory refusal; and when 
the spokesman had recovered sufficiently to in- 
quire why, they were quietly informed that his 
cabin possessed no floor, but that his wife would 
endeavor to make them as comfortable as possible. 
Mrs. Handy — the first white woman to reside in 
the township, and at present a resident of tiie vil- 
lage of Fowlerville — relates that she then took from 
some of the packing-boxes beds and bedding, and 
spread upon the ground, in the centre of the cabin, 
a bed, upon which these si.K weary men reposed 
their heads and shoulders, while their lower ex- 
tremities swung around the circle ad libitum. The 
children, meanwhile, were made cosy by stowing 
them away in the half-emptied packing-boxes. 
Thus passed the first night in the first settler's 
habitation in the township of Handy. Helen, 
another daughter, was born to them a few years 
after their settlement here. In 1839, Mr. Handy 
became the second supervisor of the township 
which bears his name. In later years he filled 
many other official stations, and during a long 
residence was ever held in high and deserved 
esteem for his genial qualities and obliging nature. 
He was born in 1798, and died May 29, 1874. 

Charles P. Bush reached the settlement one week 
later than Mr. Handy. He was also from Danby, 
Tompkins Co., N. Y., and, after building a log 
house, clearing land, and sowing a crop of wheat, 
returned to I^ew York. I'l June, 1837, he again 



came to Handy, and with his family settled upon 
the northwest quarter of section 11. He was a 
gentleman possessed of a keen and discriminating 
intellect, which he had matured by reading and 
reflection. Ready in expedient, and always fore- 
most when occasion required, nature stamped him 
as a leader, and he became at once the counselor 
and friend of the early settlers. A few years later 
he became one of the most prominent men in this 
part of the State. In \'S>.\o he was elected to 
represent Livingston County in the State Legisla- 
ture, and was re-elected three successive terms. 
In 1845 he was elected State Senator from tlie dis- 
trict of which Livingston County formed a part. 
He became president of the same body in 1847, and 
by the election of Governor Felch to the United 
States Senate, Lieutenant-Governor Greenly filled 
the office of Governor, and Senator Bush became 
Acting Lieutenant-Governor of the State. His vote 
decided the location of the capital at Lansing, and 
he presided over the last senatorial session in the 
old capitol in Detroit, as also the first which sat in 
Lansing. Soon after the location of the capital in 
Lansing, Mr. Bush removed thither, and until his 
death was identified with the history and public 
interests of Ingham County. 

Harvey Metcalf, a veteran of the war of 181 2, 
and son-in-law of Amos Adams, — one of the con- 
spicuous pioneers of Howell, — purchased the south- 
east quarter of section II, Nov. 28, 1835. Early in 
the spring of 1 836 he came on from Geneseo, Liv- 
ingston Co., N. Y., and began an improvement upon 
his premises. He boarded with Mr. Adams, and 
succeeded during the summer in clearing a few 
acres, sowing the same to wheat, and building a 
substantial log cabin. 

James E. Head was another immigrant to the 
township during 1836. He purchased lands situ- 
ated upon section 12, and until the settlement 
of his family, in 1837, boarded, while here, with 
Calvin Handy. 

In the spring of 1836, John B. Bowler and Mar- 
tin W. Randall set out on foot from Geneseo, 
Livingston Co., N. Y., and proceeding through 
Canada, finally arrived at Howell, Mich. By the 
aid of Amos Adams, they located lands on section 
33, in Conway, and on sections 4, 7, and 8, in 
Handy. 

Mr. Ralph Fowler has recently prepared for 
publication a comprehensive sketch relating to the 
early settlement of Handy, from which much val- 
uable information has been obtained. The follow- 
ing is his account of the journey, and the sub- 
sequent settlement of himself and Martin W. 
Randall during the month of November, 1836. 

In September, 1836, the brothers Ralph and 



HANDY TOWNSHIP. 



237 



John B. Fowler, Mrs. Harvey Metcalf, and her 
sister, Mrs. Winship, started from Geneseo, Liv- 
ingston Co., N. Y., for a journey to Livingston Co., 
Mich. Mrs. Metcalf purposed joining her husband 
already here, while the Fowler brothers were to 
determine by a view of the country upon the pro- 
priety of settling upon lands previously located for 
them by Amos Adams. At Buffalo they took 
passage for Detroit on the steamer " Commodore 
Perry," which required three days and nights to 
accomplish. The United States Hotel, and Eagle 
Tavern, in Detroit, were so full of speculators, 
land-lookers, and nuid, that they could not obtain 
lodgings, but these were finally found at the City 
Hotel. The ne.xt morning, after much difficulty, a 
chance was found for the women to ride through 
to Howell ; while the Messrs. Fowler, and their 
brother-in-law, J. G. Knight, journeyed along on 
foot. Their route led them over the Grand River 
road, upon which government employees were then 
at work, between Detroit and Grand Haven, and 
they found the road muddy and lonely. The first 
night was passed at " Uncle Rodgers'," at the 
" Home," whom many will remember. The travelers 
were hungry and weary. So, after refreshing them- 
selves, they quickly retired for much-needed rest. 
But Uncle Rodgers, wishing to make things pleasant 
and agreeable, got out a martial band, which made 
the wild woods ring, much to the disgust of his 
guests, however. The second day the team reached 
Howell, but the pedestrians came short, and sought 
shelter for the night at Mrs. Lyons', who lived in a 
little shanty on the shore of Long Lake. A bare 
floor was all the accommodation the house afforded. 
A short walk in the morning brought them to the 
house of Amos Adams, in Howell, where a good 
breakfast and rest awaited them. 

After resting one day, the brothers, accompanied 
by Amos Adams as a guide, started out to look at 
their lands in Handy and Conway. We here con- 
tinue the narrative in Mr. Fowler's own words :* 

" When we struck the line between sections 10 and 1 1 in Handy, 
Mr. Adams said, ' Buy-;, if you live to lie as old as I am you will 
see a village here as large as Geneseo, N. Y., called KowleiTille.' 
We had taken with us a small quantity of bread and pork, expect- 
ing Mr. Metcalf to come up to his place that day, bringing pro- 
visions, etc. So we ate our lunch and traveled all day in the woods. 
Towards evening Mr. Adams started on his return home to Ilowell. 
My brother and myself went to Mr. MetcalPs house that night; 
he h.ad not yet arrived, but we slept in his house. The next morn- 
ing we ate the remainder of our lunch, and started for Conway to 
see our lands on section ;j^, expecting Mr. Metcalf would come 
that night surely. 

" Towards night we again returned to the empty house, only to 
meet disappointment ; being very weary and hungry, and not daring 
to start for Howell at so late an hour, the route being designated 

* From an address delivered before the Livingston County Tio- 
ncer Assaciation, June 19, 1878. 



only by marked trees, we concluded to go to Mr. Calvin Handy's 
house — the only family as yet living in the township — to try and 
get something to eat. Mrs. Handy said her husband had gone for 
provisions, and she was e.\pccting him home at any moment; that 
she had a little flour and a wild turkey, killed that day by Mr. J. 
E. Head, and she would divide with us. We were veiy glad to 
get a cup of tea, and returning to Mr. Metcalf's cabin, slept the 
second night on the ground between the sleepers. About mid- 
night the wolves commenced to howl around us. It seems that 
Mr. Metcalf, while breaking ground for his wheat, h.ad the mis- 
fortune to lose an ox by death, and it seemed then as if the wolves 
had gathered by thousands at the spot where its carcass lay, or had 
lain. This was the first howling of the wolves we had yet heard. 
The turmoil finally ceased, and we slept on till morning. Soon 
after daylight we arose, and started for Howell, feeling as if we 
were fifty or sixty years old, and beginning to think that we already 
had about enough of Michigan. 

" There was but one house on the road to Howell, and that at 
the Six Corners, occupied by Mr. Stebbins. One of the greatest 
difficulties encountered on this expedition w.as in obtaining water 
to drink. All the surface water was full of wigglers, and the only 
way we could keep them from slipping down our throats was by 
spreading our handkerchiefs upon the w.iter and drinking that 
which came through the meshes. 

"When we arrived at Howell we learned that Mr. Metcalf's 
oxen had strayed away, and that he had been searching for them 
the past two days, which accounted for his non-appearance at the 
cabin, and our fast. Mr. Adams soon announced breakfast. It 
was then about ten o'clock in the forenoon. \Ve went in and 
found upon the table some cofifee, bread, and butter. He said, 
'eat this and then go to bed.' We followed his advice, and 
arose at supper time feeling very much refreshed. The next 
morning we started on our return to Detroit, not yet fully deter- 
mined as to the undertaking of making Michigan our home. We 
wanted large farms of our own, however, and as we walked 
through the townships of S.ilem and I'lyniouih, and .saw the crops 
and the enterprise of the people settled there, we came to the firm 
conclusion, before reaching Detroit, to make Michigan our perma- 
nent pl.Tce of residence. From the latter city we took passage on 
the steamer ' .Sandusky' for Buffalo, arriving there in two days 
and three nigiits,— a very short tri]> foi" those days. 

" Upon arriving at our home it was settled that Martin W. Ran- 
dall and myself, with our families, should start upon a journev to 
Michigan in the fall. All arrangements were completed as rapidly 
as possible, and, early in the morning of October 17, 1836, we 
bade adieu to our families in Geneseo, and with two covered 
wagons — two yoke of oxen hitched to one, and a span of horses 
to the other — began our return trip to the Peninsular Slate. We 
traveled through Canada, and had a good time. On the glh of 
November we arrived in Handy, — then Howell township. Our 
house, which Mr. Adams had hired built for us,\v,as only partially 
completed. A roof covered but one side, and there was no floor. 
Mr. Harvey Metcalf had got settled in his house, and we stayed 
with him two or three days. We moved into our house with only 
half of the floor laid. Kxcept the door, the house was built with- 
out using a board. Oaken shakes and shingles constituted the 
roof, gables, and upper floor. The lower floor was made from 
bas'.wood logs, split through the centre, spotted on the ends so as 
to rest firmly on the sleepers, and, being hewed smooth on top, 
made a good finish. A nuid-and-stick chimney, the fireplace em- 
bellished with wooden crane and trammels, completed the fii'st 
.ajipointments of the cabin. 

"Our goods had been shipped from Geneseo to Detroit, and we 
expected to find them in the latter city on our arrival, but, to our 
great disappointment, they had not yet arrived. After the com- 
pletion of our cabin, Martin W. Randall, with his horse-team, — 
ihe first ever owned in the township, — returned 10 Detroit, expect- 
ing to find the goods surely at that time, but still they were not 
there. 

" Here we were, in the woods, sixty miles from where anything 



238 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



could be obtained, — Mr. R.indall, wife, and one child, and myself, 
wife, and two children, — with no cooking-utensils, or anything to 
sleep upon, except a quilt or two which we had brought along in 
our wagons. I think Mr. Randall had part of a bed. ' Necessity 
is the mother of invention,' and this, with kind neighbors, over 
came a great many diflicnlties. We borrowed a few plates, knives, 
and forks from Mrs. Handy and Mrs. Metcalf, — the lady represen- 
tatives of the only families then in the township, — and from the 
Indi.ans a baking-kettle. In a shanty in the west part of Howell, 
where some men had been chopping, we foun<l a three-pail kettle, 
which we also took, and with a tin bake-oven, which we had 
bought in Detroit, our kitchen utensils were complete. 

" Now for sleeping accommodations. We found, by way of Mr. 
Adams, that a young man by the name of Flavius J. B. Crane — 
the proprietor and original owner of part of the village plat of 
Howell — had a piece of factory-cloth. We bought it, made abed- 
tick of the same, also some sheets, and filled the tick with marsh 
hay. A bedstead was made of ironwood poles and baik, and by 
the help of quilts, before mentioned, and a good fiie, we managed 
to pass the winter very comfortably. 

" Mr. Randall, after a few weeks, built a shanty on the east half 
of the southwest quarter of section eleven, on lands owned by John 
B. Fowler. Thus situated, with but four families in the township, 
viz., Messrs. Handy, Metcalf, Randall, and myself, was passed a 
very pleasant winter. 

** We were well surrounded by Indians, there being three win- 
ter-camps near us, — two on section ten, and one on section two. 
There must have been as many as forty or fifty Indians in ihs three 
camps, and they had thirty ponies running in the woods. The 
question naturally arises, • Were you not afraid of the Indians ?' 
Never but twice. The first time was when they had all been to 
Detroit to transact some business with the government, and on 
their return came to our place, on their main trail to Grand River 
and the western part of the State. They came along about the 
middle of the afternoon, some one hundred of them, with fifty or 
sixty ponies and many trappings, the snow being some six inches 
deep. Many of their sleds were made of deer-skins, by spreading 
them on the snow with the hair-side down, filling them with all 
they could lay on, and then lashing the load fast with ropes made 
from basswood-bark, passing them through holes made in the 
edge of the skin, and then over to the other side. It was suri>ris- 
ing to see the amount they would pile upon one skin. Then they 
would hitch a rope to the neck of the skin, and the same again to 
a pony's neck, making quite a good running sled. 

" Thus they came upon us. We had not seen many of them 
before, and were somewhat afraid as they came in, filling the house 
like a town-meeting. We put on a big fire and let them work. 
Putting bells on their ponies, tliey turned them out, which made 
the woods ring with their jingle. 

" Soon they began to cut poles, peel basswood bark, and pre- 
pare their quarters for the night. They stuck stakes on each side 
of a large oak-tree that we had felled near the house, tied poles 
near the top of these stakes, laying others on them and back on 
the ground, covering all with a kind of web-cloih made from flags 
or rushes, for some fifty feet on each side of the log, then built a 
fire along the front, after which they spread down their bear and 
deer skins and blankets, making the whole look very warm and 
comfortable. After eating their supper of venison, cold boiled 
squirrels, and musk-rats, they went to bed. 

" It was quite a sight for us to see them. Each one of full size 
had his blanket, which was tucked in at the edge over the head, 
and under the feet. 

" In the morning Okemos and hi^ tril)e, or those that were with 
him, went on to the place now called Okemos, while the others, 
being a part of the old Shiawassee tribe, went into the three camps 
before -mentioned. 

" There w.is one very old man with the latter party, some nine- 
three years old as near as we could juilge from marks and signs. 
He was sick, and had eveiy appearance of having the consump- 
tion. Ilis camp was pitched on section 2, northeast of John A. 



Tanner's log house. He finally died, and the funeral ceremonies 
lasted for some time. He must have been one of much distinction, 
as other tribes came from long distances to attend his funeral. 
After his death they wrapped him in a clean, white blanket, and 
laid him in a little place divided from the main camp by hanging 
blankets around him. One of the old squaws sat by the body nearly 
all the time for each evening for four or five evenings. Others 
would play and beat their musical instruments all night. These 
instruments were of diff'erent kinds, one being made of red cedar, 
and resembling a clarionet. This was split in the centre, a hollow 
dug out the size they wanted it, curves were cut around between 
the finger holes, and then the whole fastened together with the 
sinews of animals. Another instrument was made by stretching 
a deer-skin over a hoop similar to a tambourine, and others still 
had drums very similar to our bass and tenor ones. They made 
a fearful noise, and could be heard a mile or more. A grave was 
dug to the depth of three feet, in it was placed some elm-bark, and 
then, when the body was deposited, the same was filled with the 
mouKI of the forest, and covered with round poles some six inches 
in diameter, neatly notched together at the corners. About two 
feet from the head of the grave, they set a post about three inches 
thick and three feet high, on the side of which next to the grave 
they cut a notch, and painted above the notch the picture of a tur- 
key, and below it that of a deer. 

" For some three weeks after the burial, some one of the squaws 
kept a fire between the head of the grave and the post, made of 
sticks about six inches long, split fine, and set upon end in a round 
form. This fire was kept burning daily. After the funeral they 
also climbed to the top of a large beech-tree and there hung their 
musical instruments, where they remained four or five weeks after 
the funeral ceremonies. 

" The second fright we had arose from the doings of a young 
man who brought whisky into or near their camps for the purpose 
of selling it to the Indians. Early the next morning the Indians 
caught their ponies — a thing they had not done for months — and 
came galloping to our houses, demanding ' Whisky ! whisky ! 
.Sheniokeman whisky! Wishicheere whisky!' Sjme of them, 
when refused and informed that we had no whisky, seemed deter- 
mined to search the house; but we finally satisfied them that we 
had none, and away they went in search of it in other directions. 
We soon found a keg of the young man's fire-water, to which an 
axe was applied, and thus ended our second fright. 

"On the 1st of May, 1837, John B. Fowler and family, Ruel 
Randall and wife, and John A. Tanner, then a boy seventeen ye.irs 
of age, and in the employ of John B. Fowler, arrived in the town- 
ship. They came from Gene.seo, N. Y., with ox-teams, through 
Canada. The first Sunday morning after their arrival, my brother 
and myself strolled through the woods and came to a cleared spot 
or an opening of about an acre, where we sat down under a large 
oak and talked of our mother, who had been a Methodist all her 
days. ' Right here,' my brother says, ' if we live long enough, we 
will have a Methodist church.' When the village plat was sur- 
veyed, the stump of the same tree still remained there. Remem- 
bering the conversation of my brother and myself, I marked the 
lots for a Methodist church, and in about twenty years the church 
was built upon that site." 

Charles P. Bush, Richard P. Bush, and John 
Bush, from Danby, Tompkins Co., N. Y., arrived 
June I, 1837. The former, as before mentioned, 
settled upon section 11, while Richard settled upon 
section i, and John upon section 2. 

Stephen Avery, from Livingston Co., N. Y. ; 
Alanson Church, from Genesee Co., N. Y. ; Alan- 
son Knickerbocker, from Wayne Co., Mich. ; Sey- 
mour and Jesse Norton, from Genesee Co., N. Y. ; 
John B. La Rowe and Elijah Gaston, all settled in 
the spring and summer of the same year (1837). 



HANDY TOWNSHIP. 



239 



The resident tax-payers in 1837, the sections 
upon which their lands were located, the number 
of acres owned, value of real and personal estate, 
and the amount of tax paid by each, are shown by 
the following table : 



Names. 



Stephen Aveiy 12 

Ahxnson Church 28 

Ralph l'"<mler 2,3, 10, II, 15, 28 

John H. Kuwler 4, II 

Elijah ("jaslon I 

Calvin Hanily 2 

James E. Head 12 

Alanson Knickerbocker 19 

John H. I.a Rowe I 

Harvey Meicalf 10, II 

Seymour Norton and Jesse Norton 28 



Section. Acres 

80 

80 
8oo 
320 

80 
240 

80 
342 

80 
240 
240 



ValiKHion of 
Real Estate. 



S24O 
240 

2400 
960 
240 
720 
240 

1026 
240 
720 
720 



This assessment was made while Handy was 
still a part of Howell township. The total assessed 
valuation of real and personal estate in township 
3 north, of range 3 east, was ^55,300, and the 
amount of tax levied upon the same was 1^194.82. 

Prior to the first township election, which was 
held April 2, 1838, the following additional settlers 
were already here, a majority of whom had come 
in before the beginning of the winter of 1837 and 
1838, viz. : Samuel Conklin, Benjamin H. Briggs, 
Dennis Conrad, William Nash, George Austin, 
William Bumfrey, William Benjamin, and Almon 
Whipple. 

The latter gentleman was a native of Hardwick, 
Mass. With his father he removed to Otsego Co., 
N. Y., in 181 7, where he remained until 1837, 
when he came to Michigan and settled in the north- 
eastern part of Handy, or the Gaston neighborhood. 
In 1838 he purchased goods in New York, and 
opened the first store in the township. During 
the fall of the same year he was elected clerk of 
Livingston County. He then removed to the vil- 
lacfe of Howell, where he continued to reside until 
his death, which occurred Feb. 14, 1878. 

At about the time that Mr. Whipple established 
his store, Elijah Gaston opened his house to the 
public as a tavern, and received the appointment 
of postmaster. 

People in the vicinity anticipated the building up 
of a village. They had some reason to expect it, 
as the highway for general travel and the hauling 
of freight west from Howell led in the same direc- 
tion. 

Among other early settlers who came in during 
the years from 1838 to 1844 were Hiram Mace, 
James W. Armstrong, Joseph S. Schofield, David 
C. Griswold, William I. Bowen, Eleazer C. Tucker, 
— the first blacksmith, — John D. Van Blaricom, 
David Fredericks, John M. Jones, Harley Bcment, 
H. B. McCumbcr, John Everts, John Ray, Edward 
H. Jubb, Ira Sargent, Benjamin Curtis, Levi Bris- 
tol, Orson Swift, William T. Davis, Rial Hysling- 



ton, Daniel Benjamin, Andrew Miller, Ezekiel 
Little, Perry Dorrance, James Grimes, George B. 
De Graff, William Marsh, Marshall Porter, A. 
Cook, Joel C. Choate, Philetus Brown, and Enoch 
H. Marble. 

The resident tax-payers in 1845 were 



Sec. 

Marvin Gaston I 

Richard P. Bush I, 12 

John Bush 2, 3 

Calvin Handy 2 

John A. Tanner 2, 3, 13, 14 

James E. Head 12 

Benjamin Ctiriis 12 

Harvey Metcalf 10, II 

Ralph Fowler. ..2, 4, 10, 11, 15 

Benjamin \V. Lawrence 11 

George Porter 17, 18 

Samuel Conklin 18 

E. H. Juhh 9 

William Benjamin 14 

Hiram Bii'-to! 13 

David Bowen 25 

Levi Bristol 23 

John M.Jones 14, 23 

David C. Griswold 22 

D.avid P. Dorrance 20 

Alfred Woodward 20 

Alanson Paiker 20 

B. H. Brigss 19, 20 

Henry Telling 19 

Alliert Knickerbocker 20 

John T. Watson 20 

Calvin Knickerbocker 19 

Thurston Simons 3 



Sec. 

John Ray 26 

Harmon Ray 26 

tieoige B. DegrafT 26 

Joel C. Clioate 34 

Silas B. Munsell 34 

Mathew Knowles 27, 33 

Abna Marble 27 

John Loree 3, 34 

Ezekiel Page 33 

Henry Vangorder 33, 34 

John Brown 3^ 

Philetus Brown 33 

William J. Bowen 33 

Almon S. Norton 28 

Seymour Norton 28 

Alanson Church 28 

Orson Church 29 

Olson Swift...., 29, 30 

William T. Davis 30 

John M. Winegar 28 

Ezekiel King I 

M. Simons 8 

Henry North 3 

Phineas Silsby 4 

William Mars'h 12 

Isaac Taylor 23 

Richard Hilton 35 

Simon Tupper 34 



Additional tax-paying inhabitants in 1846 were 



Sec. 

William Alsbro 8 

William R. -SpalTord 18 

Samuel B. Douglass 35 

John Fewless 34 

Lambert .Slaughter 33 

William Walker 27 

Henry Wood 3*^ 

David Sprague 20 



Sec. 

Benhani Knickerbocker 19 

William P. Grover 20 

Marsli.all S. Gould 8 

William Mnish 12 

James H. Brown 12 

Lewis C. Sutton 13, 14 

James Costello 33 

Timothy Hollaway I 



IN 1S47. 



Sec. 

Michael Miller I 

Ruel Randall 3 

Amos Barnard 3 

Flora .Sowle 3 

Samuel G. I'almerlon 7 

William King 12 

Levi Coflfey 18 

Otis Marsh 17 



Sec. 

J. J. M. Newcomb 21 

Thomas Demmon 27 

Freeman Page 28 

William R. Ward 34 

Job Tupper 34 

Joseph Loree 34 

Richard Storms 33 



IN 1848. 



Sec. 

Sylvester Tanner 2 

Russell Hodges 12 

Heiirv Tupper 13 

Willi.im H. Fowler 22 

David Brown, Jr 23 

Seth Petlys 18, 19 

Israel Green 35 



Sec. 

Charles Fisk 28 

J.abez Willard 28 

Nathan Kinney 33, 34 

William M. Clark Personal 

Clark & Hopkins Personal 

Edwin Smiili....j Personal 

Orra Grover £^. 21 



The increase in population during the years to 
1850, however, was slow, and the faces of the in- 
habitants were constantly changing. Many came, 
and after a residence of but a year or two, removed 
to some other locality where markets were more 
accessible. The soil was good, and large crops 
greeted the toiling husbandmen when harvest 



240 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



came, but the profits were consumed in the strug- 
gle to reach distant avenues of commerce. 

In 1842 the State appropriated a small sum for 
opening a road between Fowlerville and Lansing. 
It was expended under the supervision of Mr. 
Mullett, of Detroit, but the benefits arising from it 
amounted to but little, and, as it was not used as 
a through route of travel, it soon grew up to brush 
in many places and became practically closed. At 
last, in the spring of 1849, Messrs. Ralph Fowler, 
of Handy, and O. B. Williams, of Williamston, 
went over the line of the present Grand River 
road and solicited subscriptions for opening the 
said road west from Fowlerville. They obtained, 
in goods and money, subscriptions to the amount 
of 5600. Special township-meetings were held in 
those towns lying along the line of the road, viz., 
Leroy, Wheatfield, Phelps, and Meridian, and sums 
varying from ^200 to ;^250 were raised in each. 

Messrs. Fowler and Williams then began anew 
the struggle against nature's obstacles and the 
noi.sy opposition of those who were interested in 
the northern rgute already established. Bridges 
were built over the two Cedars and the streams 
west of the Meridian line. Mr. Williams then 
commenced at the Meridian line with three men 
and two yoke of oxen, while Mr. Fowler began at 
Fowlerville with the same amount of help. The 
brush was again cleared away, and the wet and 
miry places corduroyed. At the expiration of 
three weeks' time they met at Williamston. 

Then, in order to get the mail-route changed 
from the Howell and Okemos road to the present 
Grand River road, Messrs. Seymour, of Lansing, 
O. B. Williams, of Williamston, Ralph Fowler and 
George Curtis, of Fowlerville, and Hezekiah Gates, 
of Howell, established a stage-line, and placed 
upon the new road a stage to run between Howell 
and -Lansing. The stage consisted of a lumber- 
wagon drawn by a span of horses. It made tri- 
weekly trips, or out one day and back the next, 
and they let no man walk for want of money. 
This enterprise was continued one year. The 
prime movers had then accomplished their object, 
viz., the establishment of post-offices at Fowler- 
ville and Williamston, and they then sold out. 
Mr. Fowler relates that he kept one man and a 
team of horses on the road during the time men- 
tioned, that he lost one horse valued at;gi25,ovved 
the company ^10 at settlement, and that he came 
out by far the best of any one in the company. 

In 1849 the Howell and Lansing Plank-Road 
Company began laying planks over the same road, 
and completed their work in 1852 and '53. From 
the latter time can be dated the beginning of 
Handy 's prosperity. The village of Fowlerville 



was platted, David Lewis was appointed postmas- 
ter, and places of business sprang up on several 
corners. 

But the busy life of the plank-road was of but 
short duration. The building and opening of the 
Detroit and Milwaukee and the Jackson and Sag- 
inaw Railroads suddenly shut off the travel from 
the plank-road, and then succeeded several years 
of dull times, and the hauling of produce from 
twenty-five to thirty-five miles, which, together 
with the war of the Rebellion, helped to retard 
the growth of business and population. 

In 1865 the people began discussing the ques- 
tion of extending aid to railroads, but it was not 
until the summer of 187 1 that their fondest hopes 
were realized by witnessing the iron-steed race 
across the borders of their township. 

Since the latter period, remarkable changes have 
taken place. The population has more than doubled. 
Acres hitherto lying waste have been brought under 
cultivation. The primitive log cabin, and the but 
little better small framed house, have given place 
to commodious residences, rich in finish and ar- 
chitectural design. Herds of blooded stock crop 
the rich pasturage which everywhere abounds, and 
large, well-stored farm-buildings inform him who 
would note it that the citizens of Handy of to-day 
are in the full enjoyment of that prosperity which 
is the sure reward for those who industriously and 
intelligently cultivate the soil. 

But very few of the pioneers of 1836 and 1837 
now remain, and it is not our purpose or province 
to individualize a few in disparagement of the 
many. Therefore, we believe that we but echo 
the best sentiments of her citizens when we assert 
that to the sterling worth, the broad and liberal 
teachings, and unswerving integrit)' of such pio- 
neers as Ralph Fowler and John A. Tanner, is due 
the present proud position which Handy occupies 
among Livingston County townships. 

The latter gentleman, besides holding many other 
positions of trust and honor, has represented his 
township si.xteen times as supervisor, and was one 
of the very few Livingston County representatives 
who marched under the folds of the starry banner 
as it waved victoriously over the plains of Mexico. 

FIRST EVENTS. 

Among some of the first events not already 
mentioned, we here add that Calvin Handy owned 
the first cow and o.xen. The first steam saw-mill 
was built on section 18 by William R. Spafford in 
1847; later it was owned by Conway & Wilbur. 
Elijah Gaston built the first framed barn on sec- 
tion I. Richard P. Bush erected the first framed 
house on section 12 in 1853. The first log school- 




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HANDY TOWNSHIP. 



241 



house was built on section 1 1 in 1839, and the first 
framed school-house on the same section in 1844. 
Alanson Churcli owned the first hotj, Peter Win- 
chell the first fowls, and Ruel Randall the first cat. 
Ralph Fowler, in 1839, owned the first sheep. He 
purchased thirteen of Losson Gordon, and soon 
afterwards the wolves killed all but one. Mr. 
Fowler also brought in the first improved cattle in 
1844. They were Devons from a Clinton County 
herd. Lorenzo Palnierton erected the first brick 
building — a store — in the village of Fowlerville. 
The first birth was that of Charles Fowler, son of 
Ralph, who was born in June, 1838. Mrs. Ruel 
Randall, during the same year, was the first to 
depart this life in the township. Karly marriages 
were those of Benjamin Curtis to Mary A. Bush 
and William Ferris to Amanda Miller, who were 
married by Ralph Fowler, Esq., in 1840. 

CrVIL AND POLITICAL. 

Section 4 of an act to organize certain town- 
ships, and approved by the State legislative body 
then in session, March 6, 1838, reads as follows : 

"All tlmt poition of the township of Howell a.s now organized 
in the county of Livingston, designated in the United .States sur- 
vey as township number 3 north of range numlier 3 east, be, and 
the same is hereliy, set off and organized into a separate township 
by the name of Handy; and the first township-meeling therein 
shall be held at the house of Ralph Fowler in said township." 

On the 2d of April, 1838, the legal voters of 
the township, to the number of fourteen, assembled 
at the house of Ralph Fowler, and proceeded to 
elect the first board of township officers. 

The records relating to the proceedings of the 
first election have been lost, yet the following is 
believed to be a correct list of those elected: 
Ralph Fowler, Supervisor; Richard P. Bush, Town- 
ship Clerk; John B. Fowler, Richard P. Bush, 
W^illiam Benjamin, Seymour Norton, Justices of 
the Peace; John B. P'owler, Richard P. Bush, John 
B. La Rowe, Assessors; Ruel Randall, Collector; 
Harvey Metcalf, Richard P. Bush, Seymour Nor- 
ton, Highway Commissioners; John B. Fowler, 
Seymour Norton, Richard P. Bush, School In- 
spectors; Elijah Gaston, John Bush, Poormasters; 
Ruel Randall, John B. La Rowe, Constables. 

The first assessment roll was completed early 
in the summer of 1838, and the following tabulated 
statement describes tiie names of the resident ta.x- 
payers, their lands, etc. : 

Names. Section. Acres. ^''Vl-'"" °^ 

.\l.ins()n Knickerbocker 19, 20 200 S600 

Samuel Conklin 18 80 240 

Albert Knickerbocker 20 40 120 

lienjamin H. Briggs 19,20 160 480 

Alanson Church 28 80 240 

.Seymour Norton 28 80 240 

Dennis Conrad 33.34 '^o 360 

3« 



Names. Section. Acres. Vahja^n of 

William Nash i 47 SU' 

Ebjah Gaston I 33 249 

I..hn H. La Rowe i 80 240 

Richard I>. Bu.h I 80 240 

lohn Hush 2 46 138 

Calvin Handy 2 240 720 

WaitySmith 2 80 240 

John 1!. Kowler 4 '24 372 

George Austin 8 80 240 

H.irvev Metcalf lo, II 240 720 

William liumfiey 8 80 240 

Ralph Fowler ...'. 10,11,15 460 1380 

lohn It. Kowler II 320 960 

Stephen Avery 12 80 240 

James E. Head 12 80 240 

William lienjamin 14 >6o 480 

Victoiv Curtis and Almon Whipple 13 40 120 

Curtis'and Whipple 14 40 I20 

Hannah Knickerbocker iS 80 240 

Alanson Knickerbocker 18 80 240 

Hannah Knickerbocker 19 103 309 

The total amount of tax levied was $268.13. 

HIGHWAYS. 

The first highway laid by the authorities of 
Handy was surveyed by Amos Adams, June 7, 
1838, and described as follows: "Beginning at the 
corners of sections eleven, twelve, thirteen, and 
fourteen in the township of Handy, and running 
thence north on the section line one mile to the 
corners of sections one, two, eleven, and twelve in 
said town. Magnetic variation, three degrees, 
forty-five minutes." 

On the saine day a road described as " Begin- 
ning at the corners of sections ten, eleven, four- 
teen, and fifteen, township of Handy, and running 
thence south on section line one mile to the cor- 
ners of sections fourteen, fifteen, twenty-two, and 
twenty-three in said town," was surveyed and laid 
out by the same authority. 

On the following day a road described as " Be- 
ginning on the corners of sections twenty-eight, 
twenty-nine, thirty-two, and thirty-three, in the 
township of Handy, and running thence west on 
section line one mile, si.xty-two chains, fifty links, 
to the corners of sections thirty and thirty-one in 
said town." 

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. 

The following is a complete list of the officers 
elected in the township of Handy, for the years 
from 1S38 to 1879, inclusive: 

SUPERVISORS. 

1838, Ralph Fowler; 1839, Calvin Handy; 1840, Ralph Fowler; 
1841, John Bush; 1842, Richard 1'. Bu-h ; 1843, Calvin 
Handy; 1844-46, R.ilph T'owlcr; 1847, John T.Watson; 
1848, Benjamin W. Lawrence; 1849. Ralph Fowler; 1850, 
Benjamin W. Lawrence; 1851-52, John A. Tanner; 1853, 
Benjamin W. Lawrence; 1854-58, John A. Tanner;* 1S59- 
60, Henry N.Spencer; 1861-62, Seih H. Judd ; 1863-64, Al- 
exander 11. Benedict; 1865-66, John A. Tanner; 1867, Selh 
H. Judd; 1868-70, John A. Tanner; 1871-72, Selh H. 

* Resigned in December, 1858; Henry X. Spencer appointed to 
fill vacancy. 



242 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Judd; 1873-74, John A. Tanner; 1875, Seth H. Jiidd ; 1876, 
Spiridon S. Abbott; 1877-78, John A. Tanner; 1879, Ed- 
win Nichols. 

TOWNSHIP CLERKS. 
1838, Richard P. Bush; 1839, Almon Whipple; 1840, Seymour 
Norton; 1841, Richard P. liush ; 1S42, John A. Tanner; 
1843, Seymour Norton; 1844-45, David C. Griswold ; 1846, 
Seymour Norton; 1847, John A. Tanner; 1848-52, John 
T. Watson; 1853, John A. Tanner; 1854, Josiah Turner; 
1855-56, Truman D. Fish; 1857-59, Eri M.Spencer; 1860- 
66, Oeorge W. Palnierlon ; 1867-70, William C. .Spencer; 
1871, James P. Spencer; 1872, Walter Fowler; 1873, James 
P. Spencer; 1S74, Walter Fowler; 1875-76, James P. Spen- 
cer; 1877, Charles E. Spencer; 1S78, Willard H. Hess; 
1879, William B. Gale. 

TREASURERS. 

1S38, none elected; 1839-42, John B. Fowler;* 1S43, Orson 
Swift; 1S44, John A. Tanner; 1845, Orson Swift; 1846, 
William Marsh; 1S47-49, John M. Jones; 1850, John .\. 
Tanner; 1851-54, Ruel Randall; 1S55, Caleb T.Power; 
1856-58, Benjamin W. Lawrence; 1S59, Pierson W. Dey ; 
1860-62, Ruel Randall; 1863-64, Peter P. Carmer; 1865- 
66, Charles L. Collins; 1867-68, Samuel Conklin; 1869, 
Calvin Mather; 1870, Seth H. Judd; 1871-72, Amos Bar- 
nard; 1873-74, Joel S. Briggs; 1875, J"''" C. Ellsworth; 
1876-77, Joshua Dunn; 1878, Judson A. Canfield; 1879, 
Orville H. Jones. 

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 

Richard P. Bush, William Benjamin, John B. Fowler, Seymour 
Norton, 183S; Dennis Conrad, 1839; Seymour Norton, Ralph 
Fowler, 1840; John B Fowler,f 1S41 ; Orson Swfft, 1842; 
Richard P. Bush (in jilace of Ralph Fowler, resigned), Sey- 
mour Norton (in place of Dennis Conrad, moved away Aug. i, 
1842), and John M. Jones (in place of John B. Fowler, de- 
ceased), September, 1842; Sejmour Norton, John M. Jones, 
Ralph Fowler, 1843; Ralph Fowler, 1844; Benjamin W. 
Lawrence, 1845; David C. Griswold, 1846; William P. 
Grover, 1847; William H. Fowler, 1848; Benjamin W. 
Lawrence, 1849; Joh" A. Coniway, William H. Evans, 
• 1850; Orson Church, 1851; William H. Fowler, 1852; W'm. 
A. Dorrance, 1853; Samuel Conklin, Ral|)h Fowler, 1854; 
Oison Church, James H. Myers, 1855; W'illiam H. Fowler, 
Henry N. Spencer, 1856; Peter P. Carmer, Truman D. Fish, 
1857; Orlando A. Fuller, 1858; John P. Hildreth, Caleb T. 
Power, 1859 ; Jerome Church, i860 ; Ralph Fowler, Benjamin 
W. Lawrence, 1861 ; John Huston, 1862; John P. Hildreth, 
Daniel R. Gleim, 1863 ; Jerome Church, 1864; Ralph Fowler, 
John P. Hildreth, 1865; Alexander H. Benedict, 1866; 
Benjamin H. Briggs, 1S67; Jerome Church, Henry N. Spen- 
cer, 1868; George W. Palmerton, Jeft'ci-son Weller, 1869; 
Daniel R. Glenn, 1870; Hugh Conklin, 1871 ; George W. 
Palmerton (elected in November, 1871, to fill vacancy), 
Henry S. Worthington, Jefferson H. Weller, 1872; John A. 
Tanner (elected November, 1S72, to fill vacancy caused by 
resignation of D. R. Glenn), Jared L. Cook, 1873 ! John A. 
Tanner, Enoch M. Marble, Lafayette Maben, 1874; John G. 
Gould, 1875; Heniy S. Worthington, 1876; Enoch M. Mar- 
ble, 1S77; John Conner, 1878; John G. Gould, 1879. 

THE RAILROAD. 

At a .special township-meeting, held at the office 
of Ralph Fowler, Esq., Sept. 9, 1865, for the pur- 
pose of voting for or against the proposition of 

* Died in office; Orson Swift elected to fill vacancy. 
■f Died in office; William Borsen elected to fill vacanc)-. 



extending aid to the Detroit and Howell Railroad, 
the whole number of votes polled was 132, of 
which 131 were in favor of jiledging the credit of 
the township for a sum not exceeding five per cent, 
of the assessed valuation of real and personal prop- 
erty, and I against the proposition. 

Although railroad matters agitated the minds of 
the people to a great extent, we find that the build- 
ing of railroads, or extending township aid for the 
same, was held in abeyance until April 6, 1869, 
when 38 tax-paying electors, viz., M. H. McMa- 
nus, George W. Palmerton, Samuel G. Palmer- 
ton, John Lamoreux, Freeman Rohrabacher, A. 
B. Lockwood, William H. Spencer, Nelson A. 
Glenn, E. E. Walton, A. McFisher, William 
Head, Walter Fowler, Daniel Dunn, John M. 
Tucker, L. H. Westfall, Charles Moore, James 
A. Brown, George Wyatt, J. D. White, W. Craig, 
John G. Gould, David Force, W. L. Collins, W. C. 
Spencer, A. D. Benjamin, George L. Fisher, Samuel 
Giilam, Charles Fowler, Ralph Fowler, P. T. Hil- 
dreth, W. Hildreth, C. S. Mastick, W. Stickles, T. 
Stickles, William Davis, Alexander H. Benedict, 
W. H. Pullen, and M. Savage, presented a petition 
to John A. Tanner, Supervisor, requesting him to 
call a special meeting of the electors of the town- 
ship to vote upon the proposition of extending aid 
to the Detroit and Lansing Railroad by bonding 
the township for the sum of $9500, provided a 
depot be located and maintained within one-half 
mile of the village of Fowlerville. 

In pursuance, a special township-meeting was 
held in the village of Fowlerville, Wednesday, 
May 5, 1869, and on the proposition to pay five 
per cent, of ^9500, 204 votes were recorded in 
favor, and 17 votes against. 

Bonds to the amount of $6500 were issued by 
the township, to assist in the construction of the 
Detroit, Howell and Lansing Railroad, in May, 
1870. The road was completed to Fowlerville in 
the summer of 1871, and the event was celebrated 
Aug. 3 of tiie same year. The township has ex- 
perienced some difficulty with its railroad indebted- 
ness, but matters have been amicably arranged, 
and with the lapse of time their railroad will be 
looked upon as the power which uplifted them 
from the Slough of Despond, and made the town- 
ship and village the thriving communities as they 
now exist. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The first board of school inspectors, composed 
of John B. Fowler, Seymour Morton, and Richard 
P. Bush, at a meeting held in the office of the 
township clerk, during the winter of 1838-39, 



HANDY TOWNSHIP. 



243 



established two scliool districts, the boundaries of 
which were described as follows : 

"School District No. I, of the township of Handy, shall em- 
brace all the land on the north and e.ast side of Red Cedar River, 
in said town. School District No. 2 shall embrace the southwest 
quarter of said town." 

This action of the inspectors was recorded by 
the township clerk Feb. 26, 1839. Early in March 
of the same year the same inspectors caused to be 
placed on record the following : 

" School District No. I shall be so altered as to take in the 
norllicast quarter of said townshin of Ilanily." 

A small log school-house was erected near the 
northeast corner of section 1 1 in the spring of 1 839, 
and in it Miss Angeline Adams — a daughter of 
Amos Adams — taught the first school, the follow- 
ing summer. 

Michael Handy taught in the same house during 
the winter of 1839-40. 

On the 19th day of October, 1S39, Elijah Gas- 
ton, James VV. Armstrong, and Seymour Norton, 
school inspectors, met at the house of Elijah Gas- 
ton, and completed the first annual school report 
of the township of Handy, which report was as fol- 
lows : 

Whole number of organized districLs I 

Number from which returns have been made I 

Number of district I 

Number of children attending school between the ages of 

five and seventeen years 24 

Number attending school under five and over seventeen 

years 19 

Whole numlier attending school during the year 43 

Number of months school has been taught by a qualified 

teacher 6 

Amount of public money received none 

" raised in the district for school purposes 85° 

School District No. 3, embracing sections 27, 28, 
33, and 34, except the northwest quarter of section 
28, was organized Jan. 23, 1840. At the same 
time the boundaries of District No. 2 were changed, 
so as to embrace within its limits the west half of 
.section 21, the whole of 20, east half of 19, north- 
east quarter of 30, north half of 29, and northwest 
quarter of 28. 

Fractional School District No. 2, comprising por- 
tions of the townships of Howell and Tuscola, was 
enlarged, Jan. 23, 1840, by additions from the 
townships of lena and Handy. 

School District No. 4 of Handy was organized 
Nov. 21, 1840, and originally comprised sections 
10, 1 1, 14, and 15. 

Dec. 25, 1840, the school inspectors, in a special 
report, said, — 

"That a sum of S35 ought to be raised in school district No. 2, 
in addition to the Sioo raised by the iidiabitants of said school 
district, for the purpose of building a school-house in the same." 

On the 22d of Januar)', 1841, they further re- 
ported : 



" In our opinion a sum of $150 ought to be raised in district 
No. 4, in .addition to the Sioo that the district officers have already 
raised, fur the purpose of building a school-house in said district." 

In November, 1843, the township was rc- 
districted, making the number of districts still 
being four. 

The first mention made of granting certificates 
occurs in the year 1844, when the township clerk 
made the following entry: 

"Jane Watson Inspected for a School-teacher, and received a 
Sirtificate off the following School inspectors. 
" H.\Ni)V, July the 13th, 1844." 

■ S. Norton received a teacher's certificate Dec- 
17, 1844, and Eva A. Putnam the same, Jan. 18, 
1845. On the 3d of May, 1845, Hannah Boyd 
and Susan Steadman were granted certificates to 
teach in districts i and 3, respectively. 

From the school inspectors' annual report, made 
Oct. 5, 1846, which includes districts i, 2, and 
3, are gathered the following statistics: chil- 
dren of school age, 98; whole number who have 
attended school during the year, 93 ; amount of 
money received from township treasurer, $28.83. 
Teachers: District No. i, Lucy King; District No. 
2, Seymour Norton ; District No. 3, Delia Hemp- 
sted ; average duration of schools, three months. 
Amelia Stearns was granted a teacher's certificate 
May 23, 1846. Other early teachers were granted 
certificates, as follows: John Loree, March 15, 
1847; Augustus Dorrance and Dyer Austin, 
March 19, 1847. 

School District No. 5, comprising sections 18, 
17, west one-half of sections 5 and 8, and the 
whole of sections 6 and 7, was formed April 17, 

1847. Samuel Conklin was appointed to attend 
to the organization of this district. April 22, 

1848, the boundaries of this district were changed 
so as to include sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, the west 
one-half of 3, and the west one-half of 10. Nancy 
Maria Gould received a teacher's certificate at the 
same date. Angeline Conway and Mary Fales re- 
ceived teachers' certificates April 14, 1849. 

Sections 17 and 18 were organized as School 
District No. 6 April 26, 1849, and discontinued by 
order of the inspectors Oct. 6, 1849. On the 6th of 
January, 185 i. District No. 6 was again organized, 
comprising parts of sections 9, 10, 11, 14, and 15. 
Ralph Fowler was appointed to notify the taxable 
inhabitants of the district, and to attend to other 
matters pertaining to its organization. This was 
the first school district organized in the village of 
Fowlerville, and at the time it first assumed a vil- 
lage aspect, John H. Hand was given a teacher's 
certificate,Jan. 22, 185 1. Also William W. Mitchell, 
April 29, 185 1. F^inma Grover and Polly Stafford 
were granted teachers' certificates May 12, 1851. 



244 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



The following statistics will show the condition 
of schools for the decades ending i860 and 1870: 

1S60. 

Teacliers licensed to teach timing the year: II. M. Mather, J. 
L. Cook, A. L. Hollister, C. Munson, Susan Fish, Elizabeth 
Briggs, Ellen Sowle, Mary J. LiuUlen, Mattie F. Hamilton, Louisa 
Havens, Sarah C. Boothby, Daniel Higby, Miss E. Boolhby, and 
Otis Obert. 

Whole number of districts 9 

Children of school age re>iding in the township 358 

" attending school during the year 274 

Amount of primary-school fund^ reccivetl and apportioned $157 72 

" received from two-mill tax and apportioned $317*54 

1870. 

Number of whole districts 6 

" fractional districts 5 

*' children of school age residing in township.. 49S 

Primary-school funds received .and apportioned $244.02 

The following statistics, taken from the annual 
report of the township Board of Education for the 
year ending Sept. i, 1879, show the condition of 
schools* at the present time : 

Number of whole districts 6 

*' fractional districts 2 

Frame school -houses 8 

Value of school properly ?4750 

Children of school age residing in township 725 

Male teachers employed during the year 6 

Female teachers employed during the year 12 

Months taught by males 27 

" " females 66 

Paid male teachers S1060 

" female teachers S1346 

RECF.ll'TS. 

From moneys on hand Sept. 2, 1878, two mill lax, 
primary-school fund, and district taxes for all pur- 
poses J4183.09 

E.XrENDITURES. 

Teachers' wages $2406.00 

For repairs and other purposes 1469.52 

Cash on hand Sept. i, 1879 3°7-57 

Tot.al S41 83.09 

VILL.A.GE OF FOWLERVILLE. 
The village of Fowlerville, as now established, 
embraces within its corporate limits portions of 
sections lo, ii, 14, and 15, and by referring to the 
list of land-entries it will be found that the first 
purchase of land within its boundaries was made 
by Chilson Sanford, of Washtenaw Co., Mich., who 
entered the southwest quarter of section 1 1, April 

25, 1834- 

The remainder of the village site was covered 
by the original entries of Ralph Fowler, Amos 
Adams, Harvey Metcalf, Charles P. Bush, Sanford 
Britton, and James H. Hastings, and all of it was 
vested in individual ownership prior to Jan. i, 

1837- 
The history of the village, however, does not 

* These statistics inpliide the graded schools of ih? village of 
Fowlerville, 



properly begin until Nov. 7, 1849. On the date 
mentioned, Amos Adams, surveyor, under the in- 
structions of Ralph Fowler, surveyed and platted 
lots situated on both sides of Grand River Street, 
the lots numbering from one to twenty-nine, in- 
clusive. The surveyor in an explanatory note 
remarked : 

"These lots are situated on the west h.alf of the southwest 
quarter of section eleven, and the east half of the southeast quarter 
of section ten, of township three north of range three east. Each 
lot contains one-fifth of an acre, except lots five, six, eight, nine, 
twenty-four, and twenty-five, which contain one-tenth of an acre." 

During the same year Russell Fuller began the 
construction of a saw-mill upon a lot containing 
six acres, which had been donated by Mr. Fowler. 
Mr. F. also boarded the workmen gratuitously, 
while people of the township scored and hewed 
the timbers for the frame-work. But Mr. Fuller, 
before its completion, sold the mill to Mr. Fowler, 
who finished it. 

Those people who then resided in the embryo 
village or its iinmediate vicinity were Ralph 
Fowler, A. S. Denson, William Sherwood, a black- 
smith, William H. Evans, David Lewis, tavern- 
keeper and postmaster, and members of the firm 
of Clark & Hopkins, who kept for sale a very 
light general stock of goods. 

The village of Fowlerville was first mentioned 
on the assessment roll in 1851, and those who 
were then assessed for property lying within the 
village plat were Ralph Fowler, Charles Lewis, 
John M. Minker, Morgan M. Randall, A. S. Den- 
son, Joseph Grant, R. A. Cowell, and Richard 
Bristol. 

The additional ta.x-paying inhabitants in 1852 
included John T. Watson, Samuel G. Palmerton, 
the firin of Randall & Sherwood, Chelsey Tupper, 
William A. Dorrance, and Josiah Turner. 

At this time the plank-road from Lansing to 
Howell was completed. This event created much 
enthusiasm among those owning real estate in and 
around the village, as indications pointed to the — 
now-established — fact that ere many years it would 
become a commercial centre of no mean import- 
ance. 

As the plank-road company required a building 
for office purposes and the sale of goods, Ralph 
Fowler erected a store on the corner now occupied 
by D. R. Glenn & Co. After one or two years of 
occupancy the company vacated the premises, and 
the same building was then occupied by the Hon. 
Josiah Turner, who was the first individual mer- 
chant in the village to carry a stock of any mag- 
nitude. At this period, too, cattle Caleb T. Power 
and Benjamin P. Vealey from Brighton. They iin- 
piediately began the construction of the famous 



HANDY TOWNSHIP. 



245 



old hosteli)', known for years as " Independence 
Hall." 

The plank-road was soon afterwards completed 
through to Detroit, anil it then became one of the 
most thronged thoroughfares in the State. A four- 
horse stage-coach passed each way twice a day, 
and the accommodations of Independence Hall 
were ta.xed to the utmost. 

Other minor enterprises soon followed, while 
tlie population of the little village steadily in- 
creased. Among those who settled during the 
years 1853, 1854, and 1855, were H. C. Stoddard, 
Hiram Bodine, Peter Bush, Henry G. West, Henry 
N. Spencer (the first resident physician), James 
Stoneham, George Taylor, John A. Stout, Oscar D. 
Weller, Samuel Hubbard, C. S. Collins, William 
Collins, Ezckiel King, James Hawley, Elmer Hol- 
loway, Sidney Carpenter, N. L. Embury, David 
Bissell, Truman D. Fish, Marshall A. Porter, Pat- 
rick Maloy, Joseph H. Steel, Jr., Joseph Edmonds, 
William Walker, Oscar Williams, Benoni Knicker- 
bocker, R. C. Crane, Lewis Moore, and Jonathan 
Terwilliger. 

The first grist-mill was built in 1855-56, by 
Messrs. Fish and Palmerton, and Joseph H. Steel, 
Jr., & Co. established their iron-foundry at the 
same period. 

From the time that the opening of the Detroit 
and Milwaukee and the Jackson and Saginaw Rail- 
roads took the business from the plank-road until 
the near completion of the Detroit, Lansing and 
Northern Railroad, the growth of the village was 
slow and unimportant. The rolls show that the 
resident ta.x-payers in i860 were but 57 in number, 
as follows: N. E. Green, M. A. Porter, Truman D. 
Fish, Samuel P. Lee, David Johnson, Richard 
Rofif, George Wyatt, William Fulford, John Haws, 
Eleanor Curry, Amrod Moon, Ransom Grant, 
F"red. Carlisle, Pat. Maloy, Lambert Williams, A. 
B. Lockwood, Hir am Bodine . Almira Collins, 
Charles Ortner, John White, Caleb T. Power, Da- 
vid Hamilton, Daniel Fuller, Benjamin P. Vealey, 
James M. Long, Morgan M. Randall, William L. 
Collins, John Houston, liri M. Spencer, John Bush, 
James Wilson, Ransom Ackley, Hiram Elliott, 
William Winegar, Thurston Simmons, Samuel G. 
Palmerton, Power & Carlisle, George W. Palmer- 
ton, Warren Clark, Hodge & Williams, John B. 
Wilson, Henry N. Spencer, Isaac Page, J. T. Grid- 
ley, Major Bentley, Solomon Sly, Enoch W. Curry, 
George Cameron, Ralph Fowler, C. L. Northrop, 
Samuel Hubbard, Edwin Hitchcock, Peter Bush, 
W. P. & G. W. Stow. 

Five years later — in 1865 — there were but 64 
names upon the rolls. In following the increase 
of population still further, we find that the total 



number assessed for taxation in the year 1871 was 
90, and in the following year 174. 

INCORPORATION. 

The village of F'owlerville was incorporated by 
act approved April 15, 1871, which provided — 

"That .ill of that district of country in the county of Living- 
ston, in the St.ite of Michigan, described as follows, to wit: Sec- 
tions number ten, eleven, fourteen, and fifteen, in township num- 
ber three north, of range nimiber three east, is hereby constituted 
and declared a body corporate, under the name and title of ' The 
Village of Fowlerville,' in the county of Livingston." 

Under the act of incorporation, the electors of the 
territory so incorporated, to the number of 49, viz., 
A. H. Benedict, David Force, Samuel Scripture, 
A. S. Denson, John G. Gould, David W^est, William 
Denson, Byron Defendorf, Horace Chalker, Orrin 
Barber, Henry Elliott, Hiram Bodine, Orville Goss, 
O. H. Babcock, William Gott, Charles Geweye, E. 
M. Spencer, Rufus Fowler, Zenas Palmerton, Wil- 
liain Fulford, Freeman Rohrabacher, O. H. Jones, 
Ralph Fowler, Harvey Metcalf, Williain PuUen, 
S. S. Munson, Robert M. Davis, George Bush, Ed- 
win Bowen, Lorenzo Palmerton, Benajah J. Tuttle, 
Frederick Saunders, Gilbert Demarest, Jesse Pul- 
ver, William L. Collins, Lewis Westfall, James 
Lockwood, Edwin Munson, Charles Moore, C. T. 
Power, lLev[JBristol,' George W. Palmerton, R. A. 
Patton, rrank G. R,ounsville, Hiram Elliott, Fred- 
erick Hyne, Martin Camp, E. H. Brockway, and 
R. B. Boylan, assembled at the office of George W. 
Palmerton, on Saturday, June 3, 1871, and organ- 
ized the meeting by choosing Lewis H. Westfall 
and Charles Moore inspectors of the election, and 
William L. Collins clerk. This meeting resulted 
in the election of the following-named officers: 
Frederick Saunders, President; William M. Beach, 
Uriah Coffin, Samuel Gillam, Hiram Bodine, Be- 
najah J. Tuttle, James A. Brown, Trustees ; John 
A. Tanner, Ralph Fowler, Assessors; PVederick 
Hyne, Treasurer; Wm. L. Collins, Clerk; Samuel 
G. Palmerton, Gilbert Demarest, Jesse Pulver, 
Street Commissioners ; John G. Gould, Marshal. 

RE INCORPORATION. 

By act No. 269, approved April 30, 1873, the 
village was re-incorporated, and ample provision 
made for all requirements. By the same act the 
corporate limits were reduced to the boundaries 
described as follows : 

" All that district of countiy in the county of Livingston, in the 
Slate of Michigan, described as follows, to wit: The southeast 
quarter of section ten, and the soulh half of the northeast quarter 
of section ten, and the soiilhweNl quarter of section eleven, and the 
west half of the southeast (juarter of section eleven, and the south 
half of the northwest quarter of section eleven, and (he northwest 
quarter of section fouiteen, and the northeast quarter of section 
fifteen, in township three north, of range three west, be, and the 



246 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



same is hereby constiluted a body corporate, by the name of the 
village of Fowlerville." 

The annual village charter election was held 
Monday, March 3, 1873. But meanwhile the new 
charter was passed, and under its provisions a new 
election was held at the office of John A. Tanner, 
Monday, May 5, 1873, which resulted in the election 
of officers as given in the list for the year 1873. 

Since the completion of the railroad in 1871, the 
growth of the village has been rapid and healthy. 
Several handsome brick blocks now grace its busi- 
ness avenues, and as a point of general trade, and 
a market for wheat, live stock, wool, and shooks, 
it stands second to none in the county of Living- 
ston. 

In business pursuits the people are active and 
enterprising, and in the adornment of their homes 
and surroundings much taste and refinement are 
displayed. 

The village now contains two church edifices, — 
Methodist Episcopal and Baptist, — a union graded 
school building, two grain-elevators, steam grist- 
and saw-mills, planing-mills, an exchange bank, a 
weekly newspaper, — The Review, — an iron-foundry, 
some fifteen or twenty stores, where goods of all 
descriptions are sold, four hotels, various and many 
small mechanical shops, and a population of 1200 
inhabitants. 

It is an important station on the line of the 
Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad, and is 
distant si.xty miles from Detroit, and nine miles 
from Howell, the county-seat. 

The following comprises a list of the village 
officers from 1872 to 1879, inclusive: 

PRESIDENTS. 

1872, Caleb T. Powers; 1873, Jared L. Cook ; 1S74-75, William 
W. Starkey; 1876, W. M. Horton ; 1877-78, George W. 
Palmerton; 1879, Wm. M. Horton. 

CLERKS. 

1872-74, Benjamin F. Button; 1S75-78, Frank G. Rounseville; 
1879, William B. Gale. 

TREA,SURERS. 

1872-73, Walter Fowler; 1874-75, John C. Ellsworth ; '876-79, 
Frank H. Starkey. 

TRUSTEES. 

Uriah Coffin, Charles Moore, Byron Defendorf, Albert D. Benja- 
min, George W. Palmerton, lliram Bodine, 1872; Eri M. 
Spencer, Byron Defendorf, John M. Tucker, George L. 
Fisher, Walter J. Webb, George W. Place, 1873 5 Albert D. 
Benjamin, Daniel E. Watts, Andrew D. Cruickshank (full 
term), William F. Close (to fill vacancy), 1874; Uriah 
Coffin, William F. Close, Nelson B. Green (full term), Daniel 
R. Glenn (to fill vacancy), 1875; Andrew D. Cruickshank, 
Stephen Daley, Henry Greenaway, 1876; Jame^; P Spencer, 
James Bean, Christopher Y. Peek, 1877 ; Hugh Conklin, Rus- 
sell E. Bell, Charles J. Glenn, 1878; Edwin E. Walton, Isa,-ic 
Page, Frank G. Rounseville, Charles E. Spencer, 1879. 



STREET COMMISSIONERS. 

Edwin E. Walton, John M. Tucker, Freeman Rohrabacher, 1872; 

Frederick C. Hyne, 1873; John A. Tanner, 1874; Caleb T. 

Power, 1S75; Millen J. Dunn, 1S76-7S; James H. Place, 

1879. 

ASSESSORS. 
John A. Tanner, 1872-73; Walter J. Webb, 1874; Albert D. 

Benjamin, 1875; John A. Tanner, 1876-79. 

FIRE-WARDENS. 
Jared L. Cook, 1872 ; William H. Spencer. 1S73; Alliert S. Le- 
land, 1874; Caleb T. Power, 1875; John A. Tanner, 1S76; 
Christopher Y. Peek, 1877-79. 

MARSHALS. 
Jared L. Cook, '1872; William H. Spencer, 1873; Albert S. Le- 
land, 1874-75; William Head, 1876; Conrad C. Hayner, 
1877-79. 

ADDITIONS TO ORIGINAL VILLAGE PLAT. 

Since the survey of the original plat several 
additions have been made, viz., Ralph Fowler, 
May 27, 1858. Ralph and Charles Fowler, June 
9. 1868. George W. Palmerton, Dec. 6, 1870. 
Albert D. Benjamin, Dec. 6, 1870. Richard A. 
Hale, June 2, 1871. Ralph Fowler, June 20, 1871. 
Ralph Fowler, Aug. 20, 187 1. Albert D. Benja- 
min, Dec. 26, 1 87 1. A. M. Abbott, March 29, 
1872. John W. Galloway and Martin W. Camp, 
April 19, 1872. Albert D. Benjamin, Oct. 29, 1872, 
and Harvey C. Button's alteration. May 24, 1873. 

FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

The village has been visited by several disas- 
trous fires, though none of a general nature. Of 
those occurring in recent years, was the burning 
of the planing-mills in 1874, and in February, 
1877, the destruction of the Reason House, the 
new name for the time-honored institution long 
known as " Independence Hall." 

Fire apparatus, consisting of hooks, ladders, 
ropes, and buckets, were early supplied by the 
village authorities, cisterns were dug, and on March 
23, 1874, the following resolution passed the Coun- 
cil : 

" That every busine5> place in the village of Fowlerville be 
required to keep a barrel of water and a pail in readiness to be 
used in case of fire." 

Yet no fire company was regularly organized 
until July 2, 1879, when Protection Hook-and- 
Ladder Company, No. I, was formed and officered 
as follows : Christopher Y. Peek, Foreman ; John 
McLeod, Assistant Foreman; Henry F. Higgins, 
Secretary; Ruel Curtis, Treasurer; A. H. Cum- 
mings, Steward. The company numbers 30 mem- 
bers. 

EARLY HOTEL-KEEPING. 

As previously mentioned, Independence Hall was 
the first hotel erected in the village, and for a 
decade or two was the only one. Its proprietorship 



HANDY TOWNSHIP. 



247 



changed frequently, yet the habitues of the village 
tavern, their faces and manners, remained nearly 
the same until the advent of the locomotive, in 1 871, 
instituted the beginning of a new era. 

Fowlerville at an early day in its history was 
noted in all the country around for its balls, and 
the spirit which animated the hotel proprietor and 
his guests during such festivals of mirth and jollity. 

Jerome W. Turner, Esq., of Owosso, in an ad- 
dress delivered before the Livingston County Pio- 
neer Association, June 19, 1878, related the follow- 
ing incident descriptive of one of these assemblages. 
Its humor is suggestive, and we deem it appropriate 
to this place in the village annals. 

" Fowleiville wore llie belt for the promiscuous country-dance. 
I must confess to a liking for those old balls. There were no tame 
walk-arouiids in those d.iys. Feet had to go somewhere, and they 
went. White ankles flashed like calcium lights; and over all, and 
under all, and bearing all, came the waves of music from the 
fiddlers' stand. One cLiss went to dance good sauare dancing, 
and get tireil out. .-Vnolher class intended to, but never got any 
farther than the bar-room. One sitting in the ball-room could 
now and then hear an ominous crash of glasses in the room below, 
or a particularly sharp exclamation of somebody who was just 
going to take ' one more.' In the morning the ' one-more' boys, 
as the saying is, ' lay in all shapes.' It was in the morning that 
I went into the bar-room on the occasion referred to, and the bodies 
were lying around, as they might have lain in ihe gray down on 
the heights of Inkerniann. One man survived, but he stood .against 
the outside of the bar to hold himself up, while the landlord braced 
himself on the inside for the same reason. They stood there look- 
ing in a dazed and distant way at each other. The pupils of their 
eyes swam along on the edges of their upper eyelid, like a feeble 
sun on the horizon, and their long slow winks were little more 
than efforts at consciousness. The one on the outside at last said, 
* I've mixed drinks all night, and tried to get a man to stand afore 
mc, but's just my confounded hick, couldn't find nobody.' * S;Mn,' 
said the proprietor, in a mysterious way, * do you want an alrni^hly 
thrashin' ? No man ever stopped with me and wanted anything 

but what he got it, and I'm d d if I let the reputation of the 

house sufTer just after a big dance; so if you want a lickin', you 
can hev it just as quick 's a meal of vittles.' Simultaneously they 
tried to start towards each other, and at the s.ime time each fell on 
the floor, while I made my way out, and am unable to say whether 
they ever got up or not." 

PROFESSIONAL MEN. 

The first resident to attend the wants of those 
whose bodily ailments required attention was Ruel 
Randall. He was termed a Thomsonian, and was 
not a regularly educated physician. However, we 
may believe that he often did much good, and in 
cases where he failed he certainly did not make 
them much worse. 

Dr. Henry N. Spencer was the first physician to 
settle in the village, and came here as early as 1853. 
Those who have since practiced here at various 
periods were Drs. James A. Brown, J. M. Long, 

Ezra J. Bates, Byron Defendorf, Fitch, H. N. 

Hall, Abel S. Austin, Aaron W. Cooper, and Wil- 
liam R. Mead. 



The physicians of the present are Drs. Brown, 
Defendorf, Austin, Cooper, and Mead. 

The first lawyer, Benjamin F. Button, settled in 
the village in 1871. The fraternity are represented 
at the present time by Messrs. B. F. Button, Henry 
F. Higgins, Andrew D.Cruickshank, John Connor, 
and Fred. Warren. 

B.'VNKING. 

In March, 1873, Messrs. Gay & Ellsworth estab- 
lished the banking institution which they still con- 
trol. It has been of great assistance to those doing 
business in the village and its vicinity, and has 
added materially to the development and growth 
of Fowlerville. This firm does a general ex- 
change and banking business, their correspond- 
ence extending to all the commercial centres of 
the Union. 

FOWLERVILLE CORNET BAND. 

This band was first formed in June, 1S74, and 
Henry Greenaway elected leader. In March, 1877, 
a reorganization took place, and John C. Ellsworth 
became the leader. It is now composed of eighteen 
pieces, and the names of the members are as fol- 
lows : John C. Ellsworth, Frank Curtis, Henry 
Greenaway, I. B. Turner, W. C. Hyne, Elmer 
Chambers, Fred. Greenaway, J. Walton, A. J. Beebe, 
Charles E. Spencer, Hawley PuUen, John Van 
Verst, George L. Adams, Fred. Warren, Charles 
Bush, Frank Palmerton, Richard Fowler, Edward 
Greenaway. 

A commodious band hall is now in course of 
construction. The citizens have responded liber- 
ally when called upon to assist in uniforming and 
equipping the members of the organization, and 
they are now in the possession of one of the most 
elegant band uniforms in the State. 

SHOOK-MANUFACTORY. 

This, the most important manufacturing enter- 
prise in the village, was established b)^ William W. 
Starkey, in July, 187 1. Mr. Starkey is an exten- 
sive dealer in red and white oak staves, and manu- 
factures shocks for sugar, molasses, fish, cart, and 
rum hogsheads. Power is derived from a forty 
horse-power steam-engine, and the capacity of the 
works amounts to from 75,000 to 100,000 shooks 
per year, all of which are shipped to the West 
India Islands. Steady employment is here given 
to twenty-five men, while as many others are en- 
gaged in various parts of the State getting out 
material. A fire in October, 1878, destroyed prop- 
erty to the amount of ;g4000, but its ravages were 
iiTiinediately repaired, and the factory is now run 
to its fullest capacity, night and day. 



248 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Mr. Starkey is also the owner of a valuable 
stock-farm of 240 acres, situated within the village 
limits, and is becoming well known throughout 
the State as the breeder of fine horses. Chief 
among his stock is a Kentucky brood-mare, by 
Duvall's Mambrino, and two fillies, the get of the 
famous trotting stallion Pasacas, also owned in 
Fowlerville, and who took the stallion trotting- 
race at the Michigan State Fair in Detroit, Sep- 
tember, 1879. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

The Foivlcrvillc Reviciv was established by Wil- 
lard H. Hess and George L. Adams in 1874, the 
first issue bearing date June 19th of the same year. 
The paper was continued under this management 
until Oct. I, 1877, when Mr. Adams transferred 
his interest to Mr. Hess. The latter continued 
alone until Jan. i, 1879, when Mr. Adams again 
became connected with the paper as sole owner 
and publisher, and continues the same to the pres- 
ent time. The paper was first issued in the form 
of a four-column quarto, was changed to a seven- 
column folio in January, 1874, and to its present 
form, a five-column quarto, in October, 1S77. 

It is neutral in political matters, is published 
on Fridays, and has a weekly circulation of 550 
copies. 

MASONIC. 

Fozvlci'ville Lodge. — The first meeting of Fowler- 
ville Lodge, No. 164, F. and A. M., was held Oct. 
29, 1864. A charter was granted by the Grand 
Lodge of the State of Michigan, Jan. 13. 1S65. 
There were nine charter members, and the fol- 
lowing-named comprised the first board of officers, 
viz. : Henry N. Spencer, W. M. ; R. M. Cadwell, 
S. W.; E. E. Walton, J. W. ; Geo. W. Palmerton, 
Treas.; A. H. Benedict, Sec. ; S. H. Judd, S. D. ; 
Hiram Pearsons, J. D. ; P. P. Carmer, Tiler. 

Henry N. Spencer continued as W. M. until 
1872. He was succeeded by James A. Brown, 
who held the office during the years from 1872 to 
1875, inclusive, and from the latter period until the 
present time, Joseph L. Cook has officiated in the 
same capacity. 

The officers for 1876 are Joseph L. Cook, W. 
M. ; M. W. Davison, S. W. ; J. P. Spencer, J. W. ; 
D. A. French, S. D. ; F. G. Rounseville, J. D. ; A. 
H. Hugiies, Sec. ; H. Pearsons, Treas. ; and James 
Reed, Tiler. 

Regular communications are held in their lod'^e- 
room, in the village of Fowlerville, Tuesdays on 
or before the full moon of each month. 

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD-FELLOWS. 

Fozvlcrville Lodge, No. 86, I.O.O. F., began work 
under a dispensation granted by the Grand Lodge 



of the State of Michigan, June 2, 1862. The fir.st 
board of officers were installed by Grand Master 
B. W. Dennis, and were as follows: Henry N. 
Spencer, N. G. ; James A. Armstrong, V. G. ; N. 
R. Glenn, Past Grand ; Eri M. Spencer, Rec. Sec. ; 
David Bush, Per. Sec. ; Ruel Randall, Treas. A 
charter was granted Jan. 21, 1864, and those named 
as charter members were Henry N. Spencer, Benj. 
W. Lawrence, Marvin Gaston, Eri M. Spencer, 
David Bush, Nelson R. Glenn, J. A. Armstrong, 
Ruel Randall, S. O. Sowle, and Jesse Pulver. 

The following comprises a list of the presiding 
officers of the lodge from its organization to the 
present time: Henry N. Spencer, 1862-63 ! Eri M. 
Spencer, 1864; Marvin Gaston, 1865 ; David Bush, 
1866; Amos Barnard, 1867; John P. Hildreth, 
1868; William C. Spencer, 1869; Jesse Pulver, 
1870; James A. Brown, 1871 ; Guilford Randall, 
1S72; Jos. L. Cook, 1873; Hiram B. Davis, 1874; 
William H. Pullen, 1875; Truman Randall, 1876; 
Andrew D. Cruickshank, 1877; Joseph L.Cook, 
1878; Miles W. Davison, 1879. The present 
board of officers are Miles W. Davison, N. G. ; 
Charles E. Spencer, V. G. ; Joseph Franks, Rec. 
Sec; Jared L. Cook, Per. Sec; Albert H. Tanner, 
Treas. The lodge includes a present member- 
ship of 60, and regular meetings are held in their 
hall in the Palmerton Block alternate Saturday 
evenings. The hall is elegantly furnished, and is 
occupied jointly by the Masons and Odd-Fellows. 

ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN. 

Handy Lodge, No. 39, A. O. U. W., was organized 
with 22 charter members, by W. H. Jewett, Grand 
Master Workman of the State of Michigan, March 
4, 187S. The officers first installed were D. E. 
Hills, P. M. W.; William M. Horton, M. W. ; Geo. 
L. Fisher, G. F. ; Joshua Dodge, G. O. ; Hugh 
Laughlin, G. R. ; A. H. Benedict, G. R. ; A. W. 
Cooper, G. F. ; William H. Spencer, G. G. ; Ruel 
Curtis, I. W. ; W. A. Benjamin, O. W. The present 
officers are George L. Fisher, P. M. W. ; Andrew 
D. Cruickshank, M. W. ; Joshua Dodge, G. F. ; 
Ruel Curtis, G. O. ; George Bush, G. R. ; Hugh 
Laughlin, G. R. ; William M. Horton, G. F. ; Chas. 
Hopkins, G. G. ; Mathew Alsbro, I. W. ; and Wm. 
A. Benjamin, O. W. 

Regular meetings are held in their hall, in the 
Palmerton Block, every Wednesday evening, ex- 
cept during the months of June, July, and August, 
when the meetings are held the first and tiiird 
Wednesdays. 

ORDER OF IMPERIAL KNIGHTS. 
Lodge, No. 36, O. of I. K., was instituted 



by District Deputy, Dr. Sanborn, Oct. 9, 1879, and 



HANDY TOWNSHIP. 



249 



the officers installed were as follows : D. R. Glenn, 

Director-in-Chicf; Eiiielinc Baldwin, Senior Direc- 
tor ; Tlieron Metcalf, Junior Director; Ellen E. 
Glenn, Past Dircctor-in-Cliief ; Giles G. Tucker, 
Recorder; H. F. Button, I'-inancier ; H. D. Glenn, 
Treasurer ; Orlando Pliilo, Senior Sentinel ; Joseph 
Tunnard, Junior Sentinel. 

PATRONS OF IIUSB.\NDRY. 
IVist Handy Grange, No.dx^, P. H.. was granted 
a dispensation Jan. 5, 1876, a charter April 4, 1876, 
and was regularly incorporated according to the 
laws of the State Sept. 1 1, 1878. Those mentioned 
in the articles of incorporation were Joel S. Briggs, 
Frank B. Osborn, John W. Snialley, E. VV. Noble, 
Oscar D. VVeller, John Cole, Judson A. Canfield, 
of Handy, and Daniel Herrick, H. H. Warren, 
Wells Warren, Charles Warren, Alnion A. Huston, 
Thomas B. Frear, of Ingham County. 

VILLAGE POSTMASTERS. 
The first postmaster was David Lewis, who re- 
ceived the appointment in 1849. John T. Watson 
succeeded him, who in turn was succeeded by 
Truman D. Fish. In April, 1 861, William P. Stow 
received the office from Fish, and continued in 
the performance of its duties until May, 1866, 
when William H. Pullen became his successor. 
Mr. Pullen held the office until November, 1875, 
when George L. Fisher, the present incumbent, 
received the appointment. It is a money-order 
office. Mails are received twice daily, and it is 
the distributing office for those residing in the 
townships of Handy and Conway. 

EDUCATIONAL. 
The following statistics are from the directors' 
annual report of school district No. 6, for the year 
ending Sept. I, 1879: 

NiimbtT of cliililren of school age residing in llie district. 327 

Frame scliool-liouses I 

Value of school jjroperty $2100 

Male teachers employed during the year I 

Female teachers employed during the year 3 

Months taught hy males lo 

Months taught l)y females 30 

Paid male teachers $600 

Paid female teachers $840 

RKCEIPTS. 

Moneys on hand Sept. 2, 1878 gi 15.59 

From primary -scliool fund 172. .Si 

From tuition of non-resident scholars 48.65 

From two-mill tax and district taxes for all purposes in- 
cluded 2215.00 

FVom all other sources 200.00 

Total S2752.05 

EXPENDITURES. 

Teachers' w.ages S'440-00 

liuilding and repairs 528.30 

itoniled indchtedness 560.00 

Other purposes 177-47 

Cash on hand Sept. I, 1879 46.28 

Tola! S2752.05 

Total bonded indebtedness of the district Sept. I, 1879. $1400 

32 



RELIGIOUS .SOCIETIES. 
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

Here, as in many other localities, the circuit 
preachers of the Metliodist I^piscopal Church were 
the pioneers in religious matters. Elder John Co- 
sart, of the above-mentioned church, who resided 
in the township of Hartland, held the fir.st religious 
services in the house of Richard P. Bush in 1838 or 
1839. He visited the people in this and adjoining 
settlements once in four weeks. After the building 
of the first school-house a majority of the early 
meetings were held there, yet quite frequently at 
the residences of John B. P'ovvler, Ralph Fowler, 
and others. A Methodist class, quite strong in 
numbers, was foi'mcd soon after Elder Cosart 
began his preachings, among whom were John B. 
Fowler, leader, who continued the same until his 
death, in 1842; Richard P. Bush and wife, John 
Bush, wife, and chiltlren, Ralph P'owlcr, Mrs. Cal- 
vin Handy, Mrs. PLiijah Gaston, John B. La Rowe, 
Martin W. Randall and wife, and James E. Head. 
This class e.xisted for a brief number of years, and 
then went down. A sect called the Unionists then 
took the field, and flourished for a short time. They 
were followed by the Wesleyan Methodists, who 
also enjoyed but an evanescent life. After the 
platting of the village of Fowlerville, in 1849, and 
the donation of a site for a Methodist house of 
worship by Ralph Fowler, a new interest was 
aroused in religious circles, which culminated in 
the reorganization of the Methodist Episcopal 
society as the First Methodist Episcopal Church 
in the village of Fowlerville. The earliest written 
records obtained concerning this society are from 
the miscellaneous records on file in the office of 
the county clerk, which shows that on the i6th 
day of November, 1853, Thomas Wakelin, preacher 
in charge, appointed Phineas Silsby, Joseph Ogle, 
Levi H. Bigelow, John A. Stout, George Stout, 
Henry N. Spencer, and Lott Pratt a board of trus- 
tees of the First Methodist Episcopal Church in 
•Fowlerville, "for the purpose of erecting a house 
of worship on a lot in the village of Fowlerville." 

The stewards' book begins Oct. 22, 1855, and 
informs the reader that at the first quarterly con- 
ference-meeting of the Fowlerville District, Flint 
Circuit, held at the Parsons school-house, on the 
day mentioned, George Smith, presiding elder, was 
present, and opened the meeting with singing and 
prayer. On motion, Cecil D. Parsons was ap- 
pointed .secretary. Others present were C. W. 
Murray, Circuit Preacher; Thomas Stanfield, E.x- 
horter; Cecil D. Parsons and Phineas Silsby, 
Stewards ; Frederick B. Parsons and George L. 
Wilson, Leaders. The Conference then proceeded 
to form a board of stewards, which was composed 



250 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



of Henry N. Spencer and Levi Bigelow, Stewards, 
and Cecil D. Parsons and Phineas Silsby, Record- 
ing Stewards. It was estimated that the salary of 
the preacher in charge and other expenses would 
amount to $450, which was apportioned among 
the different appointments as follows : Fowlerville, 
gioo; Silsby's,g75 ; Boyd's, ;g75; Pratt's, ;gso ; Par- 
sons', ;gioo; North Conway, $e,o. 

In 1867 the church edifice was commenced and 
the society regularly incorporated. Those named 
as trustees in the articles of incorporation were 
Ard. K. Smith, Isaac T. Wright, Martin R. Foster, 
Benjamin W. Lawrence, Phineas Silsby, Adam 
Rohrabacher, and John M. Potts. The church 
edifice was dedicated March 14, 1869. Rev. J. S. 
Smart, of Adrian, conducted the services, assisted 
by Revs. T. J. Joslin and William Fox, of Fcnton- 
ville. In 1874 a parsonage was built, and the 
church repaired to some extent, after which a re- 
dedication took place, the services being conducted 
by Rev. B. I. Ives, of Auburn, N. Y. The church 
cost originally about 1^3500, and has sittings for 
nearly 400 people. The property owned by the 
society at the present time is valued at $4000, and 
the present members are 90 in number. 

The following is a list of the pastors who have 
ofificiated in the Fowlerville district since 1855, 
showing also the year of their settlement: C. W. 
Murray, 1855 ; William Goss, 1857; Lyman Dean, 
1858; S. P. Lee, 1858; J. H. Castor, i860; James 
Armstrong, 1S61 ; Jesse Kilpatrick, 1863; C. M. 
Anderson, 1864; P. L. Turner, 1S65; Samuel J. 
Brown, 1866; R. C. Crane, 1867; William H. 
Brockway,* 1869 ; C. W. Austin, 1872 ; S. P. War- 
ner, 1873; N. W. Pierce, 1874; F.W.Warren, 
1876; H. O. Parker, 1879. 

This district includes the South Handy class, 
the members of which hold meetings in the "Mor- 
mon School-house." The two classes include a 
total membership of about 150 communicants. 
The official members at the present time are Byron 
Defendorf, William Craig, John M. Potts, Lyman 
Stewart, Isaac Page, William Macox, Uriah Coffin, 
Milo Davis, Amasa Bowen, Stewards; and Byron 
Defendorf, William Craig, Uriah Coffin, John M. 
Potts, Isaac T. Wright, Amasa Bowen, Isaac Page, 
Trustees. Flourishing Sunday-schools exist, of 
which Dr. Byron Defendorf is superintendent. 

FIRST BAPTIST CHUUCH. 

This society was organized May 27, 1869, the 
constituent members being Lewis Dean and wife, 
John Swartwout and wife, Mary Dean, William H. 

* In 1S36, an Indian missionary and ihe only preacher of Ihe 
Methodist Episcopal Church in the counties of Lapeer, Genesee, 
Shiawassee, and Saj?ina\v. 



Faunce, Sophia J. Faunce, Olive Van Buren, 
Charles Mastick, Delia Mastick, and Orlando 
Bushnell. 

June 29th of the same year the society was reg- 
ularly incorporated, and S. C. Dean, Edward Bailey, 
Theron Metcalf, William H. Faunce, John Swart- 
wout, Charles Moore, Charles Mastick, Graham 
N. Barker, and Martin Van Buren were named 
as trustees. The first meetings were held in the 
old school-house, which was situated just south of 
where the Reason Block now stands. Their pres- 
ent church edifice was completed in 1873, and 
dedicated September 7th of the same year. It has 
sittings for 200 persons, and cost $1 100. 

The pastors who have officiated here are named 
in the order of their succession, as follows : George 
W. Jenks, William Bassett, Charles F. Weston, 
David E. Hills, and T. H. Cary, who is the pres- 
ent incumbent. The present members of the so- 
ciety number 70. An interesting Sunday-school 
of 85 scholars is maintained, of which Graham N. 
Barker is the superintendent. 

MORMONS. 

It may properly be mentioned in this connec- 
tion that, during the years from 1840 to 1842, 
apostles of the Mormon Church held meetings in 
the house since known as the " Mormon School- 
house." Their proselyting resulted in inducing 
13 families to leave their homes in Handy and 
Iosco, and join the Latter-Day Saints, then colo- 
nized at Nauvoo, 111. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



JAMES CONVERSE. 

Elias Converse was born in Vermont. In his 
boyhood he went to the State of New York, where 
he followed farming for a livelihood. In 1840 he 
moved to the town of Commerce, in Oakland Co., 
Mich. Here he remained but one year, when he 
came to the town of Conway, Livingston Co., 
Mich., and bought a new farm, which he improved. 
This farm he sold, and then returned to Oakland 
County. Seven years later he again sold, and re- 
turned to Conway, purchasing a farm, on which he 
lived until his death. 

James Converse, the subject of this sketch, was 
born Sept. 30, 1838, in the town of Conquest, Cay- 
uga Co., N. Y. He lived with his father until he 
was of age, when he started out in life for himself 
He worked by the month on a farm one year, then 
rented a farm, by which means he obtained his 
start in life. In 1864, Mr. Converse purchased a 



HANDY TOWNSHIP. 



251 



wild tract in the town of Cohoctah, which he soon 
traded for an improved farm in the town of Con- 
way. This he sold in 1867, buyinp; the farm on 
section 5, in Handy, which he now owns. It was 
then nearly new, with only log buildings. He has 
inijjroved the land and built fine buildings, and 
although his farm is small, consisting of but forty- 
five acres, he has done better than many on farms 
of three times the size. That he has now so fine 
a place is due solely to the energy and industry of 
himself and wife. Mr. Converse has never taken 
an active part in politics, but votes with the Dem- 
ocratic party. He was married July 15, i860, to 
Miss Emily Miner, who was born Sept. 28, 1838, 
in Hartland, Mich. She is a daughter of Ezra and 
Anna M. (Skidmore) Miner. 



H.\RVEY METCALF, 

the second white settler in the town of Handy, 
was born in VV'orthington, Mass., Dec. 20, 1795. 
After the death of his father, which occurred when 




ll.AKVEV METCALF. 

he was quite young, he found a home with his 
grandfather until he was fourteen, when the death 
of his grandfather left him without a home. He 
then lived among the farmers, working at whatever 
he could get to do and for what they chose to give 
him. Under such circumstances his chances for 
an education were necessarily very limited. He 
was drafted during the war of 1812, and served 
until his company was mustered out at the close 
of the war. Soon after his discharge he went to 
West Bloomfield, Ontario Co., N. Y., where he 
found employment on a farm. From there he went 
to Geneseo, Livingston Co., N. Y., and engaged in 
the livery business, which he followed for some 



time. But becoming satisfied that an old settled 
country like New York was a hard place for a poor 
man to get a start, he determined to go to a new 
State, where land was plenty and cheap. In the 
spring of 1836, having sold out his business, he 
came to the town of Handy and bought of the 
government one hundred and si.xty acres of land, 
for which he paid down. During the summer of 
1836 he made a small improvement, sowed ten 
acres of wheat, and put up a log house. In the fall 
he returned to Geneseo for his family, whom he at 
once brought to the new home in the forest. At 
that time there was but one family in the town of 
Handy. The country around was entirely new 
save the small clearing made by Mr. Handy. 
There were no roads save Indian trails, while deer 
and all kinds of fish and game were abundant. 
The wolves made night hideous by their howling, 
although they were not a source of much danger. 
W'ith the e.xception of the Handy family their only 
neighbors were the Indians, with whom they lived 
on friendly terms. Although everything was new 
and strange to them, and they endured many pri- 
vations and hardships, still they were contented 
and happy. So says Mrs. Metcalf, who is still 
living, a hale and hearty old lady of nearly seventy. 
Under Mr. Metcalf's energy and industry the wil- 
derness home was soon made to " blossom as a 
rose," and peace and plentj' prevailed. At the first 
town-meeting held in the township Mr. Metcalf 
was elected road commissioner. But political 
offices were not to his taste, and he never held one 
by his own wish. In the schools of his town he 
always took an active interest, and was generally 
one of the school board. In politics Mr. Metcalf 
was first a Whig and then a Republican. He de- 
parted this life March 28, 1878, respected and es- 
teemed by his neighbors and friends for his many 
good qualities. 

On the 9th day of June, 1831, he was married 
to Miss Eveline Adams, who was born in Geneseo, 
N. Y., March 26, 18 10. She was the daughter of 
Amos and Elizabeth (W' right) Adams. There have 
been born to them the following-named children : 
Theron, born March 25, 1832; Amanda F., born 
Jan. 18, 1834; Angeline, born April 29, 1836; 
Adelaide, born Aug. 14, 1840; Edwin A., born 
June 27, 1844; Cornelia, born March 9, 1848, died 
June 19, 1872; and Emma L., born Sept. 5, 185 i, 
died Jan. 17, 1878. 

Theron Metcalf enlisted in September, 1864, 
in Company H, 4th Cal. Volunteers, and served 
one year, mustered out as assistant commissary- 
sergeant in September, 1865. Edwin A. Metcalf 
enlisted Aug. 6, 1 861, in Company K, 9th Michigan 
Infantry. Was taken prisoner at Murfreesboro' and 



252 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



paroled; discharged September i6, 1862; re-en- 
listed in Company D, same regiment, Sept. 10, 
1864; discharged May 17, 1865. 



RALPH FOWLER 

was born in Trenton, Oneida Co., N. Y., Oct. 26, 
1808. His fatlier, Walter Fowler, who was born 
in Massachusetts, was a major in the war of 18 1 2, 
but saw no active service. David Fowler, Ralph's 
grandfather, was a captain in the Revolutionary 
war. Of his services but little is known. Ralph 
grew to manhood in Trenton, where his father 




RALPH FOWLER. 

worked at farming. Unable to give his son an 
education, Ralph had but a winter's schooling 
until after his marriage. When twenty-two years 
old, Mr. Fowler commenced life for himself. He 
hired out on a farm for eight months. After his 
time expired, he, with his brother-in-law, rented a 
dairy-farm, which they worked for two years very 
successfully. On the 14th day of November, 1832, 
he married Miss Martha Smith, and the followine 
spring, with his wife, moved to Geneseo, Living- 
ston Co., N. Y. He rented a farm of General 
Wadsworth, which he carried on for a year and a 
half, when he became home-agent for the general, 
having charge of a part of his large estate. The 
general sent him to a night-school, three nights in 
a week, six months each of the two years he was 
in his service, and in this way Mr. Fowler acquired 
a fair education. In 1835, Mr. Fowler found him- 
self the possessor of two thousand dollars, and 
being anxious to have a home of his own he came 
to Michigan and bought of the government eight 
lots of land, on a portion of which the village of 
Fowlerville now stands. The fall of 1836 found 



him with his family in the new home in the wil- 
derness. There were then only the families of 
Mr. Handy and Metcalf in the town. With his 
accustomed energy he at once commenced the 
improvement of his farm ; soon cleared fields, 
made beautiful with growing grain, took the place 
of the wilderness. Mr. Fowler took an active part 
in the organization of the town, and was chosen 
its first supervisor, which office he held many 
years. For several years there was no road to 
his place; but, after the building of the capitol at 
Lansing, the State road from Detroit to Grand 
Haven was opened through the county to the 
Meridian line, a stage-route was established, and 
a post-office opened at Fowlerville, principally 
through the efforts of Mr. Fowler and Mr. Williams. 
Mr. Fowler also took an active part in the building 
of the plank-road, taking a thousand dollars in 
stock, and also furnishing the plank to construct 
the road from Howell to Fowlerville. When the 
first saw mill in Fowlerville was built he gave six 
acres of land and boarded the hands free. He 
afterwards bought and finished the mill. Mr. 
Fowler has also assisted liberally in building, the 
churches of his village. In 1853 he laid out tiiirty 
acres of land in the village of Fowlerville, and 
gave away every alternate lot to any one who 
would build a good house thereon. He built the 
first store in, and has since added many buildings 
to, the village. Mr. Fowler has filled the most of 
the offices in his town, and served as a Representa- 
tive in the Legislatures of 1843-44, of 1851-52, 
and in the special session of 1854. He served as 
chairman of the Committee on Claims, on the 
special Committee on the Liquor Law, and was 
second on the Committee of Ways and Means, 
filling the position with credit to himself and his 
constituents. For liis second wife, Mr. Fowler 
married Mrs. Mary Fowler, Dec. 10, 1846. His 
children by his first wife were George, born July 
22, 1833; Lucy, born Aug. 18, 1835, died July 21, 
1842; Charles, born June 11, 1837; Joanna, born 
October, 1839; Walter B., born Nov. 6. 1843 ; and 
Walter, born Nov. 6, 1846. George Fowler served 
as a non-commissioned officer, subsequently as 
lieutenant and captain, during the Rebellion, and 
was twice wounded. 



GEORGE LOVELY 

was born in the State of Ohio, April 12, 1840. 
When he was three years old, his father moved to 
Wayne Co., Mich., where he bought a farm. 
George lived with his father on the farm until he 
was nineteen, when the death of his father threw 
him upon his own resources. He worked among 



HANDY TOWNSHIP. 



253 



the farmers around Dearborn until 1862, when 
he came to Putnam, Livingston Co., without a 
dollar. Tiie first year he rented a farm. He after- 
wards bought it; but soon sold it, making a nice 
profit, thereby getting his start. Mr. Lovely then 
came to Fowlerville and engaged in business He 
has been engaged in various branches of business, 
and lias been successful in whatever he undertook. 
He built the opera-house, has done much to ad- 
vance the growth and prosperity of his village, and 
is ranked among its most enterprising citizens. 
Mr. Lovely is now engaged in bu)ing and selling 
agricultural imiilemcnts, buggies, wagons, etc. He 
also owns and manages a fine farm of two hundred 
acres, a view of which appears on another page of 
this work. 



EDWIN NICHOLS. 

The ancestors of this gentleman were among the 
early settlers of New England. John Nichols, the 
paternal grandfatherof our subject, emigrated when 
a young man to Otsego Co., N. Y., where he was 
married to Susan Wilson. They were the parents 
of one child, named Jeremiah, who was born in 
Otsego in 1801. On reaching manhood he was 
married to Ruth Tupper, of the same place. In 
1831 he emigrated to tlie Territory of Michigan, 
and settled at Novi, in Oakland Co., where he re- 
mained five years. 

He then removed to Livingston County, and 
was one of the first to settle in the township of 
Iosco. He afterwards, at various times, removed 
to other places in Livingston County, and for the 
last eleven years he has resided in the township of 
Handy. In 1862 he was bereaved in the death of 
his wife, who died at the age of fifty years. 

She was the mother of ten children, viz., Ange- 
line, Edwin, Eliza, P^zekiel S., Albert, Martha J., 
Philena, Mary A., Charles H., and Seth A. Of 
these, Angeline, Edwin, Ezekiel, Mary, and Seth 
are living, all married, and have families. The old 
gentleman's second marriage was with Mrs. Amelia 
Ross, of Iosco, with whom he is now living on his 
farm in Handy, — one of the few remaining old pio- 
neers of 1 83 1. 

Edwin Nichols was born at the old Otsego 
home in New York, Aug. 15, 1828, and at three 
years of age was brought to the wilds of Michi- 
gan. His boyhood was passed in the forests of 
Oakland and Livingston Counties, with but poor 
facilities for obtaining an education. He was early 
inured to all the rude labor and hardships of a pio- 
neer life in the woods, and from early boyhood 
until he reached his majority he remained with his 
father, bearing his full share in chopping, logging. 



burning off the timber, and in breaking up new 
land. On becoming of age he went out for him- . 
self: for two yeaf's he followed jobbing, such as 
breaking up newltfnd by the acre. During this 
time he became ^'acquainted with Miss Sarah M. 
Smith, of Iosco, to whom he was united in mar- 
riage, Nov. 27, 1850. 

He then purchased eighty acres of partially im- 
proved land, in the township of Handy, about four 
miles southwest of Fowlerville, on which was a 
small frame house. After his marriage he moved 
on to his farm, and since that time has made farm- 
ing his business, in which avocation he has been 
very successful, — at different times adding tract 
after tract to his fiirm. until he now has two hun- 
dred acres, of which one hundred and fifty acres 
are improved and under cultivation. His farm is 
noted for many miles around as being one of the 
finest and most fertile in the county, upon which 
there is one of the finest groves of sugar-maple in 
the State, and from which he annually makes about 
one thousand pounds of maple-sugar. The resi- 
dence, barns, etc., are all comfortable and conve- 
nient, making one of the most beautiful farm- 
homes in that part of the county. Mr. Nichols is 
a man of much influence and consideration in his 
township, and is at this time (1879) supervisor, — 
he being the first and only Republican ever elected 
to that office in the town. He and his esteemed 
wife are the parents of ten children, viz., Oscar, 
Jeremiah, Hilliard and Willie (twins), Edwin S., 
Rhoda J. and Jay (twins), Sarah E., Ariadne, and 
John R. Of these all are living except Willie and 
Jay. The three eldest sons have left home to do 
for themselves, and the others remain with their 
parents. The family are attendants of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Nichols has been 
a member many years. 

On another page a view of the farm-home, and 
the portraits of Mr. Nichols and his wife, may be 
seen. 



M.^RVIN G.\STON. 

The ancestors of Mr. Gaston were of Irish origin, 
and were among the early settlers of Massachusetts. 
Robert, the paternal grandfather, was born in 1747 ; 
after his marriage he removed to Madison Co., 
N. Y., where he resided until his death in 1829, at 
eighty-two years of age. His widow died in 1835, 
at the age of seventy-seven years. They were the 
parents of eight children, named Rlioda, Fliecta, 
Chauncey, Lydia, Pheebe, Elijah, Alanson, and 
Almira. 

Elijah was born at the old Massachusetts home, 
June II, 1793. He was reared in Madison Co., 



254 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



N. Y. At the age of nineteen (Oct. 1 1, 1812) he 
. married Susannah Padelford. She became the 
mother of three children, named Amanda, Caro- 
line, and Marvin. Her death occurred Nov. 13, 
1829, at the age of thirty-six years. Elijah Gaston, 
June 16, 1830, married Mrs. Polly North, a sister 
of his deceased wife. By this union there was one 
child, named Dwight. 

In 1836, Mr. Gaston emigrated to Michigan, and 
with his son-in-law, George Curtis, located two 
government lots in Howell, which they exchanged 
a few months later for some wild land in the town- 
ship of Handy. In the month of February fol- 
lowing Mr. Gaston and his son, Marvin, erected a 
log shanty on their new land. During the five 
days they were building it they camped out, with 
some bo.xes for shelter at night, and their o.xen 
chained to a tree. Caroline, the youngest daughter 
(now Mrs. Dr. Randall), was installed as house- 
keeper, as Mrs. Gaston was still in New York. 
Their nearest neighbor westward, Capt. Scott, of 
Dewitt, was thirty-five miles distant, but in the 
next few years settlers poured in, log houses and 
shanties were erected in all directions, roads cut 
through the forests and swamps, bridges built over 
the streams, and where but a few years before all 
was an almost unbroken wilderness, was now fields 
of waving grain and the homes of happy and pros- 
perous families. Elijah Gaston only lived to the 
age of forty-eight years, dying Oct. 15, 1841. His 
widow died in 1856, aged sixty-one years. 

Marvin Gaston was born Aug. 29, 1820, at Mor- 
risville, Madison Co., N. Y. His boyhood was 
passed in attending school, and in assisting on the 
farm. At sixteen years of age he came with his 
father and the family to Michigan. From that 
time he was engaged in active labor, alternately at 
home and for others, until the death of his father. 
He was at that time about twenty-one years of age, 
and by the advice of the other heirs, he took pos- 
session of the little property left by his father, val- 



ued at seven hundred dollars, with demands against 
it for about the same amount. 

About the same time he sought and obtained 
the hand of Miss Phylinda W. Parsons, daughter 
of Levi and Phylinda Parsons, old pioneers of the 
town of Conway, they having settled in Living- 
ston County in 1837. 

After his marriage, Mr. Gaston engaged in farm- 
ing for two years, and for six years in the potash 
business, during which time he was twice burned 
out. About the time he quit the latter business, 
George Curtis, husband of the eldest sister of Mr. 
Gaston, died ; he was at that time keeping a hotel 
in Howell. After the death of Mr. Curtis, Marvin 
Gaston went to Howell and took charge of the 
business, purchasing an interest therein. He re- 
mained two years, when he sold and returned to 
his farm in Handy. Soon after, he purchased more 
land, becoming for a time involved in debt; but 
by industry and economy, coupled with good man- 
agement, he has succeeded in paying all claims, 
and is to-day the owner of one of the finest farms 
in Livingston County, beautifully situated, and on 
which may be found all the modern improvements 
and conveniences. 

The names of the children that have been born 
to Marvin Gaston are Elijah F., Ellen M., Vienna 
C, Mary E., Henry L., George H., Charles O., 
and Ernest C. Of these, but two are living, — Vi- 
enna C. and George H. Vienna is the wife of 
Luther C. Kanouse, and they reside on their farm 
in the township of Cohoctah. George H. is mar- 
ried to Alice Campbell, of Handy, and lives on 
the old home-farm of Marvin Gaston. The latter 
has practically retired from active labor, and his 
son has the charge and management of the farm. 

Mr. Gaston and his excellent wife are respected 
and esteemed by a wide circle of friends and rela- 
tives. A view of their farm-home, with their por- 
traits, may be found in this work, a tribute to the 
memory of an old pioneer family. 



IOSCO TOWNSHIP. 



Iosco, the Chippewa name for the small stream 
now known as Cedar River, is the present title of 
territory designated in the field-notes of the United 
States survey as township number 2 north, of 
range number 3 east. It is situated on the west 
border of Livingston County, south of the centre, 
and adjoining township organizations are Handy 
on the north, Marion on the east, Unadilla on the 
south, and White Oak in Ingham County on the 
west. Its surface is slightly rolling and of the 
character so common to this portion of the State. 
The principal water-courses are the Cedar River and 
the West Branch of the same stream. The former 
enters the townshipby crossing the south line of sec- 
tion 36, and flows on in a general northerly course 
through the east half of the town. The latter 
stream flows in the same direction through the 
western part of the township. These streams af- 
ford no water-power privileges, are sinuous and 
sluggish in their course, especially the former, 
which is bordered by bottom-lands and swamps 
many acres in extent. 

Iosco, or School Lake, containing about 40 acres, 
is situated upon section 16, and denominated the 
school section. Another small lake lies upon the 
line dividing sections 25 and 26. 

The lands of this township originally were termed 
by the early settlers " heavy-timbered openings," 
and the task of subduing and making farms of 
them was tedious and prolonged. The different 
varieties of oak common to Michigan predomi- 
nated ; but elm, ash, hickory, basswood, soft maple, 
and tamarack were plentiful, while black walnut, 
whitewood, Cottonwood, cherry, beech, sycamore, 
hard maple, and sassafras abounded in most sec- 
tions. 

The soil is of an excellent quality, and yields 
large returns as the result of intelligent culture, 
the principal products being wheat, corn, potatoes, 
fruits, etc. The soil and grasses are also well 
adapted to grazing and draining, — one of the two 
cheese-factories of Livingston County being estab- 
lished here. This factory was built by John Elliott 
in 1874, and he first began the manufacture of 
cheese in May, 1875. At the present time milk is 
used from 100 cows, though in previous years 
the factory has received the product of twice that 
number. The cheese manufactured is shipped 



principally to the New York City market, where 
it compares favorably with the dairy products of 
other portions of the Union. The factory, and the 
large farm upon which it is situated, now belong 
to the Samuel Medbury estate. 

Iosco, a post-office station, otherwise known as 
Parker's Corners, is situated upon portions of sec- 
tions 8 and 17. Here are the church edifices of 
the Methodist Episcopal and Protestant Methodist 
societies, a store of general merchandise, district 
school-house, cider-mill, a blacksmith-shop, and 
some half-dozen dwelling-houses. 

The population of the township in 1874 was 943. 
It now has a voting population of about 275, and 
the present total population will appro.ximate 1 150. 

ORIGINAL L.^ND-ENTRIES. 

The fir.st land entered in township 2 north, of 
range 3 east, was by Alonzo Piatt, of Washtenaw 
Co., Mich., Aug. 12, 1835. His selection embraced 
the east one-half of the southeast quarter of sec- 
tion 12, and is now owned and occupied by Joseph 
Loree, Jr. 

Elbert Parker entered the southeast quarter of 
section 8, Oct. 29, 1835. This location is now 
known as Iosco, or Parker's Corners. 

Samuel and William Ranney, from Franklin Co., 
Mass., purchased a portion of the same section 
Nov. 5, 1835. A description of their lands will be 
found in the following complete list of land-entries. 

John Wood, from Washtenaw Co., Mich., pur- 
chased the southwest quarter, the west one-half of 
the northwest quarter, and the southea.st quarter 
of the same quarter on section 1 1, Nov. 24, 1835. 

On the 27th of November, 1835, Robert J. Barry, 
of Washtenaw Co., Mich., entered the northeast 
quarter and the east one-half of the northwest 
quarter of section 17. 

These included all the entries for public lands in 
this township during the year 1835. The next 
year — 1836 — nearly the entire township was lo- 
cated, or, at least, all the desirable lands. 

Emigrants from New York, New England, Penn- 
sylvania, and Ohio arrived during the spring and 
fall in considerable numbers, and then began that 
tedious struggle with the primitive forests which 
to subdue and transform into pleasant homes, sur- 
rounded by fruitful fields and orchards, as we see 

255 



256 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



them to-day, required years of toil and privation, 
such as their posterity or successors, now enjoying 
the fruits of their labor, can form no adequate idea. 
The following is a complete list of those who 
purchased from the general government lands sit- 
uated in this township; showing also their place 
of residence, and date of entry. Those whose 
names are particularized with a star (*) became 

actual settlers. 

SECTION I. 
Hoiace Ile.ilh, W.iyne Co., Mich., June 10, 1836. 
Hirnm P. Spencer, Columljia Co., N. Y , July 2, 1836. 
Guy C. Lee, Livingston Co., Mich., JvOy 11, 1836. 
William M. Olcolt, Madison Co., N. Y., Nov. 17, 1836. 
Roger Glenen, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 18, 1837, and 

Dec. 20, 1837. 
John U'Hara, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Feb. 13, 1S38. 
Henry H. Norton, Livingston Co., Mich., Sept. 6, 1S53, and 

Dec. 13, 1853. 

SECTION 2. 

Sterling Armstrong, New York City, M.ay 20, 1S36. 
Hiram P. Spencer, Columbia Co., N. Y., July 2, 1836. 
Silas B. Munsell,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 4, 1836. 
George W. Lee, Livingston Co., Mich., June 15, 1837. 
Sarah L. Kilborn, Livingston Co., Mich , April 22, 1854. 
George W. Clark, Livingsion Co., Mich., Sept. 6, 1S55. 

SECTION 3. 
William R. Spafford, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 19, 1836. 
William H. Redfield,* Ontario Co., N. Y., May 30, 1836. 
Lewis W. Decker, Ontario Co., N. Y., May 31, 1836. 
Andrew King, Orange Co., N. Y., June i, 1836. 
Erasmus D. Keyes (afterwards major-general). New York 
City, July 15, 1836. 

SECTION 4. 
William H. Redfield,* Ontario Co., N. Y., May 30, 1836. 
Joseph and William Blanchard, Onondaga Co., N. Y., June 

I, 1836. 
Lucius H. Emery, Erie Co., N. Y., June II, 1836. 
Josiah Loree,* Steuben Co., N. Y., Aug. i, 1836, and Aug. 

3, 1836. 
Selh Hart, Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept. 23, 1S36. 
Samuel H. Dodge, Seneca Co., N. Y., Nov. 16, 1836. 
Cornelius Bonier, Livingston Co., Mich., April 4, 1839. 
Malhew Knowles, Wayne Co., Mich., June 22, 1839. 
Joseph B. Cole, Livingston Co., Mich., Aug. 13, 1839. 

SECTION s. 
John H. Northrop, Oneida Co., N. Y., June 13, 1S36. 
Amos P. Gridley, Oneida Co., N. Y., June 14, 1836. 
William Pease, New York City, Nov. 14, 1836. 
Asa C. Tutlle, Oakland Co., Mich., Jan. 24, 1837. 
Alexander Richmond, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Dec. 9, 1837. 
Henry Nooden, Livingston Co., Mich., June 28, 184S. 
Merrill Colby, Wayne Co., Mich., July 31, 1853. 

SECTION 6. 
Patrick Conner,* Livingston Co., Mich., Sept. 21, 1836. 
Michael Mulveny, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 1, 1836. 
William Faulk, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 22, 1836. 
Jonathan O. Hathaway, Oakland Co., Mich., Jan. 31, 1S37. 
John Colby, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 8, 1853. 
Michael Flinn, Livingston Co., Mich., June 9, 1S54, and June 

19, 1854. 
James Lindsey,- Livingston Co., Mich., Aug. 21, 1855. 



SECTION 7. 
Samuel H. Dodge, Seneca Co., N. Y., Nov. 16, 1836. 
B. B. Kercheval, Wayne Co., Mich., Nov. 26, 1836. 
Emery Beal,* Livingston Co., Mich., Jan. II, 1S37. 
John Foster, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. 19, 1S37. 
Joab Grover,* Wayne Co., Mich., July 9, 1836. 
Dotlia Barnum, Livingston Co., Mich., July 17, 1838. 

SECTION 8. 
Elbert Parker,* Livingston Co., Mich., Oct. 29, 1835. 
Samuel Ranney, Franklin Co., Mass., Nov. 5, 1835. 
William Ranney, Franklin Co., Mass., Nov. 5, 1835. 
James Al)bott,* Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept. 23, 1836. 
Peter Chase, Oakland Co., Mich., Sept. 14, 1S36. 

SECTION 9. 
Willi.am Kirtland, W.iyne Co., Mich., Jan. I, 1836. 
Seth Spencer, Onondaga Co., N. Y., May ig, 1836. 
Theodore H. Drake, Ontario Co., N. Y., May 23, 1836. 
Samuel Carpenter, Allegany Co., N. Y., Sept. 21, 1836. 
Moses Keyes, Seneca Co., N. Y., Nov. 16, 1836. 
John J. Smith, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. 12, 1838. 
Jonah Poycr, Jr.,* Livingston Co., Mich., Oct. 10, 1844. 



SECTION 10. 
William Kirlland, Wayne Co., Mich., Jan. I, 1836. 
Henry Brower, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 20, 1836. 
Sterling Armstrong, New York City, May 20, 1836. 
Enoch Terhune,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 31, 1 
Henry M. Wood,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 5, 



836. 
1836. 



SECTION 



John Wood,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 24, 1835. 
John W. Hilton, Oswego Co., N. Y., May 13, 1836. 
George Sewell, Ni.agara Co., N. Y., M.ay 28, 1836. 
Henry M. Wood,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 5, 1836. 
Isaac S. Tuttle, Oakland Co., Mich., Oct. 30, 1839. 
Thomas Schoonhoven, Livingston Co., Mich., June 23, 1842. 
Martha Ann Wood,* Livingston Co., Mich., May 7, 1845. 

SECTION 12. 

Alonzo I'lalt, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Aug. 12, 1835. 
John H. Le Count, W.iyne Co., N. Y., March 25, 1836. 
Wallace Goodwin, Ontario Co., N. Y., April 5, 1836. 
Richard Storms, Livingston Co., N. Y., July 15, 1836. 
William M. Olcott, Madison Co., N. Y., Nov. 17, 1836. 
Thomas B. Hoyt, Livingston Co., Mich., March 22, 1837. 
Abel W. Walker, Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 30, 1837. 
James H. Woods, Ontario Co., N. Y., Sept. 4, 1S38. 
Philelus .Stark, Livingston Co., Mich., Sept. 30, 1852. 
Cornelius Y. Ross,* Livingston Co , Mich., Feb. 15, 1853. 
William Gorton,* Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 17, 1853. 

SECTION 13. 

Lyman E. Beach,* Erie Co., N. Y., April 23, 1836. 
William Davis, Erie Co., N. Y., April 23, 1836. 
Samuel Coole^ Genesee Co., N. Y., May 24, 1836. 
William Vanocker, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 24, 1836. 
Joseph H. Gorton, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 14, 1836. 
Hiram Ward, Wa.shlenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 18, 1836. 
James M. Himes, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Feb. 10, 183S. 
William Himes, Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 28, 1838. 
William Gorton, Dec. 15, 1853. 

SECTION 14. 

William Miller,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 23, 1836. 
Joseph Marriott, Monroe Co., N. Y., May 28, 1836. 
George Sewell, Niagara Co., N. Y., May 28, 1836. 
Joseph Hubbard, Orleans Co., N. Y., May 30, 1836. 




RESlOLNCEjg Wm. J. JEWELL, lOSCO, MiCH 



IOSCO TOWNSHIP. 



257 



Silas Munsell,* Wnyne Co., Mich., May 30, 1836. 

Joseph I.oree,* Livinyslon Co., Mich., June 30, 1S37. 

SECTION 15. 

Jeremiali Nicliols,* Oakland Co., Mich., Kel). 15, 1836. 
George W. Mcintosh,* OaUlan.l Co., Mich., Kel). 15, 1S36. 
Jeremiah Nichols,* M.iy 12, 1836. 
Anihew Lyile,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 23, 1836. 
Levi W. Munsell,* Wayne Co., N. Y., June 6, 1836. 
John I. (or J.) Tr.iver, Schenect.idy, N. Y., June 13, 1836. 
Amos P. Gridley, Oneida Co., N. Y., June 14, 1836. 
Adolphus Cobiirn, All.any Co., N. Y., .Xusj. 6, 1S36. 

SECTION 16. 
T. Lockwood,* Nov. II, 1S46. 
J. Acker,* Oct. 28, 1847. 
J. R. Goodrich,* Nov. 16, 1853. 
\V. H. Simons,* Oct. 6, 1847. 
R. Simons, Oct. 6, 1847. 
R. Acker, Oct. 19, 1S47. 
Walter Wriyht,* Feb. lo, 1848. 
I. S. A. Wri-ht,* May 6, 1846. 
John W. Wright,* April 24, 1854. 
S. and N. Tracy,* Nov. II, 1846. 
R. and J. Acker,* May 6, 1846. 
S. and N. Tracy,* May 9, 1846. 
P. L. Wilhelm,* Feb. 17, 1847. 
I. S. A. Wright,* Oct. 19, 1847. 

SECTION 17. 

Robert J. Harry, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 27, 1835. 
Henry M. Wood,* Washtenaw Co., March 12, 1836. 
Robert J. Harry, May 13, 1836. 

Peter L. Wilhelm,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 27, 1S36. 
Hiram Dewey, Steuben Co., N. Y., June 27, 1836. 
Henry M. Wood,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Aug. 3, 183O. 

SECTION 18. 

John A. Kemp, Livingston Co., N. Y., July 9, 1836. 
Emery IJeal,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Sept. 21, 1S36. 
John 13. Stimpson, W.ashtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. II, 1837. 
Joseph Voorhies, Oakland Co., Mich., Jan. 24, 1837. 
Joab Grover,* Wayne Co., Mich., July 9, 1836. 
Enoch Smith, Ingham Co., Mich., Oct. 25, 1843. 

SECTION 19. 

Richard M. Guggins,* Livingston Co., Mich., May 30, 1S36. 
Robert L. Taylor, New York City, June 13, 1836. 
David II. Richardson, Ontario Co., N. Y., Sept. 21, 1836. 
Richard Price, Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 19, 1853. 

SECTION 20. 
Grace Fasquelle, Livingston Co., Mich., May 2, 1836. 
Jean Louis Fran(;ois Benoit Fasquelle, Liviiigston Co., Mich., 

May 2, 1836. 
Richard M. Guggins,* Livingston Co., Mich., June 13, 1836. 
Orilla Guggins,* Livingston Co., Mich., June 18, 1836. 
Hiram Dewey, Steuben Co., N. Y., June 27, 1836. 
Leonard B.irton, Franklin Co., Mass., Oct. 4, 1837. 
Francis Crawford, Wayne Co., Mich., Jan. II, 1855. 

SECTION 21. 
Grace Fasquelle, Livingston Co., Mich., M.ay 2, 1836. 
Richard M. Guggins,* Livingston Co., Mich., May 13, 1836. 
Luther Haven,* Addison Co., Vt., May 28, 1836. 
Orilla Guggins, Livingston Co., Mich., May 30, 1836, and 

June 18, 1836. 
Hiram Dcwcy, Steuben Co., N. Y., June 27, 1836. 
Marvin Cadwell, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Sept. 21, 1S36. 

33 



Emery Deal,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Sept. 21, 1836. 
Moses Kies, Seneca Co., N. Y., Nov. 16, 1836. 

SECTION 22. 

Jolm Lorce,* Livingston Co., Mich., Feb. 29, 1836. 
Joseph Loree,* Livingston Co., Mich., March 21, 1S36. 
Reuben Rhodes, Wayne Co., Mich., May 20, 1836. 
William R. Spofford, Genesee Co., N. Y., June 20, 1836. 
Stephen Sherwood, Orleans Co., N. Y., June 30, 1836. 
Chauncey E;.jglesion, (iene-ee Co., N. Y., June 3, 1836. 
Jesse Tuxbury, W.iyne Co., Mich., June 4, 1836. 
Marvin Cadwell, Wnshtenaw Co., Mich., Sept. 21, 1836. 

SECTION 23. 

James Miller,* Steuben Co., N. Y., May 21, 1836. 
Jose|ih Loree,* Livingston Co., Mich., May 23, 1836. 
Nathan Field, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 30, 1836. 
James li. Barnard, Orleans Co , N. Y., May 30, 1836. 

SECTION 24. 

Daniel Person,* Erie Co., Pa., April 23, 1836. 
Abijah P. Backus, Erie Co., Pa., May 14, 1836. 
Lorenio Backus,* Erie Co., Pa., May 14, 1836. 
Columbus A. Morgan, Herkimer Co., N. Y., Nov. 14, 1836. 
David Rogers, Ingham Co., Mich., Feb. 23, 1837. 
Robert Robinson, W.ayne Co., Mich., Nov. 30, 1S36. 
Lawson Judson, Livingston Co., Mich., Oct. 30, 1837. 
William J. Jewett, Livingston Co., Mich., Oct. 29, 1845. 

SECTION 25. 

Amos H. lireed, Cayuga Co., N. Y., May 13, 1836. 
Warren Sceley, Cayuga Co., N. Y., May 13, 1836. 
Tunis R. Pardee, Monroe Co., N. Y., May 18, 1836. 
E. Coleman, Dec. 13, 1853. 
T. C. Bell, March 15, 1865. 

SECTION 26. 

Erastus Holloway, Wayne Co., N. Y., May 20, 1836. 
Seth G. Wilson,* Addison, Vt., May 28, 1836. 
Peter J. Kuhn,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 27, 1S36. 
Alfred Denio,* Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 16, 1836. 
Enoch Webster, Steuben Co., N. Y., May 4, 1837. 

SECTION 27. 
Seth G. Wilson,* Addison Co., Vt., May 28, 1836. 
Luther Haven,* Addison Co., Vt., May 28, 1836. 
Elsley W. Fuller, Onondaga Co., N. Y., June 6, 1836. 
Jabez Paul,* Onondaga Co., N. Y., June 6, 1836. 
Josiah P. Fuller, Cortland Co., N. Y., June 6, 1836. 

SECTION 28. 
Luther Haven,* Addison Co., Vt., May 28, 1836. 
William S. Caskey,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 28, 1836. 
Bastion Williams, Washtenaw Co., Mich., July II, 1836. 
Marion Cadwell, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Sept. 21, 1836. 
Adeline Haviland,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. II, 1S37. 
Harrison P. and John R. Goodrich,* Livingston Co., Mich., 

Oct. 5, 1847. 
Joseph S. Post,* Livingston Co., Mich., Feb. 3 and 24, 1854. 

SECTION 29. 
Selh Spencer, Onondaga Co., N. Y., May 19, 1836. 
James Wright,* Onondaga Co., N. Y., May 19, 1836. 

SECTION 30. 
Richard M. Guggins,* Livingston Co., Mich., May 30, 1836. 
Nathan Jones,* Livingston Co., Mich., March I, 1S37. 
Ard Osborn,* Washtenaw Co., Mich , May 19, 1836. 
James Wright,* Livingston Co., Mich., April 1, 1846. 



258 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



SECTION 31. 

Aril Osliorn.* Waslilenaw Co., Mich., May 19, 1S36. 

John CdoI, Living>ton Co., Mich., June 7, 1S37. 

Samuel Case, Livingston Co., Mich., July 3, 1837. 

David Dutton, Livingston Co., Mich., July 15, 1844, •''"'' 

June 3, 1847. 
Elizabeth Ann Dyer, Livingston Co., Mich., Dec 14, 1S53. 
Jos. L. Dye», Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 14, 1853. 
John S. Dyer, Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 14, 1S53. 

SECTION 32. 
Phili|) Dyer, Livingston Co., Mich., June 7, 1836. 
Daniel V. Van Sickel,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 20, 

1S36. 
Marvin Cadvi'ell, Waslitenaw Co., Mich,, Sept. 21, 1836. 
David H. Richardson, Ontario Co., N. Y., Sept. 21, 1S36. 



July 5, 1836. 
Inly 11,1836. 
Sept. 21, 1836. 



SECTION S3. 

Joseph P. Jewetl, Washtenaw Co., Mich 

rutnam Smith,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., 

Marvin Cadwell, Washtenaw Co., Mich. 

Emery Beal,* W.ashlenaw Co., Mich., Sept. 21, 1836. 

B. B. Kercheval, Wayne Co., Mich., Nov. 26, 1S36 

David A. McFarlan, Wayne Co , Mich., April 4, 1837. 

L. D. Preston, Oct. 22, 1S57. 

W. H. Chapman, Ingham Co., Mich., March 13, 1S66. 

SECTION 34. 

Alfred Denio,* Addison Co., Vt., May 28, 1836. 
Martin Spragne, Erie Co , N. Y., July 12, 1S36. 
Frederick BoUes, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 27, 1836. 
Patrick Failey, Livingston Co., Mich., Oct. 8, 1837. 
David Denio, Livingston Co., Mich., Jan. 3, 1S38. 

SECTION 35. 

Anna Sutherland, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 8, 1836. 
George Reeves, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 8, 1S36. 
Ambrose Crane, Genesee Co., N. Y., June 23, 1S36. 
Amherst Crane, Genesee Co., N. Y., June 30, 1836. 
Alvin Mann,* Genesee Co., N. Y., Sept. 21, 1836. 
Frederick BoUes, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 27, 1836. 
Thomas W. Harford,* Livingston Co., Mich., Jan. 6, 1S53. 
Hiram Backus,* Livingston Co., Mich., Jan. 13, 1855. 
James F. Williams, Livingston Co., Mich., Jan. 13, 1855. 
Andrew Love, Livingston Co., Mich., March 3, 1854. 

SECTION 36. 

Jean Louis Fran9ois Benoit Fasquelle, Livingston Co, Mich., 

May 2, 1836. 
Simeon Backus,* Erie Co., N. Y., May 14, 1836. 
Hiram Ward, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 29, 1836. 
Olive Ward, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. 6, 1837. 
Moses Fuller, Livingston Co., Mich., M.arch 23, 1837. 
Benjamin Nich-ols, Columbia Co., N. Y., June 17, 1836. 
Moses Fuller, Livingston Co., Mich., Jan. 31, 1839. 
John Conner, Livingston Co., Mich., March 8, 1847. 
Samuel G. Sutherland, Washten.a-w Co., Mich., Dec. 13, 1848. 
Charles Bailey, Oakland Co., Mich., Dec. 13, 1853. 
Eli Annis, Feb. 15, 1868. 
N. C. Barton, Feb. 12, 1867. 

THE FIRST AND OTHER EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

It is conceded by all early residents that George 
C. Wood was the first inhabitant of the territory 
now known as the township of Iosco. 

His father, John Wood, then a resident of Ann 
Arbor, Mich., tnade the fourth entry of lands in 



township No. 2 north, of range 3 east, by the pur- 
chase of the southwest quarter, the west one-half of 
the northwest quarter, and the southeast quarter of 
the northwest quarter of section 11, Nov. 24, 1835. 

Upon this purchase, and in a house now owned 
and occupied — in part — by James Fewlass, George 
C Wood began his residence late in May, 1836. 

As much interest attaches to the journey and 
settlement of the first settler, the following narra- 
tion of Mr. Wood's removal from Ann Arbor to 
his new home, furnished for publication in the 
Livingston Dcuiocrat, March, 1S74, — by the late 
Daniel Case, of Hovv:eIl, — is inserted. Mr. Case 
had then j'ust arrived in Ann Arbor, while on his 
way to view, for a second time, lands in Howell, 
Livingston Co., previously purchased by him : 

" We put up at the Western Hotel in Ann .\rb(ir, a small, low 
house, built in the early days of the Territorial road to Chicago. 
I thought it was not a very large village. There was not a house 
from the court-house square to the bridge, and the road was not 
fenced in. Whi'e looking about in the morning, do\\-n near the 
hill towards the river, I saw Mr. George C. Wood, who, with three 
yoke of oxen, was plowing on the south side of the road. I in 
quired of him about the county of Livingston, as I wanted to go 
and see the land I h.id purchased. 

'* He said he was going to wilhin seven or eight miles of my 
land to live, and would start the next day with a break-up team, 
nnd if I would stay and help him finish plowing the piece he was 
then engnged upon, he would be glad to have me for one of the 
comjiany. 

" That was my first experience in driving a I)reak-up team. We 
got it done, and commenced to load the wagon with potatoes, corn, 
pork, and other kinds of provisions, a break-up plow, etc., making 
a big load ft)r four yoke of oxen. The next morning we fixed a 
place for Mrs. Wood to ride on tup of the load, hitched on the 
oxen, and stai'ted. Arriving at De.xler, we turned north, and here 
left civilization behind us for the land of the Indian, wolf, and 
deer. At noon we halted beside a marsh in the shade of a tree, 
unyoked the oxen and let them feed on the tender marsh grass. 
Our lunch was taken from the wagon, and eaten with as good a 
relish as in the best dining-room in the Slate. After the oxen had 
rested we again started on our way, and at night stayed at a small 
yellow house, where Dover Mills now are. We put the bells on 
the oxen, tiu'ned them on the marsh to graze, and in the morning 
they were ready to go on again. 

" We had to go around the west side of Portage Lake, and 
arrived at Mr. Sigler's house at noon next day. Sometimes we 
had to go miles out of our way to get around marshes and swamps. 
Mrs. Wood was as happy as a lark, and often made the woods 
ring with her songs. The second night we found shelter at a 
small log house, situated a few miles north of the village of Pinck- 
ney, and the only one in the neighborhood. 

" It was a common thing for three or four famdies to stop at 
one house overnight, and sometimes slay till they could get a log 
house up, and iheie was always plenty of room. The next day, 
after making bridges, going around swamps, and fighting mos- 
quitoes without cessation, we arrived at the Cedar River, west of 
the lands afterwards occupied by Lyman E. Beach, Jr. 

" It took three days to get that load over the river and mar.sli, 
up to Mr. Wood's house, which was situated upon the premises 
now owned by James Fewlass, Esq. I worked upon the house 
for a few days, and there I first heard the howl of a wolf. I 
thought all the dogs in the country were loose. On the trail from 
there to Livingston Centre I saw the first naked Indians, and 
there were large numbers of them."' 



SIMON P. KUHN. 

Few men in Livingston County 
have risen to usefulness and in- 
dependence through greater trials 
and obstacles than he whose name 
stands at the head of this brief nar- 
rative. He was born in Livingston 
Co., N. Y., Jan. 8, 1820, and came 
to Michigan with his father, Peter 
J. Kuhn, in 1834. Lived in Wash- 
tenaw County two years, and came 
toloscoin the spring of 1837, taking 
one hundred and twenty acres of 
land from government, on section 
26. The family, consisting of eight 
children, — four boys and four girls, 
— were in limited circumstances. 
The first five acres of land cleared 
was done without the help of a team ; 
this was sowed to wheat the first fall. 
From this small beginning a large 
and productive farm was made, on 
which the old couple died, — Mrs. 
Kuhn on Sept. 16, 1875, and he 
on May 11, 1876. 

Simon P., the immediate subject 
of this sketch, met with an accident 
when a boy which made him a con- 
firmed cripple. He lived with his 





S . P. KU H N . 



father until he was thirty-six years 
of age. Being ambitious to do some- 
thing for himself, his father gave him 
one hundred dollars, and he pur- 
chased eighty acres of land where 
he now resides. Upon this land 
there w;is a heavy growth of timber ; 
to remove this, make a living, and 
improve a farm without means, and 
being obliged to walk with two 
canes, was a grave question. All 
this has been done, other lands 
a:dded, fine, commodious buildings 
erected, with such surroundings as 
indicate the "well-to-do farmer." 

Mr. Kuhn has been twice mar- 
ried. His first wife was Mrs. Lu- 
cinda Rounds, formerly Miss Green, 
of Marion. She died Dec. 28, 1872, 
leaving one son, Claude M. The 
second marriage was May 7, 1879, 
to Mrs. Eliza Monk, formerly Miss 
Riclier, of the county of Norfolk, 
England. 

Mr. Kuhn and his present wife 
are active and consistent members 
of the Protestant Methodist Church, 
and take a prominent part in the 
Sabbath-school. 



^ 




Rl., .,^,. ,^ ,, ^ ,'. KUHN, Iosco. Michigan 



IOSCO TOWNSHIP. 



259 



Mr. Wood removed from tlie township at an 
early daj-, and is now a resident of Milwaukee, 
Wis. 

During tlie latter part of the summer and early 
in the fdl of 1836, several other families took up 
tlieir residence in tlie township, the e.xact date of 
whose settlement cannot be readily ascertained. 
Among them were Ard Osborii and his son Nelson. 
The former was the first supervisor and treasurer 
of the township, and purchased several hundred 
acres, situated upon sections 30 and 31. 

Richard M. Guggins purchased lands upon sec- 
tions 19, 20, and 21, early in tiie summer of 1S36, 
and during the same season settled early enough 
to liarvest a crop of marsh hay. George W. Mcin- 
tosh, from Oakland County, and Andrew Lytle, 
from Waslitenaw County, also setted at about the 
same time. 

Asel Stow, from Weybridgc, Addison Co., Vt., 
first visited the township in June, 1836, and pur- 
chased from Richard M. Guggins, land situated upon 
section 19. He then returned to Vermont, and in 
September of the same j'ear, accompanied by his 
wife and two children, viz., Isaac and Eliza Ann, 
Seth G. Wilson and wife, — Mr. Wilson being his 
brother-in-law, — began a journey to his home here 
in the wilderness. The travelers journeyed via 
tlie Erie Canal and Lake Erie. At the same time, 
Nathan Jones, another brother-in-law, started from 
Vermont with a horse-team and wagon belonging 
to Mr. Stow. He accomplished the long drive in 
safety, and brought in the first team of horses owned 
in the township. Mr. Wilson is still a resident 
here. 

Asel Stow, during his lifetime, was prominently 
identified with the public interests of the township 
he assisted to found. He was one of the first 
assessors elected in 1838, and was re-elected during 
all the succeeding years until 1852, when the office 
was discontinued. 

His son, Hon. Isaac Stow, the present supervisor 
of the township, has also been prominent in all 
undertakings, both public and private, which had 
for their object the advancement of the best inter- 
ests of his townsmen. He was an early teacher 
and school inspector, and since 1865 has filled the 
position of supervisor nine terms. In January, 
1878, he prepared an able and interesting skctcli 
concerning pioneer life in Iosco, which was read 
before the Livingston County Pioneer Association, 
and to which we are indebted for much valuable 
information. 

James Wright, a native of Dutchess Co., N. Y., 
emigrated from Manlius, Onondaga Co., N. Y., to 
this township in 1836, arriving here October 24th. 
He was accompanied by a large family of sons, 



viz., William, Isaac S. A., Walter, John W., Elisha 
C, Thomas, Lewis J., and Leonard W. ; Richard 
Acker, a son-in-law, and Abram Van Buren, who 
had married his niece. Mr. Wright was the first 
settler upon section 29. He was an earnest and 
sincere member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and at his house, in the spring of 1837, were in- 
auguratetl the first religious meetings ever held in 
the township, 

It is believed that pri(5r to the beginning of the 
winter of 1836-37, John Wood, the father of Geo. 
C. Wood, had settled upon tlie southeast corner of 
section 17, near where the creek crosses the high- 
way. Here he anticipated the establishment of a 
village, and tradition saith that a village — on paper 
— was laid out, as Woodvillc or Woodbridge , and 
lots in the same sold to parties in, the East at quite 
a handsome preniiimi. The Woods e.xercised con- 
siderable sharp practice in their land speculations 
and the ownership of the same, but the purchasers, 
we believe, all resided east of Lake luie. John 
Wood became the first postmaster about 1838, 
and the road from his residence south into Una- 
dilla township was the first opened. In the spring 
of 1837 he was elected justice of the peace and 
school inspector of Unadilla township, and with 
Jeremiah Nichols, who at the same time was elected 
highway commissioner, were the first township 
officers resident in the territory now known as 
Iosco. 

In March, 1837, Daniel Person, with his famil}', 
came in from Erie Co., Pa., and made the first 
settlement upon section 24. His purchase in- 
cluded the northeast quarter. He was a native 
of Windsor, Vt., and the son of a talented Univer- 
salist minister. Mr. Person was conspicuous in 
the early history of Iosco, and universally re- 
spected. He died in 1874. 

During the remainder of the year 1S37, and 
prior to the first township election, which was 
held at the house of Jeremiah Nichols, April 2, 
1838, the population was largely augmented by 
the arrival and settlement of many fmiilies ; the 
first assessment roll, made in May, 1838, showing 
53 resident tax-payers. 

Among the pioneers not previously mentioned, 
and who were here prior to April, 1838, were 
Peter J. Kuhn, Henry M. Wood, Silas B. Munsell, 
Levi W. Munsell, Putnam Smith, Peter Chase, 
James Grimes, Elbert Parker, Peter L. Wilhelm, 
Daniel V. Van Sickel, Isaac T. Wright, James 
Miller, Jeremiah Nichols, Simeon Backus, Caleb 
Barber, Samuel Barber, Lorenzo Backus, Heniy 
CanoU, Lorenzo Canfield, William S. Caskey, 
Simeon Disbrow, Alfred Denio, David Denio, Wil- 
liam Davis, S. Ferguson, John Green, Joab Gro- 



26o 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



ver, John W. Hilton, Thomas Hoyt, Lawson Jiid- 
son. Josiah Loree, John Lorce, Wm. Miller, Anson 
Niles, Patrick Quinn, David Storms, Henry W. 
Sharp, James Upton, and Joseph C. Williams. 

Prior to and including 1840, additional settlers 
were Alfred Wells, Lyman E. Beach, William C. 
Post, Elisha H. Noble, Lorenzo Davis, Joseph B. 
Cole, Washington Wing, Joseph Post, William 
Himes, Isaac Ray, and A. M. Odell. 

The following comprises a complete list of those 
who were assessed as resident tax-payers in 1844, 
showing, also, the section upon which their lands 
were situated : 



Acker, Riclianl 29 

Brnwnson, Richard 13 

Be inter, Cnrneliiis 

Bonter, James 4 

Backus, Simpson 25, 36 

Barlier, Caleb 24 

Backus, Widow 36 

B.iLicock, Eli S 24 

Bench, Lyman E 12, 13 

Baghy, Joseph 4 

Britlon, John 4 

Bliss, E. and Joseph 2, 10 

Bealtie, Wilham 32 

Bradford. Cliailes 24 

Canoll, Henry 25 

Canfield, Lorenzo 25 

Chase, Peter 8 

Conrad, I_>ennis 3 

Cttnner, Patrick 6 

Cook, Orrin 2 

Chapman, Peter 22 

Clements, C. B 

Carson, William 

Caskey, William S 28, 33 

Davis, William 13, 18 

Disbrow, Simeon - 22 

Dickinson, Amos.. 9 

Douj;lass, S. B 17 

Foster, Martin R 10 

Fewlass, John 15 

Ferguson, Thomas 35 

Guggins, Richard M 20, 21 

Gorton, William 13, 24 

Goodrich, H. P 29, 30 

Glenning, Roger 1 

Gleason, Warren 9 

Himes, William 13 

Hoyt, Emeline 12 

Hilton, John W 11 

Hartford, Charles 34, 36 

Haven, Luther 21, 27, 28 

Haviland, L. J..21, 22,28, 32,33 

Haviland, Jacob 18 

Hilton, John Personal 

Hatfield, James 4 

Jewell, William 30 

Kuhn, Peter J 26 

Kuhn, Leonard D 26 

Loree, Joseph 22, 23 

Loree, George 4 

Lewis, Stephen B 35 

Lewis, Isaac Personal 



Sec. 

Loree, Josiah 3, 4 

McLitosli, George W 3, 4 

Miller, William 14 

Munsell, L. W 14, 15 

Munsell, Silas B 15 

Miller, James 23 

Nichols, Jeremiah 15, 22 

Niles, Ansel 22 

Noble, Elisha H 27 

Osborn, Nelson S 31 

Osborn, Horace 30 

Osborn, Ard 30 

Odell, Augustine M 7 

Plummer, Amos 25 

Person, Daniel 24 

Paiker, Elbert 8 

Post, William C 9 

Post, Johnson Personal 

Post, Joseph S 29 

Palmateer, George Personal 

Quinn, Patrick 6 

Ray, Isaac 25 

Ray, William H 35 

Robinson, Robert 24 

Redfield, Willi.am H 3, 4 

Smith, Ard 29 

Shatluck, Asa 14 

Sharp, Henry 31 

Sharp, William 31 

Stow, Asel 19, 30 

.Sigsby, David 33 

Smith, Putnam F 34 

Smith, James Personal 

Tupper, Chelsey Personal 

Tujjper, Simeon 

Van Brunt, Isaac 9 

Van Blarcom, I. D Personal 

Van Sickel, D. V 32, 33 

Wood, John 17, 20, 21 

Wood, D. T. and Alexander II 

Wilhelm, Peter L 7, 18 

Wilhelm, Peter 17 

Ward, Jacob 22 

Ward, Eli 14 

Ward, Alvin 15 

Wright, Thomas 20, 29 

Wright, Isaac T 20, 29 

Wright, James 29, 30 

Wilson, Seth G 26, 27 

Wells, Alfred 27 

Williams, Joseph 28 

Wing, Washington 12, 13 



Additional residents assessed for taxes in 1845 
were : 

Sec. Sec. 

Burch, George 29 

Beach, Elisha F. 13 

Goodrich, Ashbel 20, 21 

Goodrich, Joshua 20, 21 

Green, Israel Personal 

Hempsted, Nathan 8 

Hempsted, Charles Personal 

Hart, Isaac 9 

Munsell, Henry G Personal 



Poyer, Jonah 3, 9 

Rima, Christopher 12 

Ross, Cornelius 9 

Sutton, Lewis C Personal 

Ward, Henry E 14 

Wood, George 11 

Willi.ams, Philetus P. ..Personal 
Wright, William 29, 30 



IN 1846. 



B.aiiey, Joseph 4 

C'onover, Joseph fa 

Clenienls, Edward 19 

Druinm, Lawrence II 

Dunn, [ames 14 

Douglass, Everett 15, 17 

D.nis, H. G 9 

Hartford, William Personal 

I^ham, Augustus ^;^ 

Miller, Znchariah , Personal 

Marble, Russell 22 

Munsell, A. S 15 

Newcomb, Wesley 25 



Sec. 

Odell, Charles 7 

Post & Smith 28, 32, 33 

Person, H. C Personal 

Sagar, Edward 17 

Simmons, Wm. H 9 

Slow & Carson 21, 27, 28 

Taft, James 2 

Vanblarcom, John 11 

Williams & Lincoln 17 

Ward, Alva 22 

Ward, William R Personal 

Whitehead, Michael 35 

Wilhelm, John 32 



IN 1847. 

Sec, 



Abbott, James 8 

Brownson, Persons 27 

Davis, William 13 

Harford, Thomas 27 

Hilton, Richard 3 

Hem|)sted, Myron 8 

Hime-^, James 13 

Kuhn, W'illiam 27 

Loiee, Nathan 22 



Lockwood, Zachaiiah 16 

Lee, George W 2, 10 

Osborn, D.avid F 30 

Sleight cS; Hnlsted 12, 13 

Tiacy, Samuel 16 

Wright, Joseph 29 

Wooding, William 5 

Wrighl, I. S. A I6 



IN 1S48. 



Sec. 

Allen, Lucius B 17 

Allen, James 8 

Backus, Hiram 36 

Burt, E. F 24 

Clark, Daniel II 

Dutton, David 31 

Freeman , Albert Pei sonal 

Fewlass, James Personal 

Ferguson, P 35 

Haviland, Charles A 28 

Haven, Stephen 6 

Hall,W. S 31 

Lewis, Peter 35 



Sec. 

Lyman, William 2 

Poyer, Jonah, Jr 3, 4, 9 

Palmer, L. & L. A 19 

Sleight, Albert Personal 

.Sagar, Thomas Personal 

Simmons, Charles 16 

Slaughter, 3 

Tracy, N. T 16 

Vangorder, Henry Personal 

Williams, Park us Personal 

Williams, Frederick... Personal 
Wright, Walker 16 



SOME OF THE FIRST EVENTS. 

The first dwelling-house was built by George C. 
Wood, on section ii, in the spring of 1836, and a 
part of it at least now remains, and is occupied by 
James Fewlass. The first framed barn was built 
in the summer of 1838, on section 20, by Richard 
M. Guggins, and the second by Asel Stow, on sec- 
tion 19, early in the spring of 1839. 

The first birth in the township was a son of 
Abrain Van Buren, in January, 1837. The boy 
was christened Martin, which made him a full 
namesake of the President of the United States at 
that time. The first marriage solemnized was that 
of William Wright and Miss Lucy Osborn, in the 
summer of 1 837. Roth were residents of the town- 
ship. The ceremony was performed by Elder 
Sayre at the residence of the bride's father, Ard. 
Osborn, Esq. The first death was a child of 
Richard M. Guggins, which occurred early in the 
spring of 1837. 

The first sheep were introduced from Ohio in 
the fall of 1839. They were " natives," well 
adapted to the country at that time, and furnished 
the base from which some fine flocks were after- 
wards produced. 

Jabez Paul was the first resident who attended to 



IOSCO TOWNSHIP. 



261 



the bodily afflictions of the people. He believed 
in the practice of Tliompson, and steamed and 
sweated liis patients without stint. Dr. John R. 
Goodrich was the first regularly educated physi- 
cian, and began his practice here about 1842 or 
1843. He has been succeeded by Drs. Schuj'ler, 
Cooper, Cruickshank, and Cannon. 

PRIVATIONS AND DIFFICULTIES OF PIONEER 
LIFE IN IOSCO.* 

The trials and privations of those pioneers who 
.settled here from 1836 to 1845 were many and 
severe. The new-comers usually arrived with very 
few of the trappings considered indispensable in 
the ordinary household of older communities; 
often with no more than could be drawn on one 
wagon, together with the family and a few boards. 
These boards were a necessity, as they furnished 
the only shelter for the pioneer, his family, and ef- 
fects until a house could be erected. They were 
arranged by placing one end on the ground or a 
convenient log, the other on a pole supported by 
forks driven into the ground. This, with a fire in 
front, sufficed until a better could be provided. 
The dwellings were almost invariably of the same 
type, and, with the exception of nails and a few 
boards, were built of logs and such other material as 
could be obtained from the forests without the aid' 
of. mechanics. 

With no roads, no bridges over streams, blazed 
trees or perhaps an Indian trail was the only guide 
to distant markets and settlements. No flour or 
other provisions of any kind could be had nearer 
than Ann Arbor, a distance of thirty or thirty-five 
miles. Those who had teams frequently drove to 
Detroit for supplies, — a journey which, in those 
days of bad roads, required about a week's time 
to accomplish. Flour at that tiiiie was worth ^16 
per barrel; pork, from $12 to $15 per hundred; 
potatoes, $1 per bushel ; butter, 40 cents per pound, 
and other articles proportionately high. Those 
who had exhausted their means in getting here 
and purchasing their lands had a hard struggle for 
the following two or three years to keep that gaunt 
spectre, hunger, from the door, and sometimes suf- 
fered for the necessaries of life. 

The long and disastrous depression of industrial 
interests, and the depreciation in values which fol- 
lowed the financial crash of 1837, was a trying 
ordeal for this township, but yet in embryo. Not 
until the summer of 1837 had any produce been 
raised, the few settlers of the previous year not 
arriving in season to plant any crops, with the ex- 
ception of four or five small pieces of wheat, prob- 

* Extract from Hon. Isa.ic Stow's address to the Livingston 
County Pioneer Association, Janii.Tvy, 1878. 



ably not more than twenty acres in all the township, 
and this was nearly a failure. The prostration of 
business generally effectually checked emigration, 
and many disheartened emigrants returned to their 
former homes in the East, consequently the town- 
ship increased but little in population during the 
three succeeding years. After the harvest of 1838, 
considerable surplus wheat was on hand, but the 
cost of marketing was nearly as much as could be 
realized for it when there ; a load of wheat, requir- 
ing four days with oxen to Ann Arbor, would 
bring from ten to fifteen dollars, but people in those 
days "cut the garment to the cloth," or, in other 
words, kept their expenses within their income. 

Notwithstanding the many and serious difficul- 
ties which these brave and dauntless pioneer men 
and women had to overcome, they were generally 
happy and contented. It would seem almost as 
though they were especially designed and prepared 
for their work. They made little of the dark pass- 
ages of life, and much of its bright ones. All 
within a radius of miles were neighbors and well 
acquainted. No aristocracy then ; the man with 
forty acres of land had as large a revenue as the 
one with a half section, — for wild lands produce no 
earnings, — and was his peer socially. It was a cus- 
tomary practice to gather together on the long 
winter evenings at each other's dwellings and have 
a merry good time. These free-and-easy social 
gatherings, devoid of th.e dictum of fashion or 
pride of dress, were very enjoyable affairs, and no 
doubt contributed largely to that fraternity of feel- 
ing and interest in each other's welfare which forms 
so prominent a feature in i.solated and sparsely-set- 
tled communities. 

CIVIL HISTORY. 

Iosco was formed from Unadilla by an act of the 
State Legislature, approved March 6, 1838. The 
act reads as follows : 

" Sectio.n 44. All that portion of the County of Livingston 
designated in the United States survey as township number two 
north, of range number three east, be, and the same is hereby set 
off and organized into a separate township by the name of Iosco ; 
and the first township-meeting therein shall be held at the house 
of Jeremiah Nichols, in sr.!d township " 

Under the provisions of this act, the legal voters 
of the new township, on Monday, April 2, 1838, 
assembled at the house of Jereniiah Nichols for 
the purpose of electing township officers. An 
organization was effected by choosing Ard Osborn, 
Moderator; George C. Wood, Levi W. Munsell, 
and Joab Grover, Inspectors; and Lawson Judson, 
Clerk. This election resulted in the choice of the 
following officers : Ard Osborn, Supervisor ; Elbert 
Parker, Township Clerk ; Asel Stow, Levi W. 



262 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Munsell, Lorenzo Backus, Assessors ; Seth G. 
Wilson, James Wright, Lawson Judson, Justices of 
the Peace ; Joab Grover, Chelsey Tuppcr, Wash- 
ington Wing, Highway Commissioners; WiUiani 
Wright, Henry CanoU, Simeon Disbrow, School 
Inspectors; Josiah Loree, Collector ; Richard M. 
Guggins, Lawson Judson, Directors of the Poor; 
Caleb Barber, Josiah Loree, Constables. 

Overseers of Higlnuays. — George C. Wood, Dis- 
trict No. I ; Peter Chase, No. 2 ; Peter L. Wil- 
helm, No. 3; Jeremiah Nichols, No. 4; Lawson 
Judson, No. 5 ; Alfred Denio, No. 6 ; Ard Osborn, 
No. 7; Daniel Person, No. 8. 

At the general election held Nov. 5 and 6, 1838, 
the whole number of votes polled was 47, of which 
Hezekiah G. Wells, a candidate for the ofifice of 
Representative to the United States Congress, re- 
ceived 22 votes, and Isaac E. Crary, a candidate 
for the same office, received 25 votes. 

The first township accounts were audited the 
last Tuesday of September, J 838, when bills to the 
amount of :$39.3i were allowed, 

E.ARLY ROADS. 

The highway known at an early day as Wood's 
road was surveyed by John Farnsworth (since a 
distinguished politician of the State of Illinois), 
Sept. 20, 1836, and was the first o]5encd to travel 
in the township. Other roads, known locally as the 
Centre, Kuhn's, Backus', Beal's, Osborn's, Dyer's, 
Smith's, and Carson's, were all laid prior to the 
formation of Iosco township. 

The following is a list of those whose names 
appeared upon the assessment roll as resident ta.x- 
payers of the township of Iosco in May, 1838, and 
shows also the amount of real and personal estate 
possessed and the taxes paid by each. Those 
designated with a star (*) are the only survivors. 
Miller and Wilson reside in Iosco, Nichols in 
Handy township, and Denio in Wayne County, 

Real and per- 
sonal estaie, Ta,\es paid. 

Acker, Ricliard S120 Jo. 69 

Hackus, Simeon 292 1.67 

liarber, Caleb 282 1.61 

B.iil)er. Samuel 52 030 

llicku^, Lorenzo 156 O.Ss 

Canull, Henry 504 2.88 

Canfield, Lorenzo 615 3-53 

Caskey, William S 560 3-20 

Chase, I'eter- 464 2.65 

Ijisbniw, Simeon 280 1.60 

'-^ Denio, Alfred 612 3.51 

Denio, Davul 560 3.20 

Davis, William 564 3-25 

Ferguson, S 344 1.96 

Grimes, James 12 0.07 

Green, John 1377 ^■°'^ 

Grover, [oah 

Gu[;i>ins, Riclianl ^I , 1341 7.67 

Ilikon. John W 417 2.40 

Hoyt, Thomas 1! 120 0.69 

Judson, Law'son 86j 4.92 



Real and per- 
sonal estate. Taxes paid. 

Jones, Nathan S132 $1.75 

Kuhn, Peter J. 426 2.43 

Lytle, Andrew 86 0.50 

Loree, John 292 1.66 

Loree, Josiah 727 4.16 

Miller, William 334 1.90 

Munsell, Silas B 500 2.86 

Mcintosh, George \V 511 295 

* Miller, James 324 1.85 

Munsell, L. W 510 2.95 

Osborn, Ard 593 3.40 

Osborn, Nelson 444 2.55 

* Nichols, Jeremiah 561 3.20 

Niles, Ansel 260 1.49 

Parker, Elbert 612 3.50 

Person, Daniel 594 3.40 

Quinn, Patrick 264 1. 52 

Stow, Asel 888 5.09 

Storms, David 184 1.05 

Smith, Putnam I 52 0.30 

Sharp, Henry W 4S0 2.75 

Upton, James 2S0 1.60 

Van Sickel, D. V 607 3.48 

Wright, James 744 4.25 

Wright, Isaac T 650 3.44 

Wright, William 252 1.44 

Wilhelm, Peter L 252 1.44 

* Wilson, Seth G 572 3.27 

Wooil, George C I177 6.74 

Wood, John 838 4.75 

Wood, flenry M 4S0 2.75 

Williams, Joseph C 344 1.97 

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. 
The following is a complete list of township 
officers from 1838 to 1879, inclusive ; showing also 
the whole number of votes polled each year for 
candidates for the ofifice of Supervisor: 

SUPERVISORS. 
1S3S-40, Ard Osborn; 1841, Lawson Judson; 1842-43, Lyman E. 
Beach; 1844-45, Ard Osborn; 1846, Samuel B. Douglass; 1847, 
Ard Osborn; 1848, Joseph Loree; 1849, Martin R. Foster;* 
1850-51, Henry G. Davis; 1S52, Dennis Conrad; 1853-54, 
Darwin A. Palmer; 1855, Henry G. Davis; 1856, John W. 
Wright; 1857-58, Samuel A. Mapes; 1859, Ard R. Smith; 
i860, Samuel A. Ma|)es; 1861-62, Harry J. Haven; 1863-64, 
Cornelius H. Person; 1865-67, Isaac Sow; 1868, John W. 
Wright; 1869-71, Isaac Stow; 1872, Albert W. Messenger; 
J873, Anson A. Stow; 1874, Isaac Stow; 1S75-77, Albert 
W. Messenger; 1878-79, Isaac Stow. 

TOWNSHIP CLERKS. 
1S38-39, Elbert Parker; 1S40-42, Alfred Wells; 1S43, Luther 
Haven ; 1S44, David T. Wood ; 1845, William C. Post ; 1846- 
48, Peter L. Wilhelm; 1849, J. R. Goodrich; 1850, Simeon 
Disbrow; 1851, S. S. Chipman; 1852-55, John W. Wright; 
1856-57, Allen O. Haven; 1858, Martin R. Foster; 1859-60, 
John W. Wright; 1861-62, Simeon B. Merrill; 1863-66, 
Russell M. Cadwell; 1867, Albert W. Messenger; 1868, 
Stephen M. Ilayner ; 1869-71, Albert W. Messenger; 1872- 
73, John Elliott; 1874-75, R. R. Russell; 1876-78, John 
Elliott; 1S79, Lyman Iv. Hadley. 

TREASURERS. 
1838, None elected; 1839-40, Ard Osborn; 1841, Lyman E. 
Beach; 1842-44, Alfred Wells; 1845-48, Horace Osborn; 
1849, Darwin A. P.almer; 1850, Jonah Poyer; 1S51, E. Bar- 
num; 1852, Jonah Poyer; 1853-54, Joseph L. Post; 1855- 
56, Peter Lamoreaux ; 1857-58, Simon P. Kuhn; 1859, Peter 
Lamoreaux; i860, Hiram Parker; 1861, Jno. W. Ward; 
1862-63, Barnard Denio; 1864-65, Anson A. Stow; 1866, 

* Resigned; Dennis Conrad elected to fill vacancy, Sept. 30, 1849. 









Wm.S.CASKLY. 



MRS.Wm.S.CASKEY. 



WILLIAM S. CASKEY 



was born in Roxbury, N. J., Feb. ii, 1811. He 
lived with his father, Robert Caskey, who was 
a farmer, until he was twenty-one years of age. 
He came to Michigan in 1833, and took up a 
tract of eighty acres of land. He worked by 
the month for others until May 11, 1843, when 
he was married to Clarissa Wasson, who came 
with her father from Genesee Co., N. Y., in 
1836, and settled in Unadilla. In 1844, Mr. 
Caskey commenced improving his land. He 
and his young wife moved into a log house 
on adjoining land and occupied it the first year, 
during which time a few acres of land had 
been cleared, and a log house of the rudest 
sort had been erected on his own land. From 
this small beginning, by the strictest economy 



and industry, a fine farm has been developed 
from the wilderness. Mr. Clark and his wife 
were members of the Presbyterian Church at 
Plainfield; he assisted in its organization, and 
was for many years one of its deacons. He 
was charitable and kind hearted. He died Aug. 
21, 1873, leaving four children, — three sons and 
one daughter. The oldest, Robert W., is a 
farmer in Iosco. He enlisted in Company L, 
Third Michigan Cavalry, and served until Feb- 
ruary, 1866. Jonathan B. is a farmer in Iosco. 
William S. and Sarah B. live at the old home 
with their mother, the latter now in her sixty- 
fourth year, who shares with them the cares 
and responsibilities of the farm. William S. 
Caskey was a just man and much respected. 



IOSCO TOWNSHIP. 



263 



Jno. W. Ward; 1867-71, Stephen S. Westcolt; 1872-73, 
George Laible; 1874-75, Silas C. Merrill; 1S76-77, Free- 
man C. Pclcrson; 1878, Horace Mapes ; 1879, La Fayelle 
I'eet. 

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 

Seth G. Wilson, James Wrii^hl, Lawson Jiulson, 1838; Lawson 
Judson, 1839; James Wright, 1840 ; John Wootl, 1841 ; Seth 
G. Wilson, 1S42; Dennis Conrad, 1843; Daniel Peison, 
1844; Asel Slow, 1845; A. M. Odell, 1846; Levi W. Miin- 
sell, 1847; Daniel Person, 1848; Everett Douglass, 1849; 
James Wright, 1850 ; Levi W. Mimsell, 1851 ; Eli S. liab- 
cock, 1S52; Everett Douglass, 1853; Asel Stow, 1S54; Levi 
W. Munsell, Horace Osborn, Ard R. Smilli, 1855 ; Lyman 
E. Beach. 1856; Martin R. Foster, Eli S. liabcock, 1S57; 
John E. Mapes, 1858; Levi W. Munsell, 1859; Eli S. liab- 
cock, Robert G. Martin, i860; Gilliert Caswell, Isaac Stow, 
1861; Isaac Slow, 1862; Allen O. Haven, 1863; Hiiam 
Backus, Patrick Cummiskey, 1864; Ard R. Smith, 1865; 
Elisha C. Wright, 1866; John W. Wright, 1867; Daniel 
Person, 1868; Millon Bradley, William H. Simpson, 1S69 ; 
Elisha C. Wright, Thomas W. Harforcl, 1870; Patrick Cum- 
miskey, Dennis Conrad, 1871 ; Thomas W. Harford, William 
H. Simpsun, 1S72 ; Isaac Stow, 1873 ; M'hon Bradley, 1874; 
Gilbert Munsell, 1S75 ; Lyman K. Hadlcy, 1S76; Stephen B. 
Person, 1877; William Willant, 1878; Gilbert Munsell, John 
Oakes, 1879. 

HIGHWAY COMMISSIONERS. 
Joab Grover, Chelsey Tupper, Washington Wing, 1S38; Joab 
Grover, Levi W. Munsell, Washington Wing, 1839 ; Wash- 
ington Wing, Levi W. Munsell, Joab Grover, 1840; Daniel 
Person, Asel Stow, John Loree, 1841 ; Daniel Person, Lu- 
ther Haven, Dennis Conrad, 1842; Washington Wing, A>el 
Stow, Harrison P. Goodrich, 1S43; James Wright, Mai tin R. 
Foster, William Gorton, 1844; Jonah Poyer, Aid R. Smitli, 
Simeon Backus, 1845; Dennis Conrad, Siineon Backus, Isaac 
T.Wright, 1846; Simeon Backus, Dennis Conrad, A. S. 
Munsell, 1847; A. S. Munsell, 1848; Ard R. Smith, John 
Fewlass, 1849; Robert Roberson, 1850; Everett Douglass, 
1851 ; William S. Caskey, 1S52 ; Cornelius H. Person, 1S53 ; 
Dennis Conrad, 1S54; Asahel Goodrich, 1855; Charle-s Cole- 
man, 1856; Dennis Conrad, 1857; Isaac T. Wright, 1858; 
Rufus S. Griffin, 1859; Dennis Conrad, i860; Charles Cole- 
man, 1861 ; Myron Parker, Daniel Per.son, 1862; Ard R. 
Smith, 1863; Dennis Conrad, 1864; Jo-eph Loree, 1S65; 
Ard R. Smith, 1866; Dennis Conrad, 1867; Isaac Stow, 
1868; Hiiam Parker, 1869; Stephen S. Westcolt, 1870 ; 
Dennis Conrad, 1871 ; Hiram Parkei', 1872; Stephen S. 
Westcolt, 1873; Philander Bull, 1874; Stephen S. Westcolt, 
1875-77; Freeman C. Peterson, 1878; Leander Purdy, 1879. 

ASSESSORS. 
Asel Stow, Levi W. Munsell, Lorenzo Backus, 1838; Asel Stow, 
Lorenzo Backus, John Wood, 1839; William S. Caskey, Asel 
Stow, Peter Chase, 1840 ; Peter Chase, Asel Stow, Daniel 
Person, 1841 ; Lyman E. Beach, Levi W. Munsell, Peter 
Chase, 1842;. Asel Slow, Joseph Loree, 1843; John Woml, 
Lyman E. Beach, 1844; A. M. Odell, Daniel Person, 1845; 
Asel Stow, D. V. Van Sickel, 1846; Samuel B. Douglass, D. 
V. Van Sickel, 1847; E. H. Noble, William Wooden, 1849; 
Daniel Person, Asel Stow, 1850; Emery Beal, Asel Stow, 
1851, supervisors, have performed the duties of assessors 
from 1852 to 1879, inclusive. 

COLLECTORS. 

Josiah Loree, 183S; William C. Post, 1839-40; Ansel Niles, 
1841.* 

* Office has since been abolished. 



SCHOOL INSPECTORS. 

William Wright, Heniy Canoll, Simeon Disbrow, 1838 ; Lawson 
Judson, Daniel V. Van Sickel, John Wood, 1839; Alfred 
Wells, William C. Post, E. H. Noble, 1840; John Wood, 
Lawson Judson, Elisha H. Noble, 1841; Lawson Judson, 
David T. Wood, William C. Post, 1842; Jonas W. Wing, 
David T. Wood, 1843 '. Elisha H. Noble, Cornelius H. Per- 
son, 1844; Cornelius H. Peison, 1845; Thomas Ferguson, 
1846; Henry G. Davis, 1847; Cornelius H. Person, 1848; 
J. S. Wright, 1849; John W. Wright, Cornelius H. Person, 
1850; B. F. Chipman, 1851; Harry J. Haven, 1852; Isaac 
Slow, 1853; Harry J. Haven, 1854; Thomas Wright, 1855; 
John W. Wilson, 1856; B. F. Chipman, 1857; Henry G. 
Davis, 1858; James C. Ferguson, 1859; Martin R. Foster, 
i860; James C. Ferguson, 1S61 ; Cornelius II Person, Albert 
W. Messenger, 1862; Elisha C.Wright, 1863; Isaac Stow, 
Wolcott S. Ilaviland, 1864; James C.Gray, 1865; Elisha C. 
Wright, 1866; John W. Wright, 1S67 ; Elisha C. Wright, 
1868; A. W.Cooper, 1869; John Lnmureau.\, 1870; John 
Connor, 1S71; William E. Watson, 1872; R. R. Russell, 
Lyman K. Hadley, 1873; John Lamoreaux, 1874; Frank 
L. Wright, 1875; Ashbel W. Elliott, 1876-77; William 
Mapes, 1878; Jonathan B. Caskey, 1879. 

TOWNSHIP SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS. 

David J. Odell, 1875; L^ Fayette Peel, 1876; George C. Brad- 
Icy, 1877; Eugene A. Stow, 1878-79. 

DIRECTORS OF THE POOR. 

Richard M. Guggins, Law on Judson, 1838-40; Richard M. Gug- 
gin^, Elbert Parker, 1S41 ; Elbert Parker, Lawson Judson, 
1842; Samuel I!. Douglass, Joseph L<iree, 1843; James Wright, 
Joseph Loree, 1844; Asel .Slow, Washington Wing, 1845 ; 
A. M. Odell, Joseph Loree, 1846; Simeon Disbrow, Jacob 
Waid, 1847; Jacob Ward, Peter J. Kuhn, 1848; Jacob Ward, 
1849; Daniel Person, Jacob Wanl, 1S51 ; Joseph Wright, 
Jacob Ward, 1852; H my J. Haven, William S. Caskey, 1853; 
Ard R. Smith, 1854; Jeremiah Nichols, Emery Heal, 1855; 
Cornelius H. Person, Russell Marble, 1S56; Ard R. Smidi, 
Jonah Poyer, 1S57 ; Jeremiah Nicho's, Seth G. Wilson, iSjS.f 

DRAIN COMMISSIONERS. 

James Sayles, 1872; Silas C. Merrill, 1S73 ; James T. Hoyt, 1874 ; 
Lyman K. Hadlcy, 1875-76; .Millon Bradley, 187S ; Jolin 
Elliott, 1879. 

CONSTABLES. 

Josinh Loree, Caleb Barber, 1838; William C. Post, Loren/o 
Davis, 1839; William C. Post, Ansel Niles, 1840; Joseph B. 
Cole, Ansel Niles, 1841 ; Ansel Niles, Chelsey Tupper, 1842; 
Chel.sey Tupper, Ansel Niles, 1843; Chauncey B. Clements, 
Ansel Niles, 1844; Everett Douglass, Putnam T. Smith, 
Ansel Niles, 1845 ; Everett Douglass, Pulnam T. Smith, D. 
F. Osburn, 1846; Albert Freeman, William Lincoln, J. M. 
Ilimes, 1847 ; Albert Freeman, Thomas .Sager, Albert Sleight, 
William Davis, Jr., 1S48; Thomas S.iger, Henry Wooden, J. 
C. Post, William Davi-, Jr., 1849; Thomas Sager, Henry G. 
Davis, S. P. Kuhn, John W. Jewell, 1850; Thomas Sager, 
Levi Ward, 1S51 ; William W. Wells, Jonah Poyer, 1852; 
James B. Odell, Alvin Ward, Joseph .S. Post, Lcroy Backus, 
1853 ; Charles Odell, Alvin Ward, Ichabod Chase, William 
Davis, Jr., 1854; Alvin Ward, Charles Coleman, Thomas 
Sharp, Peler Lamoreaux, 1855; John W. Ward, Peter Lam- 
oreaux, Charles Coleman, Ard Osborn, 1S56 ; Gilbert Mun- 
sell, Simon P. Kuhn, William Simons, Alvin Ward, 1857; 
Gilbert Munsell, William II. Wilcox, Alvin Ward, Simon P. 
Kuhn, 1858; William H. Wilcox, Gilbert Munsell, John W. 
Ward, Thomas Sager, 1859 ; George D. Odell, Hiram Parker, 

I Office has since been abolished. 



264 



HISTORY Op- LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Gilbert Munsell, Hiram Perry, i860; Andy Pearson, John W. 
Ward, Anson A. Stow, Hiram A. Parker, 1861; Barnard 
Denio, June Holcomb, Thomas R. Simpson, Anson A. Stow, 
1862 ; Daniel Miller, Barnard Denio, Elias Jackson, Anson A. 
Stow, 1863; Thomas R. Simpson, Anson A. Stow, Charles 
Conrad, Joseph Luree, Jr., 1864; Joseph Loree, Jr., Anson 
A. Stow, Thomas R. Simpson, William F. Mead, 1865; Joseph 
Loree, Jr., William P. Drumm, Stephen M. Hayner, John 
W. Ward, 1866 ; Stephen S. Westcott, John W. Ward, John 
Witty, Reuben Williams, 1867 ; Anson A. Stow, John Witty, 
John W. W.nrd, Jay Redfield, 1868; Stephen S. Westcott, 
William H. Richmond, William M. Hart, Gilbert Munsell, 
1869; Willi.im M. Hart, Stephen S Westcott, Watson Lister, 
Aaron W. Cooper, 1870; Harry J. Haven, Levi Fewlass, 
Edwin W. Acker, B. S. Person, 1871; James Hoyt, E. W. 
Noble, Gustavus Foster, Freeman C. Peterson, 1872; Philan- 
der Bull, Gustavus Foster, Jay Redfield, John Dutcher, 1873; 
James T. Hoyt, Stephen S. Smith, Jay Redfield, Gustavus 
Foster, 1874; Albert P. Foster, John M. Bradley, James T. 
Hoyt, John Rathbun, 1875; Gustavus Foster, Charles E. 
Peterson, William Ogle, Robert Elliott, 1876; William H. 
Mapes, Silas C. Merrill, David Green, George Phillips, 1877; 
George D. Odell, William Bird, Israel Bennett, Philander 
Hull, 1S78; George D. Odell, William Rector, Haver Lerg, 
1S79. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The fir.st .school districts were formed Nov. 27, 
1837, while this town still formed a part of Una- 
dilla township. Fotir districts were organized the 
same day, three of which are now known as the 
Munsell, Wilson, and Mapes districts. Otliers 
were formed soon after. Which district is entitled 
to the honor of building the first house for sciiool 
purposes cannot with certainty be told. However, 
tradition says it belongs to the Munsell district. 

The first records of any schools are for the year 
1839, and show reports from four districts as hav- 
ing had schools for at least three months by a 
qualified teaclier, and this would indicate that 
several houses were constructed the same season 
and at about the same time, which is the more 
probable. The whole number of scholars reported 
from the four districts was 57, and the amount of 
public moneys received was ^22.80, an average of 
$S-70 to each district, or 40 cents per scholar. As 
to the first school taught in the township, however, 
there can be no question. This school was held 
in the summer of 1837 or 1838, — probably the 
foriTier, — in a private dwelling on section 17, and 
was taught by the lady of the house, Mrs. Henry 
M. Wood. This does not seem to have been a 
district school, or if so, the pupils were not con- 
■fined to an)' particular part of the town, and it was 
undoubtedly a private enterprise. The first school- 
houses were usually btiilt of logs, qtiickly and 
cheaply, with a large, open fireplace on a hearth 
of clay or stone, and with planks split from logs 
for flooring. The seats were benches made from 
logs opened in halves, dressed on the flat side with 
an a.xe, and legs secured in two-inch autjer holes 



at either end. The desks were long boards or 
planks fastened to the inside walls. No taxes 
seem to have been levied for building purposes, or 
at least no record can be found of any, and it is 
very probable that the first school-houses were in 
most cases built by the volunteer labor of those 
inhabitants residing within their respective dis- 
tricts. (The foregoing sketch concerning early 
schools is an extract from a paper prepared by the 
Hon. Isaac Stow, of Iosco, for the Livingston 
County Pioneer Society.) 

The teachers first mentioned in the records as 
receiving certificates were Miss Victoria A. Lyman 
and Miss Margaret Foster, who, on the 9th of May, 
1844, were granted certificates to teach primary 
schools. In November of the same year C. H. 
Person received a teacher's certificate. 

The Inspectors' Annual Report for the year 1845 
furnishes the following statistics as to the nimiber 
of children of school age residing in the township, 
and the amount of public money disbursed : Dis- 
trict No. 3, 34 scholars, ^10.23 ; District No. 4, 22 
scholars, ^6.62 ; District No. 6, 22 scholars, $6.62 ; 
District No. 7, 53 scholars, ^15.95. 

Teachers receiving certificates in 1845 were 
Charlotte M. Kirtland, Russell Brown, and Jona- 
than Foster. In 1846, Ellen Richmond, Lucinda 
Stafford, Polly Stafibrd and John Wright. In 1 847, 
Charlotte Moon, Emily Clark, Betsey Bliss, C. H. 
Person, and John Wright. Misses Rhoda Wilhelm, 
Keziah Woodin, and Mary Beal were also licensed 
prior to 1 850. 

At the latter date, districts i to 5 inclusive 
reported 161 scholars, and the amount of money 
received from county and township treasurers was 

^78 36. 

Among those who received teachers' certificates 
during the years from 1850 to 1855 were Isaac 
Stow, Jonathan Foster, Elisha C. Wright, Mary Ann 
Cool, Sophronia Haven, Annette Chipman, Rhoda 
Wilhelm, Dennis Wright, Lydia Granger, Daniel 
Cobb, Thomas Seelcy, Harry J. Haven, Mary 
Smith, Margaret Ferguson, Thomas Wright, Mary 
Martin, P^mily Emery, Miss H. Smith, and Caroline 
J. Morrison. 

The number of scholars reported, in i860 were 
235, and the amount received from the primary- 
school fund $108.00. 

In 1S70 districts i to 5, inclusive, reported 211 
scholars, and the amount of primary-school money 
received and apportioned ;^ 104. 16. 

The following statistics are taken from the an- 
nual report of the township board of education, for 
the year ending Sept. i, 1879: 



Number of districts, one being fractional 

Children of school age residing in the township. 



S 
219 



AMANDA DOUGLASS, 

a woman well known through Livingston 
County. for her enterprise and f^ood com- 
mon sense, was bom in Rensselaer Co., 
N. v., Nov. 4, 1804. Her maiden name 
was Vredenburgh. Her ancestors were 
Hollanders, and emigrated to America be- 
fore the Revolution. 

When she was two years of age her 
father moved to Washington Co., N. Y., 
and settled on a farm near White Hall, 
where she lived until she was n-arried, 
Jan. 22, 1823, to Samuel B. Douglass. 
His father was also a farmer, and lived 
near Whit^ Hall. Samuel remained with 
his father until he was twenty-five years 
of age, when he went to Wayne Co., N. Y., 
with his wife and one child, and engaged 
in the mercantile business for fifteen years. 
He there made a trade for one hundred 
and sixty acres of land in Handy, Living- 
ston Co., Mich. Upon this land he had a 
log house built, and moved there in Au- 
gust, 1840, where he remained one year, 
when he purchased three hundred and 
twenty acres of land, upon which there 
was a frame house and some sixty acres 
partially cleared, at what is now known as 
Parker's Corners, in the town of Iosco. 
He at once built a bart. and commenced 
improving the land. Not being a practical 
farmer, and his time largely occupied with 
other matters, he had made little progress 
on the farm when he died, Sept. II, 1847, 
in his fiftieth year, leaving a wife and five 
children. 

Mr. Douglass was a man of large busi- 




AMANDA DOUGLASS 



ness capacity, and by his own exertion had 
acquired a good business education. Was 
a practical surveyor, had a good knowledge 
of the law, and became quite famous for 
his success in the pioneer courts. Polit- 
ically, he was a Democrat. In all town 
matters he took an active part, filling some 
of the offices, among them that of super- 
visor. 

Upon his death, Mrs. Douglass assumed 
the responsibility of the family, and nobly 
has she performed the duties devolving 
upon her. The large tract of native forest 
has been transformed into broad and fertile 
fields, the many wants of the family have 
been supplied, and their position in the com- 
munity maintained. She is charitable and 
hospitable to all local public enterpnses. 
She gives liberally to the Protestant Meth- 
odist Church at Parker's Corners; she gave 
the land, and contributed liberally to its 
erection and support. She has been the 
mother of six children; one died while the 
family lived in New York. Everett, the old- 
est son, is a prominent business man at Big 
Rapids, Mich.; Helen married Thomas 
Segar, a farmer, who lives adjoining the 
old home; Sarah married Myron Parker; 
she died, leaving three children, who live 
with their grandmother; Robert died at 
the age of eighteen years; Samuel was 
killed by a falling tree. And now, after a 
long and industnous life, this venerable 
pioneer, upon whose head have fallen the 
frosts of seventy-five winters, looks back 
with the satisfaction of hai-ing acted well 
her part, as she enjoys a large circle of 
friends and a well-earned competency. 




Residence: j)F AMANDA DOUGLASS, iosco, Livingston co.Mich. 



IOSCO TOWNSHIP. 



265 



Children attending school during the year 213 

Frame school-houses 5 

Value of school jiropeity gi400 

Qualitied male teachers employed durinj; the year 5 

Qualified female teacheis emiilnyed during the year 7 

Months taught hy male teachers 17'4 

Months taught hy female teachers 2334' 

Paid male teachers S45^-70 

Paid female teachers 273.50 

YF.ARI.Y R 1x1:1 1'TS. 

Money on hand Sept. 2, 1878 $169.23 

Two-mill lax 255 88 

Primary- school fund 106.56 

District ta.\es for all |nirposes 541.86 

Total resources far the year ^to73-S3 

EXl'ENUnURFS. 

Teachers' wages $732.20 

Repairs of huildings 4.97 

For oiher purposes 123.90 

On hand Seiitemher I, 1879 212.46 

SI073-53 
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL .SOClEfV OF IOSCO. 

The first religious meetings were held at the 
residence of James Wright, in the spring or early 
summer of 1837, by Eider Sayre. He continued 
his ministrations for a year or more, holding meet- 
ings here, and in adjoining settlements, about once 
in four weeks. The first class contained a mem- 
bership of some nine or ten, among whom were 
James Wright and wife, Richard Acker and wife, 
William Wright, Seth G. Wilson and wife, Abram 
Van Buren and wife, and Ard Osborn. During 
the same summer Elder Sayre organized a class 
in the Munsell neighborhood. 

The Wright class kept up its organization, 
slowly but surely increasing its membership, wor- 
shiping in school-houses and the dwellings of its 
members, until May, 1854, when measures were 
taken for building a church edifice. 

Rev. William E. Bigelow, presiding elder of the 
Ann Arbor district, tiiereupon appointed Joseph 
S. Post, Williain Wright, Joseph Wright, Elisha 
C. Wright, James Wright, Horace Osborn, and 
Enoch Smith trustees of the First Methodist Epis- 
copal Church of Iosco, and the society was regu- 
larly incorporated. 

Soon after, a small church was erected upon the 
east side of section 20. In 1874 it was deemed 
advisable to remove the church to Iosco, or Park- 
er's Corners. This was finally accomplished, and 
it was then rebuilt at a cost of 51600. It has 
sittings for 300 people. 

THE PROTESTANT MKTHODIST CHURCH OF IOSCO.* 
This society was organized by Revs. R. Barn- 
ford and M. Munn in 1S45. The members of the 

* From infi>rnialioii furnished hy D. !•'. Oshorn, son of Aril 
Osborn. 

34 



first class were William Simons and Angelinc, his 
wife; William C. Post and Ursula, his wife; Mar- 
garet Wilhelm, and Delia Hempstead. This class 
then belonged to the Ingham Circuit, and remained 
a part of the same until 1857, when it was set off 
from Ingham and embraced in the Livingston 
Circuit. 

The pastors of this society and the dates of their 
coming are shown as follows : 

John A. Parks, 1846; R. R. Ran.som, 1847; 
John A. Parks, 1848; B. Bayne, 1849; J. R. 
Savage, M. L. Perringtoii, 185 1; M. L. Perring- 
ton, J. Card, 1852; J. K. Stevenson, 1853; Wm. 
D. Tompkinson, 1854; Jesse Kilpatrick, 1856; H. 
H. Johnson, 1857; J. A. Nichols, 1858; H. H. 
Johnson, i860; Thomas Plackett, 1861 ; J. H. 
Morton, 1862; M. D. Angell, 1863; S. Clark, 
1865 ; H. W. Hicks, 1866; J. S. McKinley, 1868; 
A. C. Fuller, 1S70; J. F. Kellogg, 1872; Wm. D. 
Tompkinson, 1873; J. F. Kellogg, 1875; Samuel 
Riley, the present [)astor, 1877. A neat church 
edifice with sittings for 300 persons was built in 
1873, at a cost of $2800. The society has a 
present membership of 40, and a flourishing Sab- 
bath-school numbering 70 scholars and teachers, 
of which Enoch S. Osborn is superintendent. 

A class of Protestant Methodists was formed in 
the south part of the townshij) in 1850. They 
hold meetings in the Wilson School-house. 

FIRST SAHliATH-SCHOOL. 
Elder Piper, a Presbyterian or Baptist divine, 
held meetings at the house of John Wood, on sec- 
tion 17, in 1838 or 1839. Mr. Wood with his 
daughters are entitled to the honor of organizing 
and conducting in the summer of 1838, in their 
dwelling, the first Sabbath-school, and it was a 
very successful one. 

CEMETERIE.S. 
The Munsell Burying-ground A.ssociation was 
organized and incorporated according to the laws 
of the State of Michigan, March 17, 1854. The 
officers first elected were Peter J. Kuhn, President ; 
Martin R. Foster, Clerk ; Seth G. Wilson, Col- 
lector ; and John Fewlass, Treasurer and Sexton. 
The original plat is described as follows : 

" Commencing at a slake on the quarter-post line running east 
and west through section fifteen in township two north, of range 
three east, said stake being situate in the cenlre of the public 
highway running e.ist and west on the said quarler-scction post- 
line, and about fifty rods from the eastern post of said section 
fifteen ; thence running north sixteen rods; thence east nine rods; 
thence soulh sixteen rods to the centre of the said public highway ; 
ihence west to the place of beginning." 

Other places of burial are situated upon sections 
3 and 29. 



266 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



LUANA STOW, 

one of the early pioneers of Livingston County, 
was born Nov. 30, 1807. Her parents, Calvin and 
Elizabeth Wilson, emigrated from the State of 
Massachusetts to Vermont in 1785, about six 
years before the admission of that State as the 
fourteenth member of the Union. But little is 
known of her early ancestors, except that they 
emigrated from Ireland' at a very early period in 
the history of this country, and that they were 
Protestant in their religious views. 




LUANA STOW. 

Mrs. Stow was the si.xth and youngest child of 
the family, and was married in November, 1829, 
to Asel Stow. She resided in the vicinity of her 
birthplace until September, 1836, when, with her 
husband and family of two children, she removed to 
Livingston Co., Mich. At this time the country 
was new, and its forests unblemished by the march 
of industry and civilization. Mrs. Stow, reared in 
a home of plenty, felt keenly the loss of the many 
privileges deemed indispensable in older commu- 
nities. In the summer of 1838, and again 1856, 
she visited her former home and friends in New 
England. 

Of a family of six children four only survive, — 
three sons and one daughter. Her husband, Asel 
Stow, died in August, 1854, aged fifty-two years. 
He was a robust, energetic, and determined man, 
and seemed especially fitted for pioneer life. A 
man of more than ordinary business talent, he be- 
came influential in public affairs, and filled many 
of the responsible township offices. 

Mrs. Stow still resides at her old home with 
her second son, Anson A. Stow. An exemplary 



Christian and devoted mother, she, in her declin- 
ing years, is surrounded with plenty and many 
loving friends. 



HON. ISAAC STOW, 

eldest son of Asel and Luana Stow, was born on 
tile toth day of December, 1830, in Weybridge, 
Addison Co., Vt. In the autumn of 1836 he emi- 
grated with his parents into the western part of 
Livingston Co., Mich., then an unbroken wilder- 
ness, inhabited only by the red man and wild beasts 
of the forests. The family, accompanied by Seth G. 
Wilson and wife, after a tedious journey by canal 
and lake, arrived at Detroit about the middle of 
September. Here they were soon joined by Nathan 
Jones and family, an uncle who had driven his 
father's team overland from the State of Vermont, 
and made their way, over roads that to other than 
the indomitable pioneer would have appeared sim- 
ply impassable, to their future homes on the very 
borders of civilization. To relate the thrilling 
incidents and severe trials of Mr. Stow's early 
pioneer life woidd prolong this sketch beyond its 
allotted bounds; we will, therefore, only add that 
he continued to reside with his parents during his 
minority in the township where they first settled, 
since known as Iosco, assisting in making from the 
unsubdued wilds of nature what in time became a 
home of plenty, and where his aged mother still 
resides. 

At an early age Mr. Stow exhibited those stu- 
dious traits of character which have since made 
him a man of position and influence in the commu- 
nity where he resides, and a valuable aid in the 
development of a new country. 

Before leaving New England he had attained to 
more than ordinary proficiencj' in his studies for 
one of his age (not yet six years); but for several 
years after his arrival in Michigan he enjoyed very 
limited educational advantages, schools being few 
and usually of an inferior type. However, during 
his boyhood he was a constant student, giving his 
spare moments to study, — often carrying text-books 
with him while laboring in his father's fields. At 
the age of sixteen, mostly by his own unaided 
efforts, he had mastered those branches usually 
taught in the high schools and academies of the 
country, and became a successful teacher. At the 
age of eighteen he became a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. His correct deportment 
and studious habits won him many friends, and 
prepared him well for life's earnest work. 

After reaching his majority he began business 
on a new farm in the township of White Oak, Ing- 
ham Co., of which, at the expiration of one year. 



IOSCO TOWNSHIP. 



267 



he disposed, and at tlie earnest solicitation of his 
uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Seth G. Wilson, — 
who were childless, — resided with them about two 
years. Here lie purchased one hundred and sixty 
acres of land adjoining that received from liis 
uncle, making a fine estate of two hundred and 
eighty acres. In November, 1853, he was married 
to Miss Ruhamah Palmer, of Washtenaw Co., 
Mich., who still lives, a devoted wife and mother, 
and a useful member of society. 

On the death of his father, which occurred in 
August, 1854, he yielded to the tearful entreaties 
of his mother and returned to the old homestead, 
taking charge of the estate, of which he was soon 
after made administrator. Here he remained 
until his younger brothers arrived at manhood, 
when he purchased a tract of land not far distant, 
of whicli, by industry and perseverance, he and 
his energetic companion have made a desirable 
liome. 

The family, consisting of four sons and two 
daughters, three of whom have attained their ma- 
jority, still remain beneath the parental roof. They 
are well advanced in scholastic attainments, of 
good deportment, and fitted to take prominent 
positions in any community. Eugene A. now fills 
the office of superintendent of schools with credit 
and honor to himself and his constituents. 

Mr. Stow, early in life, took a leading position in 
the public affairs of his township, and during the 
Rebellion spent much time and money in filling the 
several quotas of troops called for by government, 
and his liberality, when acting officially in the care 
of the families of enlisted soldiers, was unsuccess- 
fully used to defeat him at the next election. He 
has given largely of time and money to the support 
of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Iosco, 
and to the building of its neat and tasty church 
edifice. Although affiliating with the political 
party usually in the minority, he now holds and 
has filled the office of supervisor a large share of 
the time for the last fifteen years, and has been 
prominent in the affairs of the county. In 1874 
he was elected to the Legislature, and was a mem- 
ber of that body when that memorable and closely- 
contested election of United States Senator oc- 
curred which ended in the defeat of Hon. Zacha- 
riah Chandler and the election of Judge Chris- 
tiancy. 

Mr. Stow has good business qualifications, and 
with a mind more logical than brilliant, seldom 
arrives at false conclusions, or fails to succeed in 
whatever he attempts. He has many friends, and 
enjoys the proud satisfaction of having largely as- 
sisted in laying the foundations of the material and 
religious pro.sperity of the community about him. 



As a citizen, he contributes his full share in the 
defense of right and virtue, and towards the sup- 
pression of vice and immorality in every form. In 
sketching briefly the life thus far of such a man, 
we must conclude that, however unpretending, it 
has been eminently useful, and that without men 
of stout hearts and infle.xible purpose the wilder- 
ness — the rude frontier — would never be trans- 
formed into prosperous communities, where the 
heterogeneous elements of pioneer life are changed 
and blended into beautiful harmony, indicative of a 
much higher order of civilization. 



SETH G. WILSON 

was born at Weybridge, Vt., Nov. 30, 1798. He 
lived with his father until he became of age, but 
worked out by the month a portion of the time. 
Sept. 19, 1823, he was married to Philena Sturde- 
vant. Mr. Wilson, with his father, purchased a 




SETH G. WILSON. 

farm, where he worked until the .spring of 1836: He 
then sold out and came to Iosco, in company with 
Asel Stow, who had married Mr. Wilson's sister. 
Mr. Wilson located one hundred and sixty acres of 
land, where he now lives. In the fall of 1836 he 
built a log house, and commenced the improvement 
of what is now a fine and fertile farm. He was pres- 
ent at the first town-meeting, and was elected jus- 
tice of the peace, an office he held for eight years. 
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church in Vermont; they 
brought letters and united with the same church 
at Munsell's, and assisted in organizing the Wilson 
class. Mr. Wilson has been a class-leader for more 
than thirty years. 



268 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Having no children, and feeling the need of some 
assistance in their old age, they made an arrange- 
ment with Silas C. Merrill, in 1863, by which he 
received their property, and, in consideration there- 
for, was to care for them during their natural lives. 
Mrs. Wilson died Nov. 10, 1866. Mr. Wilson, upon 
whose head have fallen the frosts of fourscore 
winters, is still in the enjoyment of good health, 
and looks back upon the past with the satisfaction 
of having acted well his part. 
, His successor on the old farm, Mr. Merrill, was 



born in Butler, N. Y., Oct. 18, 1833. He came to 
Iosco with his father, Benjamin Merrill, who died 
Nov. 18, 1841, leaving a wife and two sons. Simeon 
enlisted in the 5th Infantry, and died at Anderson- 
ville prison. Silas C. has been twice married. His 
first wife was Harriet Conrad, who only lived a few 
months after their marriage. His present wife, 
Mrs. Adelaide Stewart, formerly Miss Miller, was 
a daughter of Wm. Miller, who settled in Iosco 
in the spring of 1836, and who died in September, 
1874. 




WILLIAM H. KUHN'. 

WILLIAM H. KUHN 
was born in Livingston Co., N. Y., Jan. 30, 1 822. He 
came to Iosco in the spring of 1837 with his father, 
Peter J.Kuhn, who was a man of limited means, and 
had a family of eight children, — four sons and four 
daughters. They were among the earliest settlers 
in the town, and their success may be attributed to 
their industry and good management ; as the boys 
grew up to manhood they sought homes for them- 
selves. 

April 12, 1846, William H. Kuhn was married 
to Miss Martha Wilson, daughter of Warren Wil- 
son, who came from Vermont and settled in White 
Oak, Ingham Co., about 1838. In the summer 
of 1846, Mr. Kuhn purchased eighty acres of land, 
of which there were a few acres cleared, but no 
buildings. Making a small payment, and working 
out as best he could to get money for the other 
payments and the necessaries of life, it was two 
years before he was enabled to build a log house, 
and then it was of the rudest kind. But by per- 
sistent energy the improvements were made and 
other lands added, until a fine farm is the result. 
The log house was deemed too small and inconve- 




MRS. WILLIAM H. KUHN. 

nient ; a new and substantial residence was planned 
and all preparations made to build, when Mr. Kuhn 
was taken sick, and died May 28, 1871, leaving a 
wife and eight children, — four sons and four daugh- 
ters. The entire responsibility of the family and 
of the farm fell upon the mother, who has cour- 
ageously discharged her trust. The house has 
been completed according to the original plan, the 
farm has been carried on, and the affairs of the 
family so conducted as to reflect great credit upon 
the mother and the children, who co-operate with 
her. Mr. and Mrs. Kuhn were members of the 
Protestant Methodist Church, in which he was a 
class-leader for several years. 



J.\MES WOODEN 
ranks among the enterprising men of Iosco who 
have contributed towards the development and 
improvement of Livingston County. His father, 
William Wooden, was a farmer in Waterloo, N. Y., 
who subsequently came to Iosco, cleared up a 
farm on section 5, where he died in December, 
1876, in his seventy-seventh year. 



PUTNAM TOWNSHIP. 



269 



James Wooden was born in Waterloo, N. Y., 
April 8, 1823. He came to Iosco witii only one 
hundred dollars, and purchased a piece of wild 
land. He had cleared a few acres and built a log 
house when he married Lydia C. Hart, in Januarj', 
1854. His location on section 5 was covered with 
heavy timber, which required \-ears of labor to 
remove, and render the land available for tillage. 
With encrg)' and industry, this farm was developed 
into one of the finest in the county, — embracing 
three hundred and sixty acres, with large improve- 
ments, spacious buildings, and pleasant surround- 
ings, — a view of which may be seen among the 
Iosco illustrations. 



WILLIAM J. JEWELL 
was born in Warren Co., N. J, Nov. 19, 1818. 
His parents died when he was young, leaving him 
without means or protection. He was reared 
among strangers. When twenty-two years of age 
he came to Hillsdale Co., Mich., where he worked 



by the month for two years, from the wages of 
which labor he saved three hundred dollars. He 
then came to Iosco and purciiased eighty acres of 
land, where he now lives. This was in 1842. 
February 17th of that year he was married to 
Delilah Smith, daughter of Robert Smith, who 
came from Cortland Co., N. Y., and settled in Ing- 
ham County, where he died at the age of seventy- 
six years. 

Soon after Mr. Jewell was married he built a 
rude log house. Being almost destitute of means, 
the early improvements were made only by the 
greatest exertion ; the progress although slow, has 
been sure. The original eighty acres has ex- 
panded to one hundred and sixty, with large and 
commodious buildings, and with such surround- 
ings as indicate an abundance of this world's 
goods. 

Mr. Jewell has been the father of two children, 
— a daughter, who died when fourteen years of 
age, and a son, Fobes C, who was born June 
10, 1864. 



PUTNAM TOWNSHIP. 



Putnam, one of the earlier formed townships of 
Livingston County, lies on its southern border, 
and is bounded west, north, and east by the town- 
ships of Unadilla, Marion, and Hamburg, and 
south by Washtenaw County. It includes town- 
ship No. I north, in range No. 4 east of the prin- 
cipal meridian, as shown on the United States 
survey. Southeast from the centre is located the 
village of Pinckney, in a picturesque valley on the 
north bank of Portage Creek. The survey of the 
proposed Michigan Air-Line Railway crosses the 
township from east to west, passing to the north of 
Pinckney. 

The surface of the township is, in its greater 
portion, hilly and broken, although in the west and 
northwest is an extensive and beautiful plain, upon 
which are found excellent and highly-improved 
farms. Honey Creek passes nearly through the 
centre of the town, from northwest to southeast, 
and discharges into Portage I-ake on section 36. 
Portage River, fed by numerous small lakes, tra- 
verses the southern portion of the township, and, 
after crossing into Washtenaw County, empties 
into Portage Lake, which is a large, fine sheet of 
water, covering several hundred acres, and l)ing 



partly in each county. Among the other lakes of 
the township arc Mud, Bentley, Duck, Little and 
Big Barber, and Gosling. Parts of Half-Moon 
and Patterson Lakes also lie in the southwest 
corner of the town. Good power is furnished by 
Portage River and Honey Creek, and mills have 
been erected in several places. 

LAND-ENTRIES. 

The following is a list of those who entered land 
in what is now Putnam township, arranged by sec- 
tions, with years in which the entries were made: 

Section i. — 1835, M.ij. Cluiljb; 1836, IJ.irry Butler, Henry A. 
N.igle, Thomns Crawford, John Norton, Elij.ih Bennett ; 
1837, Ir.T Chubb ; 1838, Lewis Butler; 1847, John H.Watson. 

Section 2. — 1835, MaJ. Chuljb; 1836, Thomas I,. Jewett, James 
M. Soverhill, Thom.is Crawford; 1838, Nathan I'onii. 

Section 3. — 1835, George Corsehis, Benjamin Eaman ; 1S36, 
James Kingslcy, Aaron Younglove, Joseph Pixley, James VV. 
Stansbury ; 1S38, Horace .\Ulerman ; 1855, Philander Monroe. 

Section 4. — 1835, Thomas Martin, Thom.as Wei ler; 1836, Wil- 
liam Ivirtland, John S. Farrand, Aaron Younglove, Thomas 
Crawford, Heniy A. Nagle, William W. Slansbuiy. 

Section 5. — 1835, Hiram Weller; 1836, John (J. Petei^on, Lem- 
uel Bryant; 1840, John D. Hughes, Moses Fuller. 

Section 6. — 1836, Freeman K. Burden, Erastus Blanchard, Caleb 
Lynden ; 1837, Freeman R. Burden; 1S38, Patrick Kelly; 
1852, Wdliam Boyle; 1853, Frederick Williams. 



270 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Section 7. — 1835, Cassius Swift, James Grieve; 1836, Sylvaiuis 

P. Germain, John Cameron. 
Section 8. — 1835, Freeman Webb, Benjamin Annis, Samuel 

Burgess; 1836, William Kirtland, Richard M. Bayley, An- 

tha Weller, Reuben Robie. 
Section 9. — 1835, Hiram Weller; 1836, William Kiriland, R. 

M. Bayley, Patrick Monks, Reuben Robie, Cassius Swift ; 

1836, Patrick Monks, William Moore; 1838, Furman G. 
Rose, Freeman Webb. 

Section 10. — 1836, Henry G. Bush, Maj. Bentley ; 1837, Ezekiel 
Page; 1S49, Thomas Gawley, James Speer ; 1S54, David 
White; 1867, William A. Hall. 

Section i 1. — 1836, Maj. Bentley, Samuel Nash, Samuel S. Fitch ; 

1837, William O'Hara; 1S3S, Joel S. Mead, Samuel S. Filch, 
Jesse D. Hause ; 184S, William S. Wait ; 1853, Wm. S. Wait. 

Section 12. — 1836, Ralph Swarthout, Silas Hodgins; 1837, B. 
B. Kercheval, R. Swarlhout; 1839, Samuel S. Fitch. 

Section 13. — 1836, Joseph Kirtland, Joseph Abel, Robert Dun- 
lap; 1837, Samuel S. Fitch. 

Section 14. — 1S36, Ira A. White, Henry G. Bush, Joseph Kirt- 
land ; 1S37, John Dunn, George B. Martin, William Moore. 

Section 15. — 1835, Linus Arnold, Evelina Arnold ; 1S36, Nelson 
Barber, Nelson Jenkins; 1837, Luke Hemenway, Christopher 
Monks, James Burke; 1842, Joseph Kirtland; 1854, David 
Hyaman. 

Section 16 (school lands). — 1839, W. H. Stevens, F. G. Rose, 
J. Brooks, William Kirtland, C. Britain; 1841, J. S. Nash; 
1844, 1847, 1848, 1850, F. Webb, Jr. 

Section 17. — 1835, Abner Bruan, L. Foster, Samuel M. C. 
Hinchey, John S. Hinchey, Stiles Perry, William Hughson, 
Freeman Webb; 1836, William Kirtland. 

Section 18. — 1834, Alfred Hartshorn ; 1835, Leander Foster, 
James H. Woods, Sanford Marble, Benjamin Enman; 1836, 
William Kirtland. 

Section 19. — 1S36, James G. Peterson, Alexander Stephens, 
Bennett Sewell, James Grieve, Otto S. Bagnell ; 1837, John 
F'linn; 1852, John Patterson ; 1854, Gideon Webb. 

Section 20. — 1835, John S. Hinchey, Charles M. Moses; 1836, 
Abner Bruan, Warren Rogers; 1837, Michael McFailden, 
Moses Babcock, John Flinn, Chester F. Parsons ; 1849, Henry 
Gardiner; 1853, Thomas C. Webb. 

Section 21. — 1834, William White and James S. Nash; 1S35, 
Alvin A. Holcomb, Samuel M. C. Hinchey, Anson B. Chip- 
man; 1836, Joel Brooks, Robert Dunlap, Warren Rogers; 
1837, Michael McFadden, Nelson Jenkins. 

Section 22. — 1834, Sanford Marble, John O'Brien, Joel Brooks; 
1835, John Sykes, Linus Arnold; 1836, William Kirtland, 
William White, Samuel Kilpatrick. 

Section 23. — 1828, Solomon Peterson; 1834, Benjamin Weller; 
1835, Jefferson J. M. Newconib, Alvah Burgess, Furman G. 
Rose, James Smith, Michael Murray, Grant T. Perry ; 1836, 
John Murray. 

Section 24. — 1835, Elijah Whipple, Aaron Vance; 1S36, Wm. 
Kirtland, Kenneth Davidson, Joseph Kirtland. 

Section 25. — 1831, James Pullen, Solomon Peterson; 1835, 
Samuel Cole, Elijah Whipple, Alvah Burgess ; 1836, James 
Dwyer, Chester Ingalls; 1837, James Love. 

Section 26. — 1828, Solomon Peterson; 1831, Jacob Corey, S. 
Mallery; 1832, Richard M.Guggins; 1S34, EInathan Can- 
field; 1835, Clarinda Parker, James Kingsley; 1836, William 
Kirtland. 

Section 27. — 1834, EInathan Canfield, Joel Brooks; 1835, Daniel 
Towner, Matthew Saul; 1836, James W. Stansbury, William 
Kirtland, John H. Piatt, James Jacoby, Lydia Jacoby, Francis 
Hoban, Elizabeth Stansbury. 

Section 28. — 1835, William White, Moses M. Crane; 1836, 
Thomas Cahel, James E. Crane, Francis Hoban, Robert 
Dunlap. 

Section 29. — 1835, William White; 1836, William Barnett, John- 
son Tij^lady, James Gibbon, Robert Dunlap. 



Section 30. — 1835, Olto S. liignall, Solomon L. Bignall, Willinm 

Noulin; 1836, Silas Barton, Patrick Dillon, Robert Dunlap; 

1853, (ieorge Howell. 
Section 31. — 1835, Olto S. Bignnll, Solomon L. Bignall, Richanl 

Bignall, John Patterson; 1836, Samuel W. Foster, Isaac 

Titus; 1837, James Gaunt. 
Section 32. — 1835, Lol'irop Hubbard, Solomon L. Bignall, Moses 

Nash ; 1836, Moses M. Crane, Samuel W. Foster, Robert H. 

Titus; 1837, John Farmer, Moses Babcock, S. L. Bignall, 

George B. Martin. 
Section 33. — 1S31, Levi Rodgers, Ebenezer Boyden; 1835, John 

Harris, Burr S. Norlhrup; 1836, Thomas Nixon, Martin 

Harris, Hugh Clark, William Saul; 1837, James Jones. 
Section 34. — 1828, Flavona Wright; 1834, Henry Harris; 1835, 

Adna Shaw and Lucius S. Farrand; 1S36, I-.aac B. Towner, 

Charles Kingsley, John Harris. 
Section 35. — 1833, Jacob Sigler, Francis Ingram ; 1835, Selden 

Pullen; 1836, Andrew Nowland, Oscar Greenman, William 

Kirtland, Martin Davis, J.nmes M. Soverhill. 
Section 36. — 1S36, William Kirtland, James Gibbons, Robert 

Dunlap; 1837, John Wallace; 1842, Pomeroy Boyilcn ; 1853, 

Sarah M. Johnson; 1854, Millard F. Darrow. 

By reference to the foregoing it will be .seen that 
the first entries in the township were made in 1828. 
They were 160 acres on section 23, and 160 acres 
on section 26, by Solomon Peterson, of this State, 
entered May 1 3th ; and 80 acres by Flavona 
Wright, of Wayne Co., N. Y., dated May 14th. 
No other entries were made until 1831. The en- 
tries in 1828, as mentioned, were the first in the 
county. 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

Col. Solomon Peterson, who liad been com- 
mander of a regiment of militia in the State of New 
York, and who entered land in Putnam, as above 
mentioned, is said to have immediately settled 
upon it. This being the case, he was beyond 
doubt the first settler in Livingston County. He 
is also given the credit of having built the first 
house and barn in the county, both being frame 
structures. The colonel was, without dispute, the 
first white man who made his home within tlie 
limits of what is now Putnam township. His build- 
ings were on the bank of Portage Creek, immedi- 
ately southeast of the village of Pinckney. The 
colonel, who was a bachelor, was chosen first 
supervisor of Putnam after its organization, and 
was one of the foremost among its prominent citi- 
zens. He finally moved to the town of Dexter, 
Washtenaw Co., where his death occurred within 
recent years. 

James Jacoby, from the town of Hunter, Greene 
Co., N. Y., landed with his family at Detroit, 
Nov. 13, 1833, — thebirthday of his wife. A tavern 
was rented twenty-four miles out of Detroit, and 
kept by Mr. Jacoby about two years. In 1835 the 
family removed to Putnam township, and settled 
west of the village of Pinckney, where he died 
about 1865. His widow yet resides on the old 



PUTNAM TOWNSHIP. 



271 



place, and has reached the advanced age of eighty- 
six years. 

Henry Harris, from Somerset Co., N. J. (both 
himself and wife natives of Ireland), purchased 
land on section 34, in this township, in 1834, and 
settled upon it immediately. Colonel Peterson and 
John Sigler were then the nearest neighbors, the 
latter living a short distance east, on .section 35. 
Mr. Harris has been dead over twenty years. His 
brother, John Harris, settled northwest of him, on 
the Portage River, near the subsequent location of 
Reeves' grist-mill. He died in the winter of 
187S-79, in the village of Dexter, Washtenaw Co., 
whither he had removed. His son, John Harris, 
now lives in the township of Webster, in the last- 
named county. Henry Harris' son, also named 
John, resides near his mother, on the old farm. 
Both the Harris brothers followed agricultural 
pursuits principally during their life in tiiis town. 
Henry cleared and improved the three "eighties" 
he originally purchased, together with another, 
which he bought afterwards. When he came with 
his family he followed a " blazed-tree" trail, the 
road not yet being cut out, through from Dexter. 
He built a log house a few steps south of the frame 
residence now occupied by his widow. They had 
at that time but one child, — a daughter, — who is 
now living in Jackson. Other children were born 
to them, but the family became scattered during 
the war of the Rebellion (1861-65). One son died 
at Union City, Branch Co., Mich., and another in 
Minnesota. John Harris is the only son now 
living in the neighborhood where his father settled 
nearly half a century in the past, and the farm has 
never in that time been out of the hands of the 
family. 

Hugh Clark, a native of Ireland, emigrated to 
America in 1832, and settled in Somerset Co., N. J. 
In the fall of 1836 he came to Michigan, and set- 
tled in Putnam township, on the farm he still owns 
and occupies. He was then unmarried. He pur- 
chased 80 acres of land from government, after- 
wards adding to it by different purchases from 
other hands. The log house he built and lived in 
stood immediately south of his present frame 
dwelling. He continued to live here in the soli- 
tude of bachelorhood until 1842, when he was 
married. His brother, William Clark, was here 
part of the time, and finally settled in the town- 
ship, but moved subsequently to Missouri, in which 
State he still resides. 

When Mr. Clark came, the Messrs. Root, of Ann 
Arbor, were operating a saw-mill a short distance 
southeast of his place, on the Portage River. The 
mill-iiam was crossed by the county line, and the 
mill itself stood in Washtenaw County. This mill 



was kept very bu.sy cutting lumber for the settlers, 
who at that time were arriving rapidly. 

West of Mr. Clark's was another saw-mill, built 
in 1835, probably by Solomon Bignall and Moses 
Babcock. George Reeves, of Pinckney, began a 
three-story frame grist-mill, near the saw-inill, in 
1840, and finished it in December of that year, or 
the ne.xt. It contained four run of stones, and for 
years the business was large and profitable. The 
mill finally became the property of Reeves & Rose, 
and during the latter years of its existence its cus- 
tom decreased, and but little grinding was done. 
It was destroyed by fire in the latter part of Janu- 
ary, 1879. The saw-mill is yet standing. When 
the grist-mill was completed, ready for use, a con- 
siderable number of settlers assembled in it and 
held a holiday-party. Its first grist was ground 
during the same afternoon. 

George Reeves, from Orange County, N. Y., came 
with his wife and three children to Michigan in 
1826, and located at Lima Centre, Washtenaw Co., 
where he remained until some time in 1837, when 
he removed to Pinckney, and entered the mercan- 
tile business. The mill property, which he subse- 
quently purchased, had been originally settled and 
improved by Solomon L. Bignall, who bought it 
from government in 1835. Upon removing to the 
latter place Mr. Reeves took his stock of goods 
with him, and in company with his wife's brother, 
Timothy R. Allison, established a store. He also 
entered into partnership with Samuel Minot in the 
same business, and the three persons carried on 
two stores. Reeves & Minot owning one, and 
Reeves & Allison the other. Both have long been 
discontinued, and Mr. Reeves is now deceased. 
His family occupies the old place. 

Sanford Marble, a native of Massachusetts, and 
for some years a resident of Connecticut, emi- 
grated from the latter State to Michigan in 1833, 
and settled on the site of the village of Pinckney. 
After one year he removed to the farm upon which 
his son, James M. Marble, now resides, on the plain 
in the western part of the township. When he first 
entered the township it contained but nine families, 
and when he moved to the present farm his only 
neighbor was a man named Foster, who lived on 
the present C. M. Wood place. The father of the 
last-named gentleman, John Wood, settled early in 
Iosco township, and subsequently moved into Put- 
nam. The Wood place was also at one time owned 
by the father of Benjamin Eaman. The latter, who 
came to the township while Mr. Marble was living 
in Pinckney, was taken out by Mr. Marble to look 
at his land, and the two lost their way in the woods, 
remaining out overnight. They finally succeeded 
in finding what they were searching for. Benjamin 



272 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Eaman is now deceased, and his son James lives 
on the place opposite the Marble farm. 

When Mr. Marble came to this farm no one 
lived nearer to him in a northern direction than 
eight miles away, on " Provost's Plains," in Marion 
township. The next farm south of that taken by 
Mr. Marble was settled by James Grieves, who sent 
men to build a log house upon it the same year 
Mr. Marble located. Mr. Marble first bought a 
farm on the east side of the road, south of the one 
named, but in a short time sold it to Louis Fas- 
quelle, a Frenchman. Mr. Marble's widow is 
living with his son on the old place. 

Freeman Webb, from Jefferson Co., N. Y., pur- 
chased his first land in Putnam in 1835, including 
80 acres of the farm now occupied by his widow, 
on section 8. In the spring of 1 836 he removed with 
his family to this State, and located near Ann Ar- 
bor, Washtenaw County. In the spring of 1837 
he moved upon the farm in Putnam. At tliat time 
Samuel Burgess lived a mile north of him, and 
Cooley and Hiram Weller lived in the same neigh- 
borhood with Mr. Burgess. Benjamin Annis, who 
had moved into Michigan at the same time Mr. 
Webb came, and also lived near Ann Arbor, owned 
the farm next west of Mr. Webb's, but did not 
settle upon it until 1839. Mr. Webb, whose po- 
sition in the township was that of one of its most 
prominent citizens, died in May; 1877. 

Samuel Burgess, who has been mentioned, was 
one of the first settlers in the neighborhood of 
Pinckney, having lived a mile east of that village 
for some time previous to his removal to the farm 
in the north part of town. 

S. M. C. Hinchey, from the town of Gates, near ' 
Rochester, Monroe Co., N. Y., and a native of 
Saratoga County, came to Michigan in the fall of 
1835, and settled in the township of Scio, Wash- 
tenaw Co. He purchased land in Putnam, cleared 
and broke 80 acres of it, built a log house and a 
barn, and moved upon it in the summer of 1838. 
The breaking was done by a man whom he had 
hired for the purpose, and who also helped about 
building. The barn which was then erected is yet 
standing, on the north side of the road, on Mr. 
Hinchey's place. When Mr. Hinchey bought his 
land, in 1835, but few settlers had come into the 
township. 

The first white child born in the township — and 
the honor is claimed also concerning the entire 
county — was Julia E. PuUen, daughter of Levi and 
Nabby Pullen, whose birth occurred in the month 
of April, 1832. 

Joseph P'letcher came from Ontario Co., N. Y., 
to Putnam in 1840, and resided in the township 
until his death, which occurred at a comparatively 



recent date, when he had reached the age of 
seventy-eight years. He was an exemplary and 
respected citizen, and, as in the instance of the 
death of many others, his loss was deeply felt. 

Levi Pullen, a native of the State of Maine, set- 
tled in this town in August, 1831. Among other 
early settlers were the following : 

Mrs. Sarah Bi'ower, n,\tive of England, seUled in May, 1S35. 
]fsse J. Hanse, native of New York, settled in June, 1836. 
Morris P'tiller, native of Massachusetts, settled Nov. I, 1836. 
T. C. Fuller, native of Massachusetts, settled April 10, 1836. 
William More, native of New York, seitled in October, 1841. 
Mrs. Elizaljeth Noble, born in township in August, 1841. 
William Brower, native of New York, settled in November, 
1842. 

M. F. Darrow, n.itive of New York, settled in October, 1843. 

The above names are taken from the records of 
the Livingston County Pionee-r Association. Others 
who came early were M. S. Chubb, on section i ; 
F. R. Burden, section 6; G. Bennett, section ii; 
Ralph Swarthout, section 12, died in township; 
Samuel S. Fitch, section 13; John Dunn, section 
14; Harry Gardiner, section 20; J. S. Nash, now 
deceased ; S. A. Barton, section 50 ; and others. 

Many of the persons who entered land in this 
township, and probably a large majority of them, 
became actual settlers, while others, as was the 
case in all localities, purchased for speculative 
purposes, and never aided in the work of set- 
tling the wilderness. The early settlers of this 
town were men from high and low positions, and 
of numerous nationalities. The merchant, the sol- 
dier, the politician, the mechanic, and the farmer 
were here, and from various Eastern States, and 
even from across the ocean, came bold and hardy 
men, all with the true pioneer spirit, and by their 
hands a noble work was accomplished. 

The following persons comprised the resident 
tax-payers of the township of Putnam in 1844: 

Affleck, John. Barton, Daniel. 

Annis, Benjamin. Chubl), Major. 

Able, Joseph. Conway, John A. 

Able, Oliver. Corey, Jacob. 

Able, John N. Chalker, O. B. 

Allen, Stephen V. R. Clark, Hugh. 

Allen, Lafayette. Couchman, David. 

Bryant, Lemuel. Ch.alker, Abner E. 

Brown, Gilbert. Davis, David. 

Burdon, Freeman R. Dunn, John. 

Boile, William. Dunn, James. 

Burgess, Samuel. Decker, James. 

Buffington, Preserved. Davis, James H. 

Brown, Uriah. Eaman, Benjamin. 

Britton, Claudius. Fairchild, Samuel D. • 

Brower, Henry. Fuller, Moses. 

Burgess, Peter. Fitch, Samuel S. 

Beals, Bernard. Fletcher, Isaac. 

Birtwessell, John. Fasquelle, Louis. 

Barton, Silas. Fletcher, Joseph. 

Babcock, Simon. Grieves, J.ames. 



PUTNAM TOWNSHIP. 



273 



Hugh-, J..hn D. 
Harris, Jesse J. 
Hicks, Valorus. 
Hughs, Enoch. 
Hi)otl, Ainlrcw. 
Hinchey, Samuel M. 
Hinchey, John S. 
Hugliston, William. 
Holcomb, Alvin A. 
Hicks, Solomon. 
Hanch, Alexander. 
Harris, Henry. 
Harris, Peter. 
Harris, Martin. 
Harris, John. 
Hitchcock, Nathan. 
Irwin, Nelson. 
Ingram, Thomas. 
Ingram, Thoni.is, Jr. 
Jenkins, Nelson. 
Jacoby, James. 
Jacoliy, Albert. 
Lemon, EIniira. 
Loosey, Thomas. 
I.a Rue, James M. 
Lavy, Bryant. 
Monks, Christopher. 
Moon, William. 
Marble, John. 
Marble, Sanford. 
McMillan, Ebenczer. 
M.iloney, Lawrence. 
Minot & Reeves. 
Minot, Samuel. 
Melcalf, Sylvanus. 
Morton, Thomas. 



Newcomb, J. J. 

Nash, James S. 

Nash, Marcus J. 

Nash, Carlos. 

Olinstead, Solomon. 

I'ond, Nathan. 

Pullen, George. 

Pettis, Seth A. 

Perry, Stiles. 

Parks, 'I'homas. 

Pullen, James. 

Pullen, .Selden. 

Parker, George. 

Patterson, John. 

Richmond, Mary. 

Reeves, George. 

Reevci & Minot (merchants). 

Smith, John J. 

Salmon, William. 

Swarlhont, Ralph. 

Swarlhoul, John. 

Smith, James. 

Sikes, John. 

Stansbury, James W. 

Siglar, John. 

Siglar, Jacob. 

Weller, Hiram. 

Weller, Cooley. 

Weller, Benjamin. 

Webb, Freeman. 

Weller, Thomas. 

Winans, William. 

Wilson, William. 

WiUon, Thomas. 

Waite, David. 



VILLAGE OF PINCKNEY. 



Allison, Timothy R. 
Brown, Isaac. 
Bennett, Henry S. 
Brooks, Joel. 
Canfield, James. 
Colom, Charles. 
Eaman, James. 
Hughs, James. 



Hood, George A. & Co. 

Judd, Henry. 

Mann, Alvin. 

Mann & Eaman (merchants). 

Noble, Leonard. 

Rose, F. G. 

Stansbury, James W. (agent). 



CIVIL ORGANIZATION— LIST OF OFFICERS. 

By an act of the Legislature, approved March 
23, 1836, the township of Futma/i was organized, 
including the present townships of Putnam and 
Marion; the latter being .setoff March 11, 1837. 
There being obj"ections against the name of the 
township, owing to its incorrect orthography, the 
letters were transposed by the Legislature, March 
6, 1836, and the correct name, Putnam, substi- 
tuted for the old one. It was directed in the act 
organizing Putwrfw township that its first election 
should be held at the house of Jacob Sigler, and 
there the meeting was accordingly convened. The 
politics of the voters were not at that meeting 
allowed to dictate the choice of officers, as the in- 
habitants were too few in number. The second 
year, however, matters were different, owing to a 
gratifying increase of population. The Whigs and 
35 



Democrats were the political opponents of that 
day, and between them was the usual strife. The 
Whigs were j"ubilant over the fact that they held the 
preijonderance of power, — or supposedly so, — and 
made their nominations in caucus, apportioning two 
or three offices to some of their number. Of that 
proceeding they partiallj' repented, and offered 
some of the lesser offices to the Democrats, who 
refused them and made their own nominations. 
The result was a tie vote on some of the officers, 
the Democrats holding the winning hand other- 
wise, and at a special election to overcome the tie 
but one Whig vote was cast. 

The first annual township-meeting was held at 
the house of Jacob Sigler, May 2, 1836. The fol- 
lowing officers were elected, viz. : Supervisor, Sol- 
omon Peterson ; Township Clerk, Furman G. Rose; 
Assessors, George Bennett, John A. Conaway, Hi- 
ram Wellar; Constable and Collector, Selden Pul- 
len; Overseer of the Poor, James Canfield; School 
Cointiiissioners, Thomas Ingram, Solomon L. Big- 
nail, Alvin A. Holcomb; Justices of the Peace, F. 
G. Rose, James S. Nash, Pierpont L. Smith, Hi- 
ram Wellar; Commissioners of Highways, Alvin 
S. McDowell, James S. Nash, Levi Pullen. 

The following is a list of township officers for 
Putnam from 1837 to 1879, inclusive; 

SUPERVISORS. 
1837, Aaron Palmer; 1838, George Reeves; 1839, Amos II. 
Breed; 1840-41, George Reeves; 1842-44, Timothy R. Alli- 
son; 1S45, James NL La Rue; 1846, Lemuel Bryant; 1847, 
Andrew Hood; 1S48, George Reeves; 1849, Freeman Webb, 
Jr.; 1850-55, James Rice; 1856, F. G. Rose; 1857-58, 
William D. Crofoot; 1859-61, George W. Crofoot; 1862-69, 
Freeman Webb; 1870, George W. Crofoot; 1871, Stephen 
G. Teeple; 1872, George W. Crofoot; 1873, Freeman Webb; 
1874-75, George W. Crofoot; 1876, Freeman Webb; 1877- 
78, James Marble; 1879, George W. Crofoot. 

TOWNSHIP CLERKS. 
1837-38, Furman G. Rose; 1S39-40, Richard J. Connor; 1841, 
Alvin Mann; 1842, F. (i. Rose; 1843, Alvin Mann ; 1S44, 
F. G. Rose; 1845, John W. Angel ; 1846, Charles W. Haze; 
1847-48, Robert Crawford; 1849-50, Francis A. Grimes; 
1 85 1, Jason W. Kellogg; 1852, John Broughlon ; 1853-54, 
Thompson Grimes; 1855-56, Paschal P. Wheeler; 1857-60, 
Thompson Grimes; 1 86 1 -63, Robert Le Baron; 1864, Grat- 
lan II. Sigler; 1865-68, James Markey ; 1869-71, Edward 
A. Mann; 1872, William II. Martin; 1873, George W. 
Teeple; 1874-75, H. Fred. Sigler; 1876-78, F. A. Sigler; 
1879, Charles N. Plimpton. 

TREASURERS. 
1837, James W. Stan.sbury; 1839-40, Rufus Thompson; 1S41, 
Jacob Cory; 1842, Nathan Pond; 1843-47, Hir.im Weller; 
1848-49, Levi D.Smith; 1850, George A. Hood; 185 1, John 
A. French; 1852, William Costello; 1853, Benjamin Weller; 
1854, Uriah Brown; 1S55, John Broughton ; 1856, William 
E. Thompson; 1857-58, Joseph Abel; 1859-60, Solomon 
Hicks; 1861-62, Charles D. Van Winkle; 1863, I^wrey B. 
White; 1864, Joseph Sykes; 1865, John Harris; 1866, 
Lowrey B. White; 1867, Samuel B. Leddick; i86S, Addison 



274 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Wheeler; 1S69, Clark A. Wheeler; 1S70, Daniel Richards; 
1S71, John SyUes; 1872, Daniel Richaids; 1873, Samuel 
Sykes; 1874-76, Charles N. Plimpton ; 1877, W. P. Wilcox ; 
1S78-79, Charles Love. 

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 
1837, F. G Rose, S. L. Bignall, Il.Weller; 1S38, Louis Fas- 
quelle; 1S39, .Solomon L. Bignall; 1840, James S. Nash; 
1841, James W. Slansbury ; 1842, Louis Fasqiielle, Sil.as Bar- 
ton ; 1843, Ceorge Reeves; 1844, Freeman Webb, Jr.; 1845, 
James W. Siansbiiiy ; 1846, fames M. La Rue; 1847, Samuel 
S. Fitch; 1848, Freeman Webb, Jr. ; 1849, James W. Stans- 
bury; 1850, Levi D. Smith, Gilbert Brown; 1851, Furman 
G. Rose, John Swarlhout; 1852, George Reeves; 1853, 
Francis A. Grimes; 1854, Freeman Webb, Jr. ; 1855, Fur- 
man G. Rose; 1856, James M. La Rue, George Reeves; 1857, 
S. S. Fitch; 185S, James M. Eaman, William A. Hall; 1S59, 
Thomas W. Palmer; i860, Mo-es Fuller; 1861, Thompson 
Grimes; 1862, Furman G. Rose; 1S63, George Reeves; 1864, 
Eli Annis ; 1865, J. W. Hinchcy ; 1866, Millard V. Darrow ; 
1867, Thompson Grimes; 1868, Eli Annis; 1869, James W. 
Hinchey; 1870, Millard F. Darrow; 1S71, Furman G. Rose; 
1872, Charles D. Van Winkle; 1873, Thompson Grimes; 
1874, James Markey; 1875, L. B. Cosle; 1876, Ira V. Reeves; 
1877, Fiinnan G. Rose; 187S, John JL Kearney; 1S79, 
Thompson Giin^es. 

At an election held in November, iS66, it was 
decided by a vote of 232 to 1 1 to raise $36,000 in 
the township to aid the " Grand Trunk Railway of 
Michigan," the track to pass within one mile of 
Pinckney village. The scheme was remodeled, 
and it was proposed to build the " Michigan Air- 
Line Railway." The sum of $20,000 was voted 
in its aid by the township, and excitement ran 
high. Real estate along the line, and especially at 
Pinckney, advanced fiibulously in prices, and the 
prospects were that the road would certainly be 
built at the earliest possible date. But the great 
expectations of the people were destined to be dis- 
appointed. The road-bed was graded into the town- 
ship from the west, but further operations were 
suspended, and Pinckney and the surrounding 
region settled back to its ante-railroad excitement 
status, where it has since remained. 

VILLAGE OF PINCKNEY. 

Joseph Abel, from Steuben Co., N. Y., came to 
the township in the spring of 1836 (April i8th), 
and located two miles northeast of the village, on 
a farm he purchased after he arrived. Six years 
subsequently he moved into the village, where his 
widow, who is also now the widow of James M. 
La Rue, at present resides. The old Abel farm is 
occupied by William H. Placeway. 

James M. La Rue, also from Steuben Co., N. Y., 
settled at Dexter, Washtenaw Co., Mich., as early, 
probably, as 1S30. In the neighborhood of 1840 
he moved into Putnam and located southeast of 
Pinckney, where his son, Charles F. La Rue, at 
present resides. Mr. La Rue subsequently moved 
into the village, where his death occurred. 



Furman G. Rose, from Bath, Steuben Co., N. Y., 
came to Michigan in the fall of 1835, landing at 
Detroit the first day of October. He settled in 
Putnatii the same fall, on a larm east of the present 
village of Pinckney, just one month from the day 
he set foot in Detroit. He was accompanied by 
his wife and one child. In 1837 he moved to the 
village and entered the mercantile business, estab- 
lishing the second store in the place. About 
1847-48 he built the present "Globe Hotel," 
moved into it in the fall, and kept it four years. 
He had previously conducted the hotel business 
in a building which stood in the south part of the 
village, near the mill-race. It had been built by 
the founder of the village, William Kirtland, for 
both a store and hotel, and in it Messrs. Reeves & 
Minot placed the fiist stock of goods brought into 
the place, and opened the first store. Andrew and 
George Hood started the third store some time 
after Mr. Rose had begun business. 

When Mr. Rose arrived here in 1835, the in- 
habitants of the immediate vicinity were Benjamin 
Weller, Claudius Britton, Sanford Marble, and 
James Canfield, who all lived on ground now oc- 
cupied by the village plat. Marble moved to the 
western part of the township, as previously stated ; 
Weller afterwards removed to the township of 
Handy, where he died ; and Britton and Canfield 
both died at Pinckney. Marble owned 40 acres 
southwest of where the " Globe Hotel" now stands ; 
Weller li\ed east of him, on the south side of what 
is now the main street of the village; and Britton 
lived a little farther east, on the north side of the 
street. 

The plat of the village of Pinckney was recorded 
Aug. 9, 1837, William Kirtland, proprietor. His 
grist-mill was then standing at the south end of 
Mill Street, near its intersection with Water Street. 
The following concerning the new village was 
written on the plat by Mr. Kirtland: 

" The village of Pinckney is situated in the southern part of 
Livingston County, on Portage Creek, two miles from its entrance 
into Portage Lake. It is in the midst of one of the finest and 
best settled agricultural districts in the State, and is already the 
natural centre of business for not less than two hundred or three 
hundred families. A Ficuring-Mill is now in operation, which 
has just been constructed at a cost of from Seven to Eight Thou- 
sand Dollars, and there is no mill nearer than ten miles, and in 
some directii.>ns it will command the business for twenty miles. 
A good Temperance Tavern and Store have also been erected, 
and other buildings are in progress. A healthier spot is not to be 
found in Michigan. The State Road from Saganaw to the Chicago 
R<' at Clinton passes through this place, and the Grand River and 
Allegan State Road is expected to intersect the former at this 
point. The lots are 66 feet in front by 132 feet in depth. The 
streets are four rods in width, and the Public Square is si.xleen 
rods square." 

J. W. Hinchey's first addition to Pinckney was 
laid out on the northeast quarter of the southwest 



PUTNAM TOWNSHIP. 



275 



quarter of section 23, April i, 1868. A second 
addition by the same person was recorded March 
I, 1871, and is laid on the west half of the north- 
west quarter of the southeast quarter of section 23. 

William Kirtland came to this place from the 
city of New York, in 1836. In compruiy with a 
man named Davitl.son he set about buildin<,r a grist- 
mill, the timbers for which were brought to the site 
by I'urman G. Rose and his brother-in-law, Joseph 
Abel. Davidson soon aftei' .sold his interest to 
Kirtland, and the latter finished the mill in 1837. 
The same structure is yet standing, but has been 
enlarged and improved to some extent. It origi- 
nally contained two run of stones, and now has 
three. Mr. Kirtland also built a cooper-shop, 
which he rented to workmen of that trade. Seth 
A. Petteys, novv of PetteysviUe, Hamburg town- 
ship, was the millwright who erected the mill. 
When Mr. Kirtland laid out the village he sold lots 
rapidly for a time, a number of them being taken 
by mechanics, among whom were Messrs. Bert- 
whistle, Schoonmaker, and others. He subse- 
quently returned to New York, and met his death 
by accidentally walking off one of the docks into 
the river and being drowned. He was quite near- 
sighted, which fact was the cause of the fatal acci- 
dent. 

Mr. Kirtland's wife was a lady possessed of 
much literary ability, and is well remembered by 
those acquainted with her during her residence 
here. Under the noin dc plume of" Mary Clavers," 
she at one time wrote a volume, entitled " A New 
Home — Who'll Follow ? or, a History of Monte- 
cute." The book has been both commended and 
severely criticised. 

About i860 the firm of Thomas & Bates com- 
menced the manufacture of " Climax Fanning- 
Mills" at this place, the business passing after- 
wards into the hands of Thompson & Richards. 
The original proprietors erected a building, and 
for two or three years conducted a good business. 
The manufacture of buggies and wagons has also 
been carried on here to some e.xtent. Thompson 
Grimes began the business, and Daniel D. Rich- 
ards and others worked at it afterwards. It is still 
continued by Messrs. Sykes & Son. Thompson 
Grimes is now a member of the Legislature from 
Livingston County. 

A post-office must have been established at the 
village as early as 1838-39. Mail was carried on 
horseback from Dexter, by James Pullen. James 
W. Stansbury, brother of Mrs. Kirtland, was the 
first postmaster. The office was kept at a later 
day in a store which belonged to James M. Ea- 
man, in the south part of the village. It appears 
that a good-natured political strife was in order in 



the village during its earlier years, and even the 
appointment of a postmaster was not unattended 
with some difficulty and sharp practice. Furman 
G. Rose, a Democrat, was appointed to succeed 
Mr. .Stansbur)', who was a Whig, and a talented 
law\-er. The latter heard that Rose had been ap- 
pointed, but was loath to recognize the fact, and 
continued to administer the affairs of the office. 
Rose finally outwitted him, however, and obtained 
possession of the mail, and the office was turned 
over to him. The citizens had been watching 
the tide of affairs an.xiously. Freeman Webb, a 
staunch Whig, had loaded a small cannon, ready 
to fire, when the dispute should be settled, one 
way or the other, but one of the PuUens, probably 
averse to any noisy demonstration, so effectually 
dampened the powder in the gun that the salute 
was indefinitely postponed. The present incum- 
bent of the office is Mrs. Sarah Young, who was 
appointed to succeed her husband, Charles C. 
Young, who died in office. 

James W. Stansbury, who located here in 1 837, 
and was agent for William Kirtland & Co., was 
the first person who practiced law in the place. 
He became prominent in the county, and was 
elected and served one term as judge of probate. 
He removed from here to Ithaca, N. Y., but is now 
residing at Danville, 111., where some member of 
Mr. Kirtland's family is interested in coal-mines. 
Another early lawyer in the village was Sylves- 
ter W. Barnes, who remained one or two years. 
Marcus B. Wilcox settled as a lawyer in Pinckney 
soon after 1850. He afterwards removed to How- 
ell, and died there. Others have practiced at dif- 
ferent times, but at present (1879) the place cannot 
boast of having a member of the legal fraternity 
in its midst. 

The first disciple of Esculapius to locate in the 
village was Dr. William Stevens, who came from 
the State of New York, and remained here ten or 
twelve years. His ability as a physician was ques- 
tioned by the people among whom he lived. Drs. 
Stansbury and Angell came afterwards and practiced 
for a considerable length of time. Dr. Charles W. 
Haze, now residing at Pinckney, is a native of 
Wilson, Niagara Co., N. Y., and settled here April 
20, 1845, when twenty-five years of age. He has 
continued in the practice of his profession during 
his residence in the place, — with what success the 
esteem in which he is held by iiis acquaintances 
will testify. Among other physicians who have 
at different times practiced here are Drs. E. J. 
Roberts (homteopathist), Silsby, and Sigler. 

The business of Pinckney in March, 1858, was 
mentioned in an article published mXht Livingston 
Republican of that time, as follows : 



276 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



" The village of Pinckney is sitiinted about a mile to the south- 
east of the centre of the township of Putnam, and is built around 
a very fine public square. The land upon which the village 
stands, and the immediate vicinity, is very level, rendering it a 
beautiful place. The inh.ibiiants are an intelligent, hospitable, 
and enterprising people, — such as have given it peace and amia- 
bility at home, and an unblemished reputation abroad 

" The business of the place is as follows: There are three dry- 
goods stores, one grist- and flonring-mill, two blacksmilh-shops, 
one hotel, two 'joot- and shoe-shops, one harnessshop, one grocery, 
one cabinet-shop, one tailor-shoji, one jeweler, one cooper-shop, 
and two wagon-shops. 

"The first store we mention is the firm of T. Grimes & Co., 

successors to A. Mann & Co. This firm has an extensive trade. 

There is prob.ibly no heavier firm in the county, outside of Howell. 

" The second is the firm of Fiquett & Coleman ; this is also a 

heavy firm, and does a large amount of trade. 

" The third is that of J. M. Enman. Mr. Eaman lias long been 
a resident, and fonnerly one of the first merchants in Pinckney ; 
but he is now closing up the mercantile trade, and giving his at- 
tention to the honorable occupation of farming. 

** The grist- and flouring-niill is owned by our old and vener- 
able citizen, A. Mann. It has two runs of four and a half feet 
stones, and does a large amount of gristing and flouring. During 
the last .summer we understand that Mr. Mann has built a fine 
water-wheel to the mill, at a very heavy e-xpense ; and we are also 
informed that he contemplates covering it anew the coming season, 
which will add much to its appearance and also to the appearance 
of the village. 

" The two blacksmith-shops are carried on, — one by L. Noble, 
long an enterprising citizen of Pinckney. Mr. Noble has carried 
on blacksmithing, and will continue it, very extensively. 

" The other is carried on by D. Richards, late of Dover. In 
connection with an extensive blacksmith business, Mr. Richards 
has associated with him in the wagon and carriage business Mr. 
Wnr. R. Bertwhistle, who are now manufacturing wagons and 
carriages second to none in the county, and at very reasonable 
prices. We advise all who wish to purchase to give Messrs. Rich- 
ards & Co. a call. 

"The other wagon establishment is carried on by J. & I Sykes, 
who are doing quite an extensive business, especially in the way 
of repairing, in a prompt and workmanlike manner. 

" To say nothing of the character of the hotel for a few of the 
past years, we can now say the present proprietor, Mr. L. F. Rose, 
keeps one of the best hotels to be found in the interior of the 
State. Mr. Rose h.as lately taken to himself a ' partner for life,' 
under whose direction the household affairs will be well managed. 
" The two boot- and shoe-shops are carried on by T. Grimes & 
Co., and Fiquett & Coleman, extensively in connection with their 
dry-goods trade. 

" The harness business is carried on in all its various branches by 
Mr. Charles Clark, who is one of the best workmen in the county. 
" Mr. A. Hinchey drives the sole trade in the grocery business. 
In connection with this he has a jewelry-shop. 

" We have but one cabinet-shop in the place. This is owned 
by Mr. Silas S. Carroll, who does quite an extensive business. 

" The tailoring business is carried on by Mr. N. F. Picket. Mr. 
Picket has long been engaged in the business in Pinckney to quite 
an extent. 

"The cooper-shop is owned by Mr. A. Mann, who drives the 
business of baiTel-making the year round for the supply of his 
flouring-mill. 

" To add to the beauty and appearance of the place, we have a 
Congregational and a Methodist Episcopal Church, — two as fine 
church edifices as are found anywhere in the interior of the State. 
Also a commodious school-house. 

" Revs. D. L. Eaton and P. C. Dayfoot, of Howell, have, 
about a week since, closed a revival in the Congregational, and 
the Rev. Mr. Lee, pastor, in the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
These meetings have resulted in much good being done. 



" In the line of professional men we have two M.D.'s, — Drs, 
Haze and Rogers, — and one lawyer, Hon. M. B. Wilcox. 

" The village is surrounded with a good farming country and 
an intelligent and industrious set of fanners, giving a good support 
to the business of the place." 

MASONIC. 
LIVINGSTON LODGE, No. 76, F. and A. M., 
was chartered Jan. 10, 1856, with the following 
officers: M., Charles W. Haze; S. W., John R. 
Goodrich, M. D. ; J. W., Furman G. Rose. The 
membership on the 31st of July, 1879, was 78, and 
the officers were as follows: W. M., William A. 
Sprout; S. W., H. F. Sigler; J. VV., C. D. Van 
Winkle; Treas., Thompson Grimes; Sec, I"". A. 
Sigler; S. D., Cary Van Winkle; J. D. Samuel 
Gilchrist; Tiler, William Balch. The rooms of the 
fraternity are in the third story of the fine brick 
block built by W. S. Mann, and are neatly furnished 
and pleasant. 

PINCKNEY CHAPTER, No. 86, R. A. M., 
was organized Sept. 6, 187.2, with 12 members. 
Its first officers were : H. P., C. W. Haze ; K., 
William Ball; S., William H.Martin. Its mem- 
bership in the summer of 1879 was 27. The fol- 
lowing are the present officers : H. P., C. W. Haze ; 
K., G. VV. Hoff; S., F. G. Ro.se; Capt. of the Host, 
William A. Sprout; P. S., M. H. Twichell; R. A. 
Capt., T. Grimes; M. 3d Veil, R. E. Finch; M. 
2d Veil, Ira V. Reeves ; M. ist Veil, Gershom Swar- 
thout ; Sec, G. W. Teeple ; Treas., Thompson 
Grimes ; S., R. E. Finch. 

An " Eastern Star Lodge" was formed March i, 
1868, and continued about five years. Mrs. Delia 
Hinchey was its president during the entire time. 
It had during its most flourishing period a member- 
ship of over 200, but finally ceased to exist for 
want of general interest.* A flourishing grange of 
" Patrons of Husbandry" also e.xists in the village. 

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

The First Congregational Church of Pinckney 
was organized in 1848, and at some time before 
1858 built its present frame house of worship. The 
society is now free from debt, and has a member- 
ship of 45, of which number 12 are males and 33 
are females. An excellent bell hangs in the belfry, 
and a good organ has been purchased for use in 
the church and Sabbath-school. The latter has an 
average attendance of 40. The present pastor of 
this church is Rev. Thomas J. West, whose prede- 
cessor was Rev. James Campbell. 

A flourishing Methodist Episcopal society also 
exists in the village, and has a frame church which 
was built previous to 1S58. The present pastor is 
Rev. L. L. Houghton. A substantial brick church 

* Information by Dr. C. W. Haze. 



PUTNAM TOWNSHIP. 



2/7 



has been erected by the Catholics in the northern 
portion of the village.* The Baptists at one time 
held meetings in the place, hut never built a church, 
and their services were finally discontinued. 

SCHOOLS. 

Some time between 1835 and the latter part of 
1837 a log school-house was built on the corner of 
the Marble farm, where the present frame building 
in fractional District No. 9 stands. Miss Kitty 
Grieve, daughter of James Grieve, was perhaps the 
first teacher; she was at least one of the first. 

Southeast of the above, on the road to Pinckney, 
a frame school-house was built about 1839, but pre- 
vious to either of these, a school had been taught in 
a log dwelling owned by Louis Fasquclle, near Mr. 
Marble's place. 

About 1839 a log school-house was built a short 
distance north of the site of the present building, 
in District No. 8, on section 5. The first or second 
teacher in this district was a Miss Joslyn. Two 
sisters in this family, named Sarepta and Samantha, 
taught, one in the district last named, and the other 
in what is now District No. 4. 

As early as 1835-36 a log school-house was built 
in the Harris and Sigler neighborhood, north of 
the residence of John Sigler. In this was taught 
the first school in the township. The present frame 
building in the district — No. i — is located in the 
southwest part of section 35. 

A log school-house was built near the Dexter 
road, southeast of the village plat of Pinckney, 
about 1837, and in it the first school in the imme- 
diate neighborhood of the village was taught. 

The following statement of the condition of the 
schools of the township is taken from the report of 
the school inspectors for the year ending Sept. 2, 
1878: 

Number of whole districts 5 

** fmcti0n.1l districts 4 

" children in each district of school age 445 

Allendance during year 45S 

D.ays of school t.nught 1358 

Number of school-liouses (frame) 9 

Value of property S3900 

Number of male teachers 5 

" female teachers 13 

Amount paid male teachers $1024 

" " female teachers S827 

Total receipts for year S2590.60 

Amount on hand Sept. 2, 1878 269.67 

Total expen<liturcs, less amount on hand $2320.93 

CEMETERY. 

The cemetery at Pinckney contains the dust of 
many of the township's pioneers and respected 
citizens, among them being the following, viz. : 

* More complete accounts of these churches are not given, owing 
lo the failure of interested parties to furnish the infoimation which 
was expected. 



Samuel S. Fitch, died Sept. 6, 1872, aged 68 years. 

Caroline E., his wife, died Sept. 15, 1864, aged 43 yeare. 

Freeman Webb, died May I, 1877, aged 65 years. 

Jacob Sigler, died Jan. 14, 1849, aged 58 years. 

Lydia M., his wife, died Jan. 8, 1851, aged 26 years. 

Eli P. Carr, died Jan. 30, 1859, aged 68 years. 

James Pullen, died Aug. 9, 1S64, .aged 78 years. 

William W. Fields, died Oct. 4, 187 1, aged 74 years. 

Elenor, his wife, died March 23, 1870, aged 52 years. 

Lydia, widow of Isaac lirown, died March 4, 1859, .aged 75 years. 

John R. Goodrich, M.D., died April I, 1856, aged 45 years. 

Mehitable Wheeler, died Sept. 12, 1 856, .aged 86 years. 

Paschal P. Wheeler, died Jan. 23, 1857, aged 58 years. 

Charlotte Wheeler, died May 5, 1S68, aged 71 years. 

Philena, wife of .Murray T. Speer, died Feb. 17, 1847, aged 19 

yenrs. 
Marilla, wife of Benjamin Annis, died Jan. I, 1861, aged 64 

years. 
Gideon Webb, died .A.ug. 25, 1862, aged 57 years. 
Alniina Miller, died Sept. 5, 1864, aged 74 years. 
Levi Annis, died Dec. 18, i860, aged 41 years. 
Elizabeth Coleman, a native of Mount Hope, Orange Co., N. Y., 

died Aug. 19, 1865, aged 72 years. 
Henry M. Wood, died Aug. 29, i860, aged 47 years. 
Deacon John Wood, a native of Brookfield, Ma.-s., died March 

23, 1864, aged 75 years. 
Anna T., his wife, a native of Leicester, Mass., died Feb. 6, i860, 

aged 70 years. 
Dr. Isaac Brown, died Jan. 24, 1862, .aged 69 years. 
Luther Campbell, died July 5, 1871, aged 77 years. 
Alvin A. Holcomb, died Jan. 23, 1869, aged 60 years. 
Joseph M. tlilbert, died Nov. 9, 1867, aged 54 years. 
Ursula, his wife, died March 7, 185S, .aged 37 years. 
James M. La Rue, died Nov 29, 1874, aged 65 years. 
Fanny, his wife, died Jan. 10, 1869, aged 60 years. 
John Sykes, died Oct. 5, 1861, aged 74 years. 
Hannah, his wife, died Nov. 27, 1870, aged 70 years. 
Rev. R. S. Kellogg, died Nov. 7, 1S56, aged 26 years. 
Isaac O. Thompson, died June 4, 1874, ageil 83 years. 
Penelope, wife of Henry Brower, died Feb 11, 1S51, aged 63 

years. 
Nelson Jenkins, died Oct. 6, 1870, aged 63 years. 
Selden Pullen, died Sept. 5, 1863, aged 50 years. 
Harriet O., his wife, died June 6, 1844, aged 22 years. 
Charlotte L., his wife, died March 23, 1852, aged 25 years. 
Olive M., his wife, died .\pril 10, 1854, aged 33 years. 
George Parker, died Aug. 22, 1849, aged 49 years. 
Alanson Hinchey, died June 12, 1S75, aged 60 years. 
Jane Metcalf, died Sept. ^, 1849, aged 66 years. 
Abigail D. Me.ad, died Jan. 19, 1875, aged 60 years. 
Joseph Abel, died March 25, 1871, aged 71 ye.ars. 
J. B. Duer, died July 23, 1862, aged 55 years. 
Theophilus Gross, died Oct. 29, 1865, aged 92 yeare. 
Jemima, his wife, died Jan. 13, 1865, aged 88 years. 
Henry Stiles, died June 10, 1877, aged 67 years. 
John Bertwhislle, died Feb. 12, 1856, aged 57 yenrs. 
Susanna, his wife, died Dec. 23, 1S5S, .aged 57 years. 
Claudius Britlon,Sr., died Feb. 22, 1850, .aged 90 years. 
Claudius Britton, Jr., died Feb. 22, 1851, aged 53 years. 
Thomas Ingram, died Aug. 3, 1847, aged 69 years. 
Dorcas, his wife, died July 4, 1861, aged 79 years. 

.STATISTICAL. 

In 1837 the population of Putnam was 367. In 
1874 it was 1 213. From the census of the latter 
year are taken the following items : 

Number of acres of taxable land 22,000 

•' " owned by individuals and com|Anies... 22,013 



2/8 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Number of acres improved land 10,895 

" " land exempt from taxation 13 

Value of same, with improvements $10,000 

Number of acres in school-house sites 5 

" " church and parsonage sites 3 

" " burying-grounds 4 

*' '* public park I 

" " wheat raised in 1S74 2,972 

" " " " 1873 2,626 

" " corn " 1873 1.299 

" bushels of wheat raised in 1873 26,799 

corn " 1873 35.265 

" " all other grain raised In 1873 20,170 

" " potatoes raised in 1873 4.995 

" tons of hay cut in 1S73 1.380 

" pounds wool sheared in 1S73 35,908 

" " porl< marketed in 1873 50,131 

" " cheese made in I S73 250 

" " butter made in 1873 11,225 

" " fruit dried fur market in 1873 '7.373 

** acres in orchards. 343 

" bushels ajiples raised in 1S72 10,250 



Number of bushels apples raised in 1873 10,855 

'* sheep over six months old 6,991 

" " sheared in 1873 5.984 

'* flouring-mills in township in 1S74 2 

" persons employed in same 4 

Capital invested $20,000 

Number of barrels of flour made 1,500 

Value of products $12,000 



Among those who have kindly furnished infor- 
mation embodied in the foregoing are F. G. Rose, 
Esq., Dr. C. W. Haze, Mrs. La Rue, and others, at 
Pinckney ; Mrs. Henry Harris, Hugh Clark, Mrs. 
George Reeves, Mrs. Sanford Marble, Mrs. Free- 
man Webb, S. M. C. Hinchey, and others, in va- 
rious parts of the township. To all the sincere 
thanks of the writer are due and tendered. 



"*-o 



HAMBURG TOWNSHIP. 



Hamburg occupies a position in the southern 
tier of townships of Livingston County, and is 
bounded north, east, and west, respectively, by 
the townships of Genoa, Green Oak, and Putnam, 
and south by Washtenaw County. It contains the 
villages of Petteysville and Hamburg and the 
neighborhood on section 12 known as "New- 
burg." The Ann Arbor road crosses the township 
in a varied route from north to southeast. The 
water area of Hamburg is larger than that of any 
other township in the county, and numerous ex- 
tensive marshes exist, yet the improvements in the 
better portion rank with the best. Strictly speak- 
ing, this is an agricultural township, although mills 
have been built in several places and the water- 
power utilized. The shores of the Huron are 
generally •marshy. 

From the northeast enters Ore Creek, which, 
after spreading on section 13 into what is known 
as Ore Lake, finally joins the Huron River near 
the centre of town on the east. The latter stream 
has a general southwest course and enters Wash- 
tenaw County from sections 31 and 32, where it 
expands into a lake, which has been given the 
name of Base Line Lake. Above this are White- 
wood, Buttermilk Rapids, Loon and Strawberry 
Lakes, all expansions of the river. Among the 
other lakes in the township to which names have 
been given arc Appleton, Roff, Walker, Long, 
Round, Liine, Rush, Travis, Mercer's, Pleasant, 
Gut, Island, Btick, Silver, Zucky, Bass, Cordley, 
Half-Moon,» etc., and a portion of Portage Lake 



lies in the southwest corner. Traversing the town- 
ship diagonally from northeast to southwest is a 
long range of high, and in places abrupt, gravel 
hills, which have a rugged appearance from a 
distance. 

LAND-ENTRIES. 

The following is a list of those who entered land 
in what now constitutes the township of Hamburg, 
together with the sections and the years of entry : 

Section i. — 1836, Amrod Moon, Robert L. .Spear, Nelson H. 

Wing ; 1837, Sanford Britlon, George Walker. 
Section 2 — 1S36, Franklin Hopkins; 1838, Joseph Brown; 

1S39, Joseph Nute ; 1840, Ezekiel Case, William Purvis; 

1845, Isaac W. Appleton, Ezekiel Case ; 1847, Ezekiel Case ; 

1849, Ezekiel Case; 1853, Timothy Phillips; 1854, Isaac W. 

Appleton, John S. Bennett, Luther Jeffers. 
Section 3. — 1836, John .Stewart, Mary Stewart, Horace Griffith, 

Ralph Swanhout; 1837, Jabez Hopkins; 1842, Luther 

Jeffers; 1845, Cliauncey ^- Stewart, Luther Jeffers; 1850, 

James Humphrey; 1854, Chauncey A. .Stewart, Lulher 

Jeffers. 
Section 4. — 1834, Justus J. Bennett; 1835, Timothy H. Pettit, 

J. J. Bennett, Eastman Griffith, Christopher Hoagland ; 1837, 

John Spalding; 1838, Mitchell C. Case. 
Section 5. — 1836, Jo.seph Case, Elisha Case ; 1838, Samuel Case, 

Simeon D. Salmon, Spalding M. Case, Daniel Halleck, Rod- 

n;an Case; 1841, Elisha Case. 
Section 6. — 1836, William White; 1837, .Samuel Taylor ; 1S3S, 

Lorenzo Jordan ; 1839, James V. Simons; 184I, Joseph N. 

Case; 1S47, Simeon U. S.ilmon ; 1853, J.ames Haynes, Wd- 

liam H. I'rame. 
Section 7 — 1835, William H. Bennett; 1836, Heniy Farrell, 

Richard Burke, Amariah Hammond, David Bennett, Eliza- 
beth M. White, Ann Potter; 1838, Jesse D. Mause. 
Section 8. — 1834, Justus H. Bennett; 1835, John Davis, Elijah 

Bennett, George Mercer, Roljert .Saunders; 1S37, Henry R. 



HAMBURG TOWNSHIP. 



279 



Wheeler; 1838, Simeon D. Salmon; 1839, Henry Farrell; 
1854, Elias Davis. 

SEcrioN 9. — 1S34, Juslus J. Bennelt, Daniel I>. Harmon, Reuben 
H. Bennelt; 1S35, J. J. Bennett, George Mercer; 1836, 
George Mercer, Win. H. Bennett, Cornelius Wickware ; 
1845, Eilward M. Cust ; 1846, Justus J. Bennett ; 1854, Dan- 
iel S. Bennett. 

Section 10. — 1836, Edward Bishop, Spaulding M. Case, John 
Webber, Thomas I.oomis, William Coolbaugh ; 1847, William 
B. Scott; 1851, Edwin M. Cust; 1854, Isaac T. Vanduser. 

Section II. — 1S35, David Parker; 1836, John Basset, Reuben 
Newland, Kranklin Hopkins, Daniel C. Kingsland. 

Section 12. — 1832, Abraham D. Peck; 1835, Abraham Bennelt, 
David Parker; 1836, Joseph H. Bennelt, Conrad Haner, 
Henry Kellogg, Abraham D. Peck ; 1837, Garry Spencer, 
David A. Parkhill; 1850, Bradford Campbell. 

Section 13. — 1834, George J. Grisson ; 1835, Alonzo Gunn, Da- 
vid Parker; 1836, Miner Kellogg; 1837, Jacob C. Haner, 
John Pickard ; 1S38, lienjamin F. Foster; 1S42, David Par- 
ker; 1854, Russell S. Haner, George E. Hall; 1859, Jean 
Louis Fasquelle. 

Section 14. — 1835, Conrad Haner, Sophronia Perry; 1836, 
Sophronia Periy, Emory Richardson, N. Kellogg; 1837, 
Levi Townsend ; 1842, David Wilkie; 1851, George Gallo- 
way, Thomas Featherly, Deborah Ann Cole ; 1854, Russell S. 
Haner. 

Section 15. — 1834, George Gallow.ay, Susan Galloway; 1835, 
Adonijah Harmon ; 1836, Eleanor CoUyer, George Gallow.ay, 
Timothy H. Petlit, Jacob C. Ilaner, Edward Bishop, Marga- 
ret Peacock, B. B. Kercheval; 1S55, Thaddeus S. Mapes. 

Section 16 (school lands). — 1842, Seth A. Petieys ; 1845, L. M. 
RoUison ; 1847, George Howard, Seth A. Pelteys, E. S. Whit- 
lock, D. M. RoUison, Eliza Hess; 1850, William Crowe, John 
Conner; 185 1, Mary Mercer, George Mercer; 1852, William 
Mercer; 1853, Robert Conner. 

SEcnON 17. — 1835, Zebulon M. Drew, Gideon Cross; 1836, 
Elizabeth C Cross, Daniel liennelt; 1837, Heniy R. Wheeler, 
Jerusha Payne; 1838, Tamma Butts, Norman A. Allen; 
1854, Ceph.as Dunning, Joseph Quinn; 1853, John Dunn. 

Section 18. — 1835, William H. Bennett, Aaron Vance; 1836, 
Daniel .S. Bennett, Reuben {1. Bennett, David Bennett, 
Timolhy R. Bennett, William H. Bennett; 1837, Mansell 
Hurlbut; 1838, .Samuel S. Filch, Hezekiali Allen; 1S50, 
John II. Forth; 1847, Joseph Quinn. 

Section 19. — 1835, Samuel Cole, Elijah Whipple, John Marsh; 

1836, Ransom C. Robinson, Israel C. Trembley, Joseph 
Quinn, Henr)' P. Rosebeck ; 1837, Ephraim llarger, John 
Wallace, Thomas Burns. 

Section 20. — 1835, Matthew C. O'Brien; 1836, Enoch Jones, 
James D. W. Palmer, Erasmus D. Whillock, Joseph Quinn. 

Section 21. — 1836, Daniel W. Kellogg, Daniel Larkins; 1837, 
John Larkins ; 1848, Reuben R. Decker, John F. Oliver ; 
1853, William Placeway, R. R. Decker; 1858, R. R. Decker; 
1866, John C. Shaw. 

Section 22. — 1833, Christopher L. Culver; 1836, Edward Bishop; 
•837, James G. Crane, Dennis Shehan ; 1S38, Francis M.ickie; 
1843, Edwin M Cust; 1853, Edward Bishop, George Gal- 
loway ; 1854, Edward Bishop. 

Section 23.— 1833, J"!"' Henry, Asenalh Burnet ; 1835, Edward 
Mundy; 1836, Christopher L. Culver, Miner Kellogg, Edward 
Mundy ; 1837, James Gillmorc ; 1845, Stoildard W. Twichell. 

Section 24. — lS33,Thom.asSchoonhiivcn, Asenalh Burnet; 1S34, 
George G. Grisson ; 1836, George Buller, Horace Barnum; 

1837, George Butler, George G. Grisson. 

Section 25.— 1831, Calvin Jackson, Jesse Hall; 1832, Lester 
Burnet; 1833, James Burnel, Jason G. De Wolf; 1834, Ebeji- 
ezer Bishop. 

Section 26.— 1832, Daniel Hall; 1833, George Sessions, Chris- 
topher L. Culver, David B. Power. 

Section 27. — 1832, Benjamin Lewilt; 1833, Havid B. Power, 



Christopher L. Culver; 1837, B. B. Kercheval; 1840, Anson 
L. Power. 

Section 28. — 1836, Cyrus Pierce, Daniel Sullivan; 1837, Patrick 
Gallagher, John Courtney, James Gallagher, B. B. Ker- 
cheval. 

Section 29. — 1835, James Cordley, Robert Finch, Andrewr 
Shanahan, Cornelius O'Brien, Robert Crooks; 1836, Ann 
Cordley; 1837, James Gallagher, Robert M.arsh. 

Section 30. — 1S35, William W. Edminster, Cornelius O'Brien, 
Aaron Vance; 1836, Jonathan Stone, Jr.; 1837, Thomas 
Daly, Olney Butts, Nathaniel Teachworlh, Bryan Farley, 
Owen Farley, James Fagan, Ephraim Harger; 1854, George 
W. Brown. 

Section 31. — 1832, Cyrus Pierce; 1834, James W. McGrath; 

1835, William W. Edminster, Thomas Burns, Matthew 
Burns, Elias B. Root, John Voumans, Asahel Smith, Corne- 
lius O'Brien; 1836, Patience Newton; 1837, Luceba Pierce, 
Asahel Smith. 

Section 32. — 1831, Feli.x Dunlevy; 1832, Palrick Gallagher; 
1S35, Matthew C. O'Brien, Feli.\ Donely, William W. Ed- 
minster, Palmer Force; 1837, Patrick Gallagher, Matthew 
C. O'Brien. 

Section 33. — 1832, Patrick Gallagher, James G.allaghcr; 1833, 
Cornelius Morrow; 1834, John Ryan; 1835, Cornelius Mor- 
row, Palrick Conner; 1836, Palrick Conner, Palrick Galla- 
gher, James Gallagher, Cornelius O'Mara. 

Section 34. — 1833, Stoddard W. Twichell, Abncr Butterfield; 
1S34, Willis Hale; 1835, Daniel I.arkin, S. W. Twichell ; 

1836, Jacob Vandcwalker, Levi Kniglit, Daniel Sullivan, 
Calvin Swift. 

.Section 35. — 1831, Heman Lake; 1833, Abner Butterfield, Cor- 
nelius Olsaver; 1834, Hiram M.ason, William H. Twichell; 
1836, George W. Case, John A. Bolhwell, S.amuel Vander- 
ford, Elizabelh Hall; 1S37, Riclianl E. BiUler. 

Section 36. — 1831, Cornelius W. Miller, Heman Lake; 1832, 
Auguslus Hall; 1 833, Jesse Hall, Pinlemon II. Hills; 1836, 
Thomas J. Rice, .Samuel Gardner; 1838, Thomas J. Rice. 

From tlii.s list it is .seen tliat tlie first entries were 
made in the southern portion of the township as 
early as 1831, many of them being south of the 
river. The reasons why this was the case are two- 
fold. First, the region farther soutli, in Waslite- 
naw County, was settled first, and as the population 
increased it pushed northward into Livingston. 
Second, a glance at the farming region south and 
north of the Huron, in Hamburg, leads the ob- 
server to choose the southern portion on account 
of its superior adaptability to tiie uses of agricul- 
ture. However, alter passing the immediate vicin- 
ity of the Huron, with its lakes, swamps, and 
gravel-ridges, an excellent farming country opens 
before the husbandman, — and as soon as this fact 
was known, and conveniences for reaching it were 
established, it became the abiding-place of many 
of the most influential settlers in ti)e township, and 
at present bears evidence, by its improvements 
and general ;iir of prosperity, to the wise ciioice 
of its pioneers in locating there. 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS- PIONEER INCIDENTS. 

The following " Leaf of Hamburg's Dry liarly 
History" was furnished to tiie Pioneer As.sociation 
in January, 1878, by Thomas J. Rice: 



28o 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



"During the interval between the years 1830 and 1836 the 
southern portion of our beautiful peninsula, which was then com- 
paratively unoccupied territoiy, was not only being very much 
talked about, but actually being settled upon with a rapidity never 
before exampled in American history; and, as a legitimate conse- 
quence of this unprecedented rush of immigrants thereto in search 
of new homes, I found, when I first entered Hamburg as a resi- 
dent, — which was on the first day of May, 1836, and only four and 
a half years from the day on which the first white settler therein 
planted himself and family upon its soil, — instead of a few dis- 
couraged, half-starved settlers, widely separated from each other, 
in a state of isolated loneliness, a regularly organized town, with 
its governmental machinery in good running order, and contain- 
ing fully one-third as many inhabitants as it does to-day. . . . 
It will therefore be obvious that it is but little, very little, that I 
know from my own observation or experience about the toils, pri- 
vations, and hardships of actual pioneer life; and consequently it 
will readily be seen that for the correctness of most of the state- 
ments which I am about to make I am compelled to rely upon 
traditional evidence and such other testimony as I have been alile 
to glean from individuals who, from their weight of years, are 
liable to be somewhat confused in their recollection not only as to 
days and dates, but also in reference to events and circumstances 
long since past. 

" According to the best light I have, then, upon the subject, it 
was on or a little before the middle of Oclobor, 1831, that Jesse 
Hall, Esq., the first actual while settler in Hamburg, first sat him- 
self down with his wife and children within his rude cabin, erected 
on the west half of the northeast quarter of secion 25, and near 
the edge of the bank of what is now known as HalTs Creek. 
And on or about the 1st of November of that year, Mr. Heman 
Lake, who followed close after Mr. Hall, planted himself and 
family upon the east half of the southeast quarter of section 35. 
At the time when these first two hardy pioneers established them- 
selves in Hamburg, there were not to exceed a dozen actual settlers, 
including themselves, in all four of the towns bordering upon the 
.south side of the county, and not one in any of the twelve towns 
lying north of tliese, and which constituted the balance of the 
county. Thus it will be seen that these two men, both of whom 
are now gone to their rest, were not only pioneer settlers in our 
beloved town of Hamburg, but alio in our beloved county of 
Livingston. Of course everybody understands that the mere fact 
that some certain pieces of land weie purchased from government 
at an earlier day than were those purchased by Mr. Hall and Mr. 
Lake, and on which they almost immediately settled, is no proof 
that such certain pieces, thus earlier purchased, were also more 
early settled upon, nor, in fact, tliat they have ever been actually 
settled U|)on, either by the original purchasers or anybody else. 

" That Elizabeth Lake, daughter of Heman Lake, born .some 
time in the summer of 1832 (the exact date I cannot give), was 
the first wdiite child born in Hamburg, admits not of a doubt, but 
whether or not she was the first one born in the county I am not 
prepared to say. 

"That Mr. Cornelius W. Miller raised, in 1834, on the place 
where I now reside, the firNt apples that were grown within the 
limits of this now famous apple-producing town of Hamburg, it is 
confidently believed; and I think I am not mistaken when I say 
they were also the first that were ever grown within the limits of 
Livingston County upon trees of white man's setting. 

" The first large frame, hay, and grain barn erected in Ham- 
burg was built by Mr. Martin Olsaver in 1836, on the southwest 
quarter of the southeast quarter of section 35. 

" The first persistent and well-directed effort made in Hamburg 
to improve the breed of horned cattle, and also of sheep, was made 
by Mr. David B. Power, now dead; and it is also deemed worthy 
of remark that the noble example in that direction, by that oood 
man thus early set, is still being followed up with increa-^ed viu-or 
and success by his enterprising son in-law, the Hon. William 
Ball. 

" The first supervisor elected in Hamburg was Mr. Christopher 



L. Culver, who, the noble man that he was, came to an untimely 
death many years ago l>y being crushed at a barn raising. 

" The first county officer selected from Hamburg was Mr. Justus 
J. Bennett, .sheriff, and the first State officer selected therefrom was 
the Hon. Edwin M. Cust, senator, who for many long years has 
been lying in his grave. 

" In conclusion I will merely add that, in addition to the first 
two pioneer settlers in Hamburg, spoken of, and the several other 
gentlemen of whom htrnorable mention has already been made, 
there were many other good and worthy men who planted them- 
selves in the town at quite an early day. A few of the more ac- 
tive and prominent among the number, I will here beg leave just 
to name Stoddard W. Twichell, Esq., Mr. Anson L. Power, 
James Burnett, Esq., dead; Mr. George G. Grisson, Ferdinand 
Grisson, Esq., Mr. George Galloway, dead, and Mr. Biadfoid 
Campbell, also dead. These few individuals have been named 
because I cannot for one moment doubt but that these men, aided 
by their respected wives, did much, vei"y much, by the noble ex- 
ample which they set of minding their own business and letting 
that of others alone, not only towards making the town that quiet, 
orderly, and thrifty one which, when I came into it in 1S36, I foinid 
it to be, but also towards causing it to be and remain, utrtil this day, 
a town in which there are but few crimes committed, few lawsuits 
prosecuted, and few neighborhood qu.arrels or other disturbances 
of any kind. And long therein may the effects of the itrfiuence of 
their noble example continue to live.'' 

At the meeting of the Living.ston County Pio- 
neer Society, held June 18, 1879, the following 
facts relating to the history of the township of 
Hamburg were given by Hon. Edwin B. Winans : 

" My first acquaintance and recollections of the township of 
Hamburg date from the fall of 1843. I then came from the town- 
ship of Unadilla, to live with my sister, Mrs. Leiand Walker, and 
to attend the winter term of school taught by Horace Griffith, in the 
Bennett School-house, in District No. 2. Griffith was a married 
man, and lived on the farm now owned by Orville Sexton, in the 
same school district. At that time Hamburg had been long set- 
tled, comparatively speaking, and offered educational facilities of 
which I desired to avail myself. I cannot, therefore, relate any 
pioneer experiences of my own, but only such recollections of the 
actual pioneers of the town as were then upon the active stage of 
life. My first impressions then as a stranger were that Hamburg 
people were mostly Bennetts, Cases, and Halls, — and it seemed to 
me in about equal proportions, — and some of the Halls struck me 
as being very beautiful and attractive. Of course I was young 
and my experience very Umited ; but though many years and some 
travel have enlarged my experience, I still shall insist that the 
elegantly furnished Halls of to-day have not the fascination and 
attraction or charm for me as had those young and beautiful Hall 
girls of Hamburg, in those days of my early manhood. 

" At the head of the Bennett family I may place Justus J. Ben- 
nett, a veritable Nestor, who lived to see three generations of his 
children, who, together with his brothers, John, Joseph, and Abram 
I5ennett, and their families of stalwart sons and daughters, gave 
him quite a patriarchal position with the clan Bennett. He w.is 
the first sheriff of Livingston County, and at that time owned a 
large farm on section nine, and lived in a story-and-a-haif farm- 
house with a wing on each side ; and it seemed to me to be a veri- 
table mansion, such as I had read of in the old romance of ' Tliad- 
deus of Warsaw,' and the ' Scottish Chiefs.' It stood on the hill, 
as you cross Mill Creek going south, and was known far and wide 
as the ' Big White House.' I well remember the first time I was 
invited to the house, — it was to a social party, given Iry the younger 
members of the family, — and how I was bewildered by the many 
rooms, and the brilliant tallow dips glimmering in the far recesses, 
and the many nooks, angles, and corners of the house. I was 
more than ever impressed with the superiority of Hamburg style 



Hk 



281 



PROGRAM 

SUNDAY AFTERNOON. MARCH 2ii 



191.? 



criu> JtrHt N^ut aluimjhl (Elrurrlt 



Winder Street. Near Woodward Avenue 

MARGARET C. LAGRANGE, Pastor 



111 the Clitiri-h 
i'lini:.')!! at S:0(l. 

Topit : 

">lossng:es l-'rittu 

.Miistcr .Miiuls" — 

"Wall. Wliitinaii." 



mm 



i 



-^w 




StTvires at 
Delrutt OinTii 

Uuusv 
Kver>' Siiiitlii3' 

at 3 V. M. 

I'or TupirH, See 

(alfiiilar un l'ag:e I. 



Drrlaratiuu of }9rittriylpa. 

7y HE First New Thought Church is organized for the purpose of forming an i 
^^ stitution of culture and learning upon all matters pertaining to the three-fo 
nature of man. Namely — Spiritual, Mental and Physical. 



m- 
Id 



Firstly -ll'c hclicz'C in an infinite source of intciliffence from ivltence all life hath emanated, is 
nciv sustained, and by the dissemination of this inteUiycnce brimjiny under immutable laws order out 
of chaos. 

Serondlv — Man being an embodiment of the divine energy in the process of individualization, 
recognizing his tihine origin, and awakening the divine faculties of his inner nature, becomes in place 
of a material machine operated upon by the potent forces of life, a spiritual operator that governs all 
things by the force of his aivakcned spirituality. 

Thirdly—Clean thoughts being jiccesxary to a clean body, and the tw> being essential to the 
formation of a strong mind, it behooves man not only to govern his outward life that it mav he above 
reproach, but to so order his inner life that nought'but clean thoughts, full of strength and wisdom, 
abidcth with him. 

Fourthly—All life being an expression of intelligence in various stages of manifestation, and 
reason being the faculty that givcth to man his divine heritage, divine zvill being the basic principle 
upon which the uni-cersc rests, and man being a vessel through which these divine qualities demon- 
strate, it is within his province to make his life spiritually, mentally and physically that which he 
wills it to be; thus we arc no longer fated, hut free through Truth to fulfill our destiny, that is. to 
he like gods. 

Fifthly — Truth is a principle inseparable from life, thus through all life's manifestations is Truth 
disseminated. Where'er is life, there too is Truth. Man needs but to seek and he will find. With 
unbiased mind, 7vith open heart and true desire of the spirit. Truth conves in and dzvells in the 
humblest cottauc and makes of it a palace. 

Sixthly— That life has ever been and ever will be is a recognized la7v of nature. We. however, 
are most interc^fed in that part of eternity represented by the precious "A'cjy;*' — to build each dav 
that there shall be no regret, to make each day a page upon which we may xvritc with the ink of love 
our holiest thoughts and our noblest desires, is the laudable ambition of all. 

Seventhly — Religion is the ^principle of govcrntncnt that man sets up by which he may live in 
closest touch xt'ith goodness, fi e. knowing nothing higher than Truth gleaned from the book of 
life, do hereby declare to do good and to be good according to the light of Truth is our religion. 



Uh 



tho.sc early days, and till they h.ul built for themsdves a house un 
the farm where I now reside. The Hall families were important 
factors in Hamburg society in those days. The boys were stal- 
wart and the girls were beautiful, and I was so favorably impressed 
with the condilion of alTairs that 1 determined to attend the next 
winter term in the same school district, wiiich I did; and I liked 
the place so well that I made the town my home from that time, 
settling with my mother (my father having died the previous year) 



36 



* George Galloway settled in 1834. 



having engaged with Seth 
for the term of three years, 
ch contract I fulfdled. A 
1 me th.it, though numerous 
nd Halls were not all the 
At that time George Gallo- 

town, both socially, politi- 

An early settler, he soon 
; affairs. He was treasurer 
ears, and he was known far 
ity. His judgment was re- 
valued by his neighbors and 
or had a fairer prosjiect of 
but he died in the prime of 

year 1S54, while on a busi- 
e and six children, all now 

oining farms with Galloway 
p, a man well known to the 
eld the office of sheriff for 
if remarkable memory, and 
s of his life with wonderful 
as interesting as an Arabian 
lelighled listener as he nar- 
ed life. He was a wagon- 
farm, where he and his son, 
I well remember the sign, 
ks of the road as you came 
lop & .Son, Wagon- Makers.' 
, — five boys and five girls, — 
en. I taught school in thai 
•, and the Bishop, Galloway, 
could send twenty children 
ge families in those days, 
light her battles. In these 
snt, a family of two or three, 
e respectable thing. Well, 
at rest in the little cemetery 
;m quite recently, after more 
y were separated for a little 
into the unkntiwn land, 
acquaintances was George 
Mrs. Mercer and four sons 
ed English gentleman, who 
r the present village of Pet- 
i by birth and education to 
d walks of life than to be a 
1 caught in the tide of enli- 
st, and had pitched his tent 
:sl W.1S omnivorous, and all 
and so the accomplishments 
use in building up and de- 
years the book-keeper and 
I'nard, of Ann Arbor. But 
d after he left Maynard's he 
n office up to within a few 
pe old .age a few years ago, 
knew him. His wife and 
side in the same vicinity. 
1 Robert, are enterprising, 
wcuiiny liiiiiiciBi niiu ifiv iTi^ivi-, tcnnily has taken deep root and 
developed all the sterling qualities of the old English race. 

"Speaking of Petteysville, its founder, builder, and prime mover 
is Seth A. Petteys, who is still at the helm, and guides and gov- 
erns affairs, notwithstanding his threescore years and ten. He 
first settled in Putnam, on the farm now owned by Hon. George 
Crofoot ; but being a millwright, he was engaged by the Grissons, 
of Hamburg, to build their mill, and in going from his farm in 
Putnam to Hamburg village he noticed the w.ater-power, and 
bought the school land on which his mill now stands. He first 






280 



K 



ORDER OF SERVICE 



" During the interval betw 
southern portion of our beautil 
paratively unoccupied tenitor; 
talked about, but actually beinj 
before exampled in American 
quence of this unprecedented 
of new homes, I found, when 
dent, — which was on the first c 
a half years from the day on 
planted himself and family u| 
couraged, half-starved settler-i, 
in a slate of isolated loneline> 
its governmental machinery in 
ing fully one-third as many i 
It will therefore be obvious t 
know from my own observatio 
vations, and hardships of actu; 
will readily be seen thai for tli 
ments which I am about to n 
traditional evidence and such < 
to glean from individuals wh 
liable to be somewhat confusei 
diiys and dates, but also in reft 
long since past. 

" According to the best ligh 
was on or a little before the n 
Hall, Esq., the first actual whil 
self down with his wife and chi 
on the west half of the norlhe. 
the edge of the bank of wha 
And on or about the 1st of i\ 
Lake, who followed close afl 
family upon the east half of ll 
At the time when these first tw 
selves in Hamburg, there were i 
including themselves, in all foi 
south side of the county, and i 
lying north of these, and whi 
county. Thus it will be seen i 
are now gone to their rest, we 
beloved town of Hamljurg, b 
Livingston. Of course everyb 
that some certain pieces of lane 
at an earlier day than were tho 
Lake, and on which ihey almc 
that such certain pieces, thus 
early settled upon, nor, in fact, 
settled upon, eillier by the origi 

" That Elizabeth Lake, dauj 
time in the summer of 1S32 (1 
the first white child born in Hi 
whether or not she was the firs 
prepared to say. 

" That Mr. Cornelius W. M 
where I now reside, the first a 
limits of this now famous apple 
cimfidently Ijelieved ; and I thi 
they were also the first that wei 
Livingston County upon trees c 

" The first large frame, hay, 
burg was built by Mr. Martin tnsuvci in 10 
quarter of the southeast quarter of section 35. 

" The first persistent and well-directed eflfort made in Hambuig 
to improve the breed of horned cattle, and also of sheep, was made 
by Mr. David B. Power, now dead ; and it is also deemed worthy 
of remaik that the noble e.taniple in that direction, by that oood 
man thus early set, is still being followed up with increased vi<Tor 
and success by his enterprising son-in-law, the Hon, William 
Ball. 

"The first supervisor elected in Hamburg was Mr. Christopher 



Prelude ORCHE.STRA 

CONGREGATIONAL SINGING. 



Tell me not, in mournful numbers. 
Life is but an empty dream; 

For the sou! is dead that slumbers, 
And things are not what they seem. 

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow. 

Is our destined end and way; 
But to act, that each tomorrow 

Find us farther than today. 

RESPONSES. 

O, God which art the source of all Life; 
We extend our thoughts in concentration 

unto Thee. 
O, Angel of Love; 
We invoke thy presence to guide and direct 

us. 
O, Angel of Truth; 
May thy blessings fall upon us. 

INVOCATION. 
READING OF LESSON. 

AFFIRMATIVE SERVICE Page 3 

CONGREGATIONAL SINGING 

.\ creedless love that knows no clan, 

Ko caste, no class, no cult but man; 
That deems today and now and here 

.^re voice and vision of the seer; 
That through this lifted human clod 

The inflow of the breath of God 
Still sheds its apostolic powers; 

Such faith, such hope, such love is ours. 



Trust no future, howc'cr pleasant; 

Let the dead Past bury its dead; 
Act, act in the living Present, 

Heart within and God o'erhoad. 

Let us then, be up and doing. 

With a heart for any fate; 
Still achieving, still pursuing, 

Learn to labor and to wait. 



O, Angel of Peace; 

Cleanse our hearts clean from all impuril 

O. Angel of Charity; 

Give unto us thy penetration 

That we may see good invall. 

May our loved ones draw near to gu 

and direct us, 
That we may walk in closer touch w 

Heaven's ways. 



We think man climbs an endless slope 

Toward far-seen table lands of hope; 
That he through filth and shame of sin 

Still seeks the God who speaks with 
That all the years since time began 

Work the eternal Kise of Man; 
.\nd all the days that time shall see 

Tend toward the lulen yet t" be. 



Too long our music — hungering needs 

Have heard the iron clash of creeds. 
The creedless love that knows no clan. 

No caste, no class, no cult but inan 
Shall drown with mellow music, all 

The dying jangle of their brawl 
Such hue with all its quickening powers, 

Such Iiivc til Gnd and man be ours. 



LECTURE— "CHRIST AND HIS MISSION.' 

OFFERTORY. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS. 

CONGREGATIONAL SINGING. 



To truth the joyful nations round 
In converse sweet shall flow; 

\\'hile to the spheres of heavenly li.ght 
Their son.gs of triumph go. 

BENEDICTION. 



The beams that shine from worlds on h 

Shall lighten every land; 
.\nd they who dwell in heavenly cour 

Shall the whole earth command. 



, on tne southwest 



house with a wing on each side; and It seemed to me to be a veri- 
table mansion, such as I had read of in the old romance of' Thad- 
deus of Warsaw,' and the ' Scottish Chiefs.' It stood on the hill, 
as you cross Mill Creek going south, and was known far and wide 
as the ' Big White House.' I well remember the first time I was 
invited to the house, — it was to asocial party, given by the younger 
members of the family, — and how I was bewdilereil by the many 
rooms, and the brilliant tallow dips glimmering in the far recesses, 
and the many nooks, angles, and corners of the house. I was 
more than ever impre!.sed with the superiority of Hamburg style 



28 1 



Responsive: Service: 



Leader — When nature sci-ks an rnd. slu- always furnislu-s the means. Heeil tliis, 
> anxiiius soul, filled with the glory of sonic beauteous dream. OmnipcUence is thine 
iheritance: and if it he that thou eanst wait as well as dream, the day shall dawn when 
1! tlu' lieauty of thy vision shall lind the w.'iys and means by which its glory shall be 
^tablished in actuality. 

People — I speak the wurd of conlidence in Ciod's al)i(lin.u love, to all the weary 
L-arts that seek fullillnn'nt of their dreams. Strength shall go unto tliem to wait un- 
1 the time is ripe; to watch that when the hour arrives they shall he found alert and 
■ady; to work with certainty, that not one task shall be in vain when Life has made 
le parts complete. 



Leader — The seed is wooed by sunlight until it bursts its tiny shell, and flashes 
nth ill all its mystery of beauty. So man awaits the coming of the ])otent spirit Love, 
I (|uicken all the barrenness of being into the glad spring time of joy. And man is 
nissary of that force, to do its work within the pathway wdiich he treads. Fullill your 
sk. and all the day will be a song — each ni.ght a mighty symphony. 

People — 1 speak the word of love, to those who need its ministry. I hope for 
lose who need my hope; I believe in those who by my faith shall gain the victory of 
If-reliance; and as I freely give, so may 1 freely take. 

Leader — Throu.ghout the fabric of our lives the thread of purjiose runs. To fol- 
w it through devious shades of gray and .gold, as time reveals the jKittern. needs 
)urage and persistency. But he who falters in the task, knows not the meaning of 
s life. If noises fill thy ears with strife until the purpose is as lost, perchance thine 
res may trace the great design. Or. if the shades of darkness intervene, and all seems 
lid of meaning, then let thy heart be tilled with hope, for only brave souls trust 
hen they cannot sec. 

People — I speak the word of courage unto all who need its steadying power. It 
lall l)c the revelator of earth's harmonies to those who are distraught; a light to 
lose whose eyes are filled with bitter tears — the means by wdiich the pattern shall 
irtray the perfect nature of the perftct man — child of a perfect God. 

All — The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; the Lord make His face to shine upon 
lee, and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give 
lee peace. ' 



I having engaged with Seth 
'. for the term of three years, 
lich contr.ict I fulfilled. A 
■d me that, though numerous 
and Malls weic not all the 

At that time George Gallo- 
; town, both socially, polili- 
An early settler, he soon 
ic affiiirs. He w.as treasurer 
years, and he was known far 
ility. His judgment was re- 
1 valuefl by his neighbors and 

or h.id a fairer prospect of 
; but he died in the prime of 
e year 1854, while on a busi- 
,fe and six children, all now 



th()se'eaTTy\Ta7sTa^n<I till they h.i<Tbuill lor themselvei a house on 
the farm where I now reside. The Hall families were important 
factors in Hamburg society in those days. The boys were stal- 
wart and the girls were beautiful, and I was so favorably impressed 
with the condition of affairs that I determined to altenil the next 
winter term in the same school district, which I did; and I liked 
the place so well that I made the town my home from that time, 
settling with my mother (my father having died the previous year) 



* George Galloway settled in 1834. 



36 



joining farms with Galloway 
op, a man well known to the 
held the office of sheriff for 
of remarkable memory, and 
ts of his life with wonderful 
y as interesting as an Arabian 
delighted listener as he nar- 
ied life. He was a wagon- 
s farm, where he and his son, 
I well remember the sign, 
irks of the road as you came 
hop & Son, WagonM.akers.' 
1, — five boys and five girls, — 
Iren. I taught school in that 
.7, and the Hishop, Galloway, 
s could send twenty children 
age families in those days. 
. right her battles. In these 
lent, a family of two or three, 
he respectable thing. Well, 
I at rest in the little cemetery 
lem quite recently, after more 
ey were separated for a little 
r into the unknown land, 
acipiaintanccs was George 
Mrs. Mercer and four sons 
red English gentleman, who 
\r the present village of Pet- 
:d by birth and education to 
ed walks of life than to be a 
n caught in the tide of emi- 
;st, and had pitched his tent 
'est was omnivorous, and all 
and so the accomplishments 
f use in building up and de- 
* years the book-keeper and 
lynard, of Ann Arbor. But 
id after he left Maynard's he 
^n office up to within a few 
ipc old age a few years ago, 
knew him. His wife and 
eside in the same vicinity. 
d Robert, are enterprising, 
weanny larmcrs; ana me mercer lainily has taken deep root and 
developed all the sterling qualities of the old English race. 

" Speaking of Petteysville, its founder, builder, and prime mover 
is Seth A. Petteys, who is still at the helm, and guides and gov- 
erns affairs, notwithstanding his threescore yeai's and ten. He 
first settled in Putnam, on the farm now owned by Hon. George 
Crofoot ; but Vicing a millwright, he was engaged by the Grissons, 
of Hamburg, to build their mill, and in going from his farm in 
Putnam to Hamburg village he noticed the water-power, and 
bought the school land on which his mill now stands. He first 



28o 



NOTICES 



" During the interval bet\ 
southern portion of our beaut 
paratively unoccupied territo 
talked about, but actually beii 
before exampled in American 
quence of this unprecedented 
of new homes, I found, whei 
dent, — which was on the first 
a half years from the day on 
planted himself and family i 
couraged, half-starved settler 
in a state of isolated loneline 
its governmental machinery i 
ing fully one-third as many 
It will therefore be obvious 
know from my own observati 
rations, and hardships of acti 
will readily be seen thai for t 
nients which I am about to 
traditional evidence and such 
to glean from individuals w 
liable to be somewliat confust 
diiys and dates, but also in rel 
long since past. 

" According to the best lig 
was on or a little before the 
Hall, Esq., the first actual wh 
self down with his wife and cl 
on the west half of the north 
the edge of the bank of wh 
And on or about the 1st of 
Lake, who followed close al 
family upon the east half of 
At the time when these first t' 
selves in Hamburg, there were 
including themselves, in all ft 
south side of the county, and 
lying north of these, and wl 
county. Thus it will be seen 
are now gone to their rest, v, 
beloved town of Hamburg, 
Livingston. Of course every 
that some certain pieces of lai 
at an earlier day than were th 
Lake, and on which they aln 
that such certain pieces, thus 
early settled upon, nor, in fac 
settled U|>on, either by tlie ori 

" That Elizabeth Lake, da 
lime in the summer of 1832 
the first white child born in I 
whether or not she was the fii 
prepared to say. 

" That Mr. Cornelius W. > 
where I now reside, the fir>t 
limits of this now famous app! 
confidently believed ; and I tl 
they were also the first thai w 
Livingston County upon trees 

" The first large frame, ha- 



The First New Thought Church 

Winder Street, near \Voodward Ave. 

REV. MARGARET C. LAGRANGE, 
Pastor. 

CALENDAR FOR MARCH. 



AFTERNOON SERVICE AT DETROIT 
OPERA HOUSE, at 3 o'clock. 



March 2 — "Christ and His Mission." 
March 9 — "Life's Other Room." 
March 16 — "Astral Heavens and Hells." 
March 23 — "The Soul's Awakening." Special 
music and Floral Christening of Children. 
March 30 — "The Tyranny of the Dead." 



EVENING SERVICE AT THE CHURCH 

at 8 o'clock. 

March 2 — "Messases from Master Minds." 

March 2— "Wall. ^Whilman." 

March 9 — "Browning." 

March 16— '"Wagner." 

March 23 — "Maelerlinck." 

March 30 — "Mark Twain." 

"How soon a smile of CoJ can change the world ! 
How we are made for happiness, — how worl^ 
Crows p/ap. adversit}) a winning fight! 

SUNDAY SCHOOL at the CHURCH. 

43 WINDER ST., every Sunday at 1:00 P. 

M. 

Superintendent, George F. Frayne. 

Secretary, J. E. Millen. 

Treasurer, J. A. Reid. 

International Lesson Sheets; our work- 
ing premise. "The Spirit as well as the 
Letter of the Law." 
WE INVITE YOUR CO-OPERATION. 

Leave your name and address at the 
Bureau of Information, at door if interested, 
and state what you need. NEW THOUGHT 
works for complete expression — physically 
— mentally — morally and spiritually. 

On Tuesday, March 4th, at » a. 111. 
the members of the Martha and Mary So- 
ciety, and their friends, will visit the Cass 
Technical High School. 

You and your friends are cordially in- 
vited. 



"Rejoice thai — man is hurled 
From change to change unceasingl); 
His soul's wings never furled." 

Information regarding any phase of th 
NEW THOUGHT work, as carried on i 
this Center, may be obtained at the Burea 
of Information at door, or by mail, d 
personal call at headquarters — 43 Winde 
St. OFFICE HOURS: 1 to 2 o'cloc 
each day. 

A STUDY CLASS has been organize< 
in which subjects of vital importance wi 
be taken up. This class is FREE to a 
who contribute by the ENVELOPE SYS 
TEM. 

Should you be interested in this worl 
place your contribution in an envelop* 
write your name and address on it so th; 
record inay be kept. Class meet 

WEDNESDAY EVENING, at 7:30, at th 
Church, 43 Winder St. 

"To he the very breath that moves the age 
Means not, to have breath drive you bubble-lif^e 
Before it — but yourself to blow" 

Copies of the 

NATIONAL NEW THOUGHT 
MONTHLY 

sold, 10c per copy, at the door, or may b 
obtained at 43 Winder St., also for sale ; 
SHEEHAN'S BOOK STORE. 
GET A COPY— IT IS WORTH WHILl 

"Looli up, and let in light that longs to shine- 
One flash of light, — and where will darl^ness hide? 

HEALTH COMMITTEE 

Mr. Walter Wood, Chaiimin. 

Any one in need of HE.\LTH and SU( 
CESS, and wishing our co-operation fi 
the demonstration of the same, may ha\ 
it liy giving their name to Mr. Wood. 



Tickets for next Sunday may be had at Bureau of Information and at Sheehan's 
and Macauley's Book Stores. 

THE READING ROOM. 

Three large bookcases, filled with literature along the trend of the New Thought 
movement, now enhance the charm of the reading room in the cliurch parlors. These 
are open to the use of the public, a system of loaning books having been established. 
Arrangements have also been completed for the circulation of New Thought Books 
throughout the state. Address Communication Department, New Thought Church, 
43 Winder St.. Detroit, Mich. 



burg was built by Mr. Martin" wisaver m 1330, on the southwest 
quarter of the southeast quarter of section 35. 

" The first persistent and well-directed effort made in Hamburg 
to improve the breed of horned cattle, and also of sheep, was made 
by Mr. David B. Power, now dead; and it is also deemed worthy 
of remark that the noble example in that direction, by that good 
man thus early set, is still lieing followed up with increased vio-or 
and success by his enterjjrising son-in-law, the Hon. William 
Ball. 

"The first supervisor elected in Hamburg was Mr. Christopher 



house with a wing on each side; and~ft"seeme(l to me to be a veri- 
table mansion, such as I had read of in the old romance of ' Thad- 
deus of Warsaw,' and the ' Scoltish Chiefs.' It stood on the hill, 
as you cross Mill Creek going south, and was known far and wide 
as the ' Big White House.' I well remember the first time I w.is 
invited to the house, — it was to a social parly, given by the younger 
members of ihe family, — and how I was bewildered by the many 
rooms, and the brilliant tallow dips glimmering in the far recesses, 
and the many nooks, angles, and corners of the house. I was 
more than ever impressed with the superiority of Hamburg style 



HAMBURG .TOWNSHIP. 



281 



over the one room log house of my father in Unadilla, in the 
chamber of wliicli I had been used to sleep and listen to the sing- 
ing of th; woodland birds or the patter of the soft rain upon the 
roof, with no ceiling or plastering between me and it to dull the 
soothing sounds. Bennett was surrounded by a large family of 
grown children, some married and settled on good farms in the 
near vicinity, others siill under the paternal roof. The married 
sons, Willi.am Reulien, Justus J. Jr., and Royal, were men in the 
heyday and prime of life, with children of their own growing up 
about their own hearth-stones ; while Sherman, Joseph, and Charles 
were then single; and life, bright, fair and wide, was all before 
them. The old man, full of years, was gatliered to his fathers 
about a Near ago, and now lies burieil in (he church-yai'd of the 
little Union Church round the corner from his ohl farm in Ham- 
burg. Of his brolheis, John, Joseph, and Abram, I was best 
acquainle<l with the family of John Hennett. He owned a splen- 
<bd farm on section twenly-four, on the banks of the beautiful 
Huron River, one mile north of Hamburg village, — ihe farm now 
owned by his son John W. Bennett anil Stephen Galloway. He 
was a mighty hunter and trapper in those days, and none knew 
better how to supply his larder with the spoils of lake and forest 
than Uncle John Bennett. He lived to a good old age, and died 
about four years ago, and is buried in the cemetery at Ilnmliurg 
village, where many of the early pioneers rest by his side. His 
sons, six in number, — Isaac, Helem, Alfred, Henry, John, and 
Horace, — all married, and to them wtrc born children who per- 
petuate the name and family traditions in Hamburg. The family 
may be said to be long lived; for .Abram, John, and Justus J. each 
lived to be upwards of ninety years. 

•* The Case family was nearly as numerous in llaniliurg in those 
days as the Bennett. .Samuel Case, the patriarch, had a large 
family of sons and daughters. Elisha, Joseph, Rodman, Spauld- 
ing, Crandall, Ira, Jonathan, Norman, and Rufus Case at that 
time were all young or middle-aged men. Klisha, Joseph, Rod- 
man, and Crandall were married, and had farms on sections four 
and five, which they or their children own to-day. The Cases were 
active, thrifty men, — good farmers, mechanics, and business men. 
I think Spaulding or Ira, or both, kept store at the old homestead. 
I know there was a Case's store kept there for the country trade, 
but about that time it was removed to Brighton, where Ira still 
does business. The Case family had something to say in those 
days about how matters went in town, for they were active, ener- 
getic men, who had their own opinions about matters, and were 
not at all diffident about expressing them. The father was then 
an old man, and he has been dead these many years ; but the sons, 
I think, are all living except Spaulding, Joseph, and Norman. 

" The Hall brothers, Jesse, James, Augustus, and Haniel, settled 
near Hamburg village, in the south part of the town. Jesse was 
among the earliest settlers in town. He took up a large tract of 
land, on which he lived till his death, and where his widow and 
youngest daughter still reside. He had a large and interesting 
family of sons and daughters, as also had his brother Daniel, who 
was located on a farm just jyest of Hamburg village, now a part 
of Hon. William Ball's farm. Jesse Hall being wealthy for a 
pioneer, and being of a social, hospitable disposition, many of the 
early settlers made his house their home till they had time to build 
a house of their own, and I have heard Mrs. Galloway, my wife's 
mother, say, that two, and sometimes three families at a lime found 
shelter and a temporary home at his house. She and her husband, 
George Galloway,* being of those who shared his hospitality in 
those early [lays, and till they had built for themselves a house on 
Ihe farm where I now reside. The Hall families were important 
factors in Hamburg society in those d.ays. The boys were stal- 
wart and the girls were beautiful, and I was so favorably impressed 
with the condition of affairs that 1 iletermined to attend the next 
winter term in the same school district, which I did; and I liked 
the place so well that I made the town my home from that time, 
settling with my mother (my father having died the previous year) 



36 



George Galloway settled in 1 834. 



in the present village of Pelteysville, I having engaged with Seth 
A. Pelteys to work in his woolen-mill for the term of three years, 
from April, 1845, to April, 1848, which contract I fulfilled. A 
longer and wider acquaintance showed me that, though numerous 
and important, the Bennetts, Cases, .and Halls were not all the 
people in Handiurg worth knowing. At that time George G.-xUo- 
way held a prominent position in the town, both s(}cially, politi- 
cally, and in enterprise and wealth. An early settler, he soon 
became somewhat of a leader in public afTairs. He was treasurer 
of the township for eleven successive years, and he was known far 
and wide for his open handed hospit.ility. His judgment was re- 
lied upon, and his advice and opinion valued by his neighbors and 
townsmen, and no man stood belter or h.ad a fairer prospect of 
success in life than Geoige Galloway; but he died in ihe prime of 
life, suddenly, wilh the cholera, in the year 1854, while on a busi- 
ness lii[i to New York. He left a wife and six chiKlrcn, all now 
living. 

" In the same school district, and joining farms with Galloway 
on the south, lived Col. Edward Bishop, a man well known to the 
people of this county, from having held the office of sheriff for 
two terms. The colonel was a man of remarkable memory, and 
wilh the faculty of relating the events of his life with wonderful 
minuteness. He could make the story as interesting as an Arabian 
Nights' tale, and I h.ive often been a delighted listener as he nar- 
r.itetl the many incidents of his varied life. He was a wagon- 
maker by trade, and had a shop on his farm, where he and his son, 
Edward, made and repaired wagons. 1 well remember the sign, 
nailed to a tree in the woods at the forks of the road as you came 
west from Hamburg village, ' E. Bishop & Son, Wagon -Makers.' 
He also raised a famdy of ten children, — five boys and five girls, — 
all bright, witty, and promising children. I taught school in thai 
district in the winter of 1846 and 1847, and the Bishop, Galloway, 
Hendrick, and John Bennett families could send twenty children 
to school. Theirs were about average families in those days. 
That is how the country had men to light her battles. In these 
degenerate days of luxury and refinement, a family of two or three, 
or four at most, is considered about the respectable thing. Well, 
the colonel and his wife are now both at rest in the little cemetery 
at Hamburg village, where we laid them quite recently, after more 
than fifty years of wedded life. They were separated for a little 
while only, he going before, a pioneer into the unknown land. 

"Another of my early Hamburg acquaintances was George 
Mercer and his family, consisting of Mrs. Mercer and four sons 
and one daughter. He was a ctdtured English gentleman, who 
had located on section seventeen, near the present village of Pet- 
teysville. He was a man better fitted by birth and education to 
move in the older and more cultivated walks of life than to be a 
pioneer. But somehow he had been caught in the tide of emi- 
gration and had drifted away out West, and had pitched his tent 
in tli« wilderness. But the great West was omnivorous, and all 
w-is fish that was gathered in its net, and so the accomplishments 
and qualifications of Mercer were of use in building up and de- 
veloping this country. He was for years the book-keeper and 
confidential clerk of William S. Maynard, of Ann Arbor. But 
his family never quitted the farm ; and after he left Maynard's he 
w.as almo.t continuously kept in town office up to within a few 
years of his death. He died at a ripe old age a few yeais ago, 
respected and mourned by all who knew him. His wife and 
children, who still survive him, reside in the same vicinity. 
His sons, William, Alexander, and Robert, are enterprising, 
wealthy farmcre; and the Mercer family has taken ileep root and 
developed all the sterling qualities of the old English race. 

" Speaking of Pelteysville, its founder, builder, and prime mover 
is Seth A. I'elteys, who is still M the helm, and guides and gov- 
erns affairs, notwithstanding his threescore years and ten. He 
first settled in Putnam, on the farm now owned by Hon. George 
Crofoot ; but being a millwright, he was eng.aged by the Grissons, 
of Hamburg, to build their mill, and in going from his farm in 
Putnam 10 Hamburg village he noticed the water-power, and 
bought Ihc school land on which his mill now stands. He first 



282 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



put in machinery for wool-cariiing and cloth-dressing, and for ten 
or twelve years did a thriving Inisiness in that line. That is where 
your humble servant put in four years of his youthful days. I 
hired to him for Ihree years al ten dollars per monlh, to learn the 
business, and I to live in his family ; but after one year my mother 
came to me, and we lived in our own house (a log one), and he 
paid me four dollars per month additional, and I board myself. 
Many a s?ck of wool I carded for the wives and daughters of 
this county, to spin and weave into cloth for men and women's 
wear, and many yards of flannel I have dyed and pressed f.)r 
dresses, fulled and dressed for suits for the boys to go courting in. 
I took especial care to have ihe cards clean and in order to make 
the rolls for the girls of my acquaintance to spin, because if they 
were knotty, and did not run free, I was sure to hear from them 
in such a way as was not at all flattering to my vanity. Petteys 
has extended and improved his business till now through his efforts 
and enterprise a little hamlet has grown up around his mill ; there 
is now a grist- and flouring-mill, a cider-mill, with all the im- 
provements, a blacksmith- and carriage-shop, two stores, a post- 
office, shoe-shop, school, and church facilities for the fifteen or 
twenty families who live in the village. He has raised a family of 
four sons and daughters. Three of his boys went at their coun- 
try's call in the great civil war, but only one returned at the close, 
and one daughter has died since. The remaining children are 
settled in and around the little village that bears the family name. 
Long may he be spared to see and to enjoy the fruits of his toil. 

" Going east from Petteysville, over the rolling country into the 
valley of the Huron, past the homes of George G.alloway and Col. 
Bishop, at the foot of Pleasant Lake, in those days lived Peter S. 
Hendrick, another of the Hamburg pioneers; but he too has 
'joined the innumerable throng who assemble around the Throne.' 
His widow and his youngest son now live in the old home at the 
foot of the lake. Hendrick was a mechanic as well as farmer, 
and many of the late houses, and more of the earlier barns, were 
planned and built by him. .Such men in those days were indis- 
pensable, and his services were in constant demand. He raised 
and educated a family of eight children, all now living, and by 
his industry he left, at his death, for their inheritance, a good farm, 
a good name, and a record for liberality in all matters of public 
interest. He was a soldier in the war of 1S12, and Mrs Hendrick 
now receives from the government a late recognition of her hus- 
band's services. 

" Leland Walker, Ihe owner of the saw- and flouringmills of 
North Hamburg, was a man, in those days, who filled a large 
space in society ; a man of acute mental power, he had much to 
do in shaping matters of public interest. For many years he was 
supervisor of the town, and took a strong interest in all educa- 
tional matters; later in life he took an interest in the study of 
medicine, and having graduated at a medical school, he removed 
to Dexter to practice his profession, but soon after died suddenly 
of heart disea.se His death w.as a serious loss to the community. 
The limits of this paper will not permit even the casual mention 
of all the worthy dead and gone pioneers of the town ; but, with 
your indulgence, I will mention the names of a few as they occur 
to me, who have not passed over the dark river, and are still 
living in the township, and are to-day prominent and active citi- 
zens, fully abreast with the times, and who, it seems, could as ill 
be spared as any of the younger generations now on the st.age of 
life. 

" There are the brothers, Stoddard W. and Hobart A. Twichell, 
two men with the proverbial New England thrift, farmers pure 
and unmixed, who by strict attention to their osvn business are 
now possessed of a large competency. S. W. Twichell, the 
eldest, lives on section thirty-six, where he first located, and Ho- 
bart A. on section twenty-three, where he first settled. Both have 
often held the highest offices in town, and had they been ambi- 
tious in that way, could readily have gone higher. They are of 
the solid and reliable men of the town. 

"Ferdinand Grisson is an educated, genial German gentleman, 
the only one remaining in Hamburg of the four brothers of that 



name, who came from Germany and settled in a very early day on 
section twenty-five, by whom the town was named for their beloved 
Hamburg in the fatherland, the founders of Hamburg village. He 
still remains an intlispensable member of our society. He is, and 
has long been, our postmaster ; for years he has been the only jus- 
lice of the peace who does much, if any, business. He does the 
insurance and conveyancing for the counliy roimd about ; he is the 
leader of our choir. He occasionally marries a couple, but 
oftener helps to bury our dead. He makes himself so generally 
useful ihAt, though a strong partisan and his parly in the minority 
in our town, he can always be elected by a large majority. That 
is the kind of a man he is. ' May he live a thousand years and 
his shadow never grow less.' 

" George Burnett is a quiet, intelligent farmer, who lives just out 
of the village, and may well be classed with the mo.-'t worthy of 
pioneeis. Of genuine merit and jjiobity, he has lived a blameless 
life, and always is ready and answers to the call of duty. 

** There is Thomas J. Rice; the history of Hamburg will never 
be complete without mention of him. Educated to the law, he is 
well versed in literature and history, and is himself an author ; but 
modest, retiring, and unassuming, he hitles his light in his study 
on the banks of Silver Lake, an I uidess he is dug out by his ad- 
niiring friends he prefers to remain in retirement. 

' Full many a gem of purest ray serene, 
I'he dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear.' 

" A near neighbor of Kire is Charles H. Hankins, who is a 
very deserving citizen, who, for many long years, h.as contributed 
his quota to the industry that has gradually made for Hamburg a 
repuiation for having a law-abiding, industrious, thrifty population. 
He is a good mechanic, and has a shop on the banks of Silver 
Lake, where all ami any jobs of repairing in almost any line can 
be done with neatness and dispatch. He owns a fine cider-mill 
run by steam, and is l.irgely engaged in making cider vinegar. 
He is always on hand to serve his customers himself, and they are 
sure to be well served. 

" In the winter of '46 I first knew George S. Butler, a farmer, 
who, then as now, lived about three-fourths of a mile north of 
Hamburg village. I was teaching school in his district, and he 
and his wife made their home so pleasant for me that in my 
memory the hospitality dispensed in the log houses of those days 
is not surpassed in the sumptuously furnished houses of these 
latter times. ' The humblest fare where love is, is better than a 
.stalled ox with envy.' and Mr. Butler is a rare man, wdio for more 
than forty yeais has pursued the even tenor of his way with ' Good 
will for all and offense toward none.' " 

The following is from the pen of Col. Edward 
Bishop, of Hamburg township, and was furnished 
to the County Pioneer Society in January, 1876. 
After narrating the events of his first prospecting 
tour (in 1832) from Yates Co., N. Y., to Michigan, 
Col. Bishop proceeded : 

" In July, 1S36, 1 again started for Michigan, with my wife and 
eight children, designing to settle in the State. We stayed in 
Detroit six weeks, when we moved to Plymouth Corners, where 
we resided three years and a half. In 1836 I had purchased land 
in Hamburg (sections 10 and 22), and soon after built a house on 
it, into which I moved on the 2d day of May, 1840, where we 
have resided the greater part of the time ever since. I think I 
manufactured the first lumber- wagon, or wagons, ever made in 
Livingston County. Being in moderate circumstances, I labored 
early and Late to improve my land and to provide for the wants 
of a large family, — then consisting of ten children (two children 
having been added to the number since our settlement in Michi- 
gan), my wife, and my.self. We succeeded as well as we could 
expect. Seven of our children are still living, and all but one are 
married or have been. I believe my wife and myself are the 







^■i pfe-s 



"fr^ifS^ 




Residence or HOBART A. TWICHE 




•;-:^^ss^s*::-- 







MBURG, Livingston Co., Mich, 



HAMBURG TOWNSHIP. 



283 



oldest couple liviii<j in Ilamlxirg, — she being seventy eiglit last 
August,* anil myself eighty the same month. Wc were nianied 
on the 27th of A|iril, 1S16. . . . 

" I have in the couise of a long life met with a number of gen- 
tlemen who have been my fiiends, for which I feel very thankful. 
I have also seen a few rogues, but from the latter I have been quite 
exempt ; though while I wa.1 sheriff of Livingston County I had 
a prisimer who was very anxious to escape, but found he was 
watcheil too closely, an<l he offered me in advance one thousand 
dollars in gold if I would go away from the jail and stay one night. 
I declined the offer, and told him I should watch him more closely. 
His name was Elijah Badgcro, who was sent to the State-prison 
for a leim of years. 

" I have improved two farms, erected suitable dwellings and 
raised orchards, but at present I own only a house and two lots at 
Petteysville; am free from debt and enjoy the comforts of life. 
I draw a pension of ninety six dollars per year from the United 
States, for services rendered during the war of 1812-15. My 
health is now poor, but if my life is sp.ired I think of writing a 
history of the events through which I have passed since the year 
1800." 

Elijali Bennett, from Steuben Co., N. Y., .settled 
in the north part of the town.ship in the spring of 
1835, on the place now own'.;d by Meyer Davis. 
His widow is still livintj, and his ilaughter is the 
wife of Nathan Hight, of Genot. 

Abrani Bennett settled in Washtenaw Cotinty 
in 1829. At a comparatively recent date he moved 
into Hambtirg, and took up his residence with his 
daushter, Mrs. George Cole. His wife died here, 
and his own death occurred at a late date, when 
he had reached the great age of one hundred and 
three years. 

In the fall of 1835, Garner Car[)entcr lived in 
the northern part of town, on a farm he after- 
wards (1836 or 1837) sold to Samuel Case, who 
settled upon it. Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Case are 
both now deceased. Tiie latter's sons, Joseph and 
Elisha, long resided in the township. Joseph is 
dead and Elisha is a citizen of Brighton at present. 
The latter's son occupies his father's old farm, and 
Oren Case, son of Joseph, lives in Genoa. Samuel 
Case's sons settled in Hamburg before their father 
came, probabl\' in the fall of 1836. Rodman Case, 
another son, came later antl purchased land from 
second hands. 

Justus J. Bennett, from Steuben Co., N. Y., came 
to Michigan in the fall of 1833 antl located in 
Washtenaw County, where he remained until the 
spring of 1835, when he moved into Hamburg 
township. He located large tracts of land in Ham- 
burg and Marion. The old homestead in Hamburg 
is now occupied by George L. Hull, and is owned 
by Governor Felch, of Ann Arbor. Mr. Bennett 
had a family of ten children when he came to the 
county. One son, Daniel S. Bennett, now lives in 
Ionia County, and another, William H., in Ham- 
burg. One daughter is now the wife of Seth A. 



Petteys, of Petteysville, and she and her brother 
William are the only ones of their father's children 
at present residing in the county. 

Daniel B. Harmon settled in 1835 north of Pet- 
teysville, on a farm now owned by Mr. Buck, a 
German. A year or two later he sold his place to 
George Mercer and removed to Shiawassee County. 
The farm was afterwards purchased by Edwin M. 

Cust.t 

Christopher Hoagland and Eastman Griffith, 
also Timothy Pettit, were early settlers in the 
north part of town, and all three were residing 
there in the fall of 1835. Griffith returned to 
Steuben Co., N. Y., where he died ; Pettit died in 
Clinton Co., Mich, (his home at the time being in 
De Witt) ; and Hoagland is also deceased. 

George Mercer, a native of England, afterwards 
for a number of years a resident of New York 
City, and finally of Rush, Monroe Co., N. Y., came 
to Michigan in the fall of 1835, and settled a mile 
north of where his widow now lives, on the place 
now occupied by Adolph Buck, whose wife is the 
daughter of Edwin M. Cust, also an Englishman, 
to whom Mr. Mercer sold in the spring of 1836, 
Cust moving upon it in the summer following. 
Mercer had been a merchant in the city of New 
York, and soon tired of life in the wilderness of 
Michigan, where there was no society, and his 
family also were averse to the life of pioneers. The 
nearest physician was Dr. Halleck, at Whitmore 
Lake, nine miles away. Mrs. Mercer was born in 
the city of London, and country life was entirely 
new to her. The nearest post-office was also at 
Whitmore Lake. The finishing lumber and brick 
for the chiumey of his house Mr. Mercer procured 
at Ann Arbor. The nearest mill was at Plymouth, 
Wayne Co., thirty miles away. The Pinckncy and 
Hamburg mills, built soon afterwards, supplied a 
great need, and in those days did a large business. 

When Mr. Mercer sold out to Mr. Cust, he 
removed to Swartzburg, Wayne Co., where he 
remained about one year. Mr. Cust finally pre- 
vailed upon him to come back and purchase the 
lot upon which Mrs. Mercer now lives, and a log 
house was built thereon, into which the family 
moved. The materials for a frame house had been 
brought to the site from Ann Arbor ; but as it 
was impossible to find a carpenter at any point 
nearer than the last-named place, the log house 
was built instead; it stood a few feet east of the 
present frame dwelling. The neighbors of the 
Mercer family, when they first came (1835), were 
Justus J. Bennett, James M. Davis, and George 
Galloway, — the first two north and the latter east. 



* 1875. — Both Col. bishop and his wife have since decea.sed. 



f See Mrs. Mercer's statement. 



284 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Mr. Mercer's business capabilities and fine edu- 
cation were the means of securing him important 
positions after his settlement in Michigan. He 
held numerous township offices, and for a number 
of years was book-keeper for William S. Maynard, 
a prominent merchant of Ann Arbor. He died in 
September, 1873. 

Hon. William Ball's father, Samuel H. Ball, was 
among the early settlers of Washtenaw County, 
coming from Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1833. The 
son at present resides in Hamburg, on a fine 
farm south of the Huron River, and is e.xten- 
sively engaged in breeding and dealing in fine 
stock, his specialties being short-horn cattle and 
full-blood Merino sheep. Some time during the 
Rebellion (1861-65) 'i^ purchased from parties in 
Vermont 25 ewes, paying ^100 per head, and 
one buck costing ;^500, with which he began 
the business which has been so successful. About 
1871-72 he started with a small herd of short- 
horns, and his private sales of these cattle for two 
or three years have averaged from 20 to 30 head 
annually. He has at present 40 head of short- 
horns and about 250 sheep. His father-in-law, 
David B. Power, who settled in town with his 
brother, Anson L. Power, in 1834, dealt to some 
extent at an early day in French Merino sheep 
and Devon cattle, and Mr. Ball had a few of that 
variety when he first started. 

David B. Power settled upon and cleared the 
place now owned by his brother, Anson L. Power, 
and the latter located upon and cleared part of the 
place now owned by William Ball. Lupton Cul- 
ver, brother to Mrs. D. B. Power, cleared the pres- 
ent homestead of Mr. Ball. He met his death 
some time afterwards at a barn-raising. D. B. 
Power is also deceased. 

Stoddard W. Twichell, a native of Connecticut, 
and later a resident of the town of Sullivan, Madi- 
son Co., N. Y., came to Hamburg in May, 1833, 
and purchased the place he still owns and occu- 
pies. The Power brothers came with him and 
entered their land at the same time, although they 
did not settle until the following year. Mr. 
Twichell remained in town during the summer, 
living with Lupton Culver in a small shanty on 
the place taken by the latter, who had also come 
with him, and in the fall he went to New York 
after his wife, returning with her in November of 
the same year (1833). A log house was built 
during the fall, on Culver's place, and the two fam- 
ilies occupied it till the autumn of 1834, when Mr. 
Twichell moved into the log house he had erected 
on his own place. The latter building is yet stand- 
ing, west of his present frame residence, and is one 
of the oldest structures in the township. Mr. 



Twichell sowed ten acres of wheat in 1833. His 
nearest neighbors at that time were the brothers 
Jesse and Daniel Hall, the former already noticed 
as Hamburg's first settler; the latter came in 1833, 
and resided on the place now owned by Jesse Ben- 
nett. His brother owned a farm which included 
the site of Hamburg village. 

Three brothers from St. Lawrence County, N. Y., 
viz., James, Lester, and Jonathan Burnett, came at 
a very early date to this county. Lester settled 
on what is now the Silsby farm, in Hamburg, but 
afterwards sold to the Messrs. Grisson, and moved 
to Highland, Oakland Co. Jonathan settled in 
Green Oak, where he still lives. James lived on 
the place, near Hamburg village, now owned by 
his son, George Burnett, and built the log house 
still occupied by the latter. He afterwards moved 
to the place where Jesse Bennett now lives. 
George Burnett has lived with his own family in 
the old house since about 1842. His wife came to 
Michigan in September, 1836, and lived with her 
sister, Mrs. Ball, in Webster, Washtenaw Co., 
having come alone from Cayuga Co., N. Y. 

The locality known as " Newburg," or "Camp- 
bcllville," was originally settled by Abel Peck and 
Bradford Campbell, soon after the grist-mill was 
built at Hamburg village. They built a mill on 
Ore Creek, which is now owned by Toncray 
Brothers. Peck and Campbell are both deceased. 

Among other settlers in the township were 
David Hyatt, from New Jersey, June, 1835 ; Mrs. 
Emily PuUen, New York, same date ; James Davis, 
came with a large family of boys in the spring of 
1836; Charles F. Conrad, September, 1839; James 
Parker, October, 1839; William Williamson, Eng- 
land, 1840; Hobart A. Twichell, May, 1844; A. 
Moon, 1837; S. M. Whitcomb, now of Pinckney, 
1834 ; W. Placeway, now of Pinckney ; T. Schoon- 
hoven, 1833, — located the present S. Galloway 
place. 

Following is an alphabetical list of the resident 
tax-payers in the township of Hamburg in the year 
1844: 

Abels, Russell. Bennett, Hamnionil. 

Angell, Cyrus. Bennett, T. R. 

Bennett, John. Bennett, Jesse H. 

Bennett, Joseph W. Bishop, Edward. 

Bennett, William H. Bennett, George. 

Bennett, Reuben H. Butler, George. 

Bennett, Justus J. Burnett, James. 

Bennett, John S. Butler, Richard E. 

Beik, E. A. Buttertield, Abner. 

Bennett, Gershom. Burnett, John. 

Burgess, Hiram. Culver, John C. 

Brown, A. M. Case, George W. 

Brown, Isaac. Crane, F. J. B. 

Brown, Erasmund. Crooks, Robert. 

Burgess, William. Cordley, James. 

Bennett, David. Case, Elisha. 





HOBAKT A. TVVICHELL. 



MRS. HOBART A. TWICHELL. 



HOBART A. TWICHELL, 



son of Joseph Twichell and Phoebe Atkins, was 
born in tlie town of Wolcott, New Haven Co., 
Conn., Aug. 9, 1820. The elder Twichell was 
born July 15, 1769. He married Electa Hopkins, 
July 8, 1770, by which union there were three chil- 
dren, — Polly, Lois, and Hopkins. Jan. 13, 1803, 
Mrs. Twichell died, and he married Phcebe Atkins, 
Feb. 19, 1804. To them were born six sons, — 
Joseph A., Stoddard W., Edward, William H., 
Dwight, and Hobart A. Mrs. Phcebe Twichell 
died Dec. 5, 1823, and in March following occurred 
the death of her husband. 

Hobart was reared by his sister Lois. He ob- 
tained a good common-school education, and was 
early taught lessons of industry and thrift, which 
have become salient points in his character. He 
was bred a farmer, which occupation he has since 
followed. 

At the age of twenty-five he came to Living- 
ston County and purchased the place on which he 
has since resided, now one of the most valuable 
farms in the county, but then entirely unimproved. 
The finely cultivated fields and commodious build- 
ings of to-day are the result of his own industry. 

Dec. 29, 1844, Mr. Twichell was married to 
Miss Hannah M. Wilner, of Portage, Wyoming 
Co., N. Y. She was born in Livingston Co., N. Y., 
Nov. 5, 1823. She was one of the pioneers of 
the county, and endeared herself to a large circle 
of friends by her sterling qualities of mind and 
heart. As a wife, mother, neighbor, and friend, 
she performed all her duties and obligations with 



personal unselfishness. Mr. and Mrs. Twichell 
were blessed with four children, three of whom are 
living, — Alcena P., now Mrs. Henry Depue; Lois 
C, now Mrs. G. J. Osgood ; Deigracia (deceased), 
and Mortimer H. 

Mr. Twichell is possessed of much business 
acumen, good judgment, and keen discrimination ; 
these qualifications, added to industry and a laud- 
able ambition to attain prominence both in busi- 
ness and social circles, have resulted in his secur- 
ing not only a well-earned competency, but a 
marked social position. He is esteemed by all for 
his innate kindness of heart, liberality, and prover- 
bial hospitality. 

Among the brotherhood of Freemasons, Mr. 
Twichell occupies an elevated position. He is a 
member of the " Grand Sovereign Consistory" of 
the order of "Scottish Rites," a prominent member 
of the " Ann Arbor Commandery, No. 13, Knights 
Templar," and of " Pinckney Chapter, No. 86, 
R. A. M." He is one of the oldest Masons in the 
county, and for four years was Master of the Liv- 
ingston Lodge, No. 76. 

When we consider that he has been the architect 
of his own fortune, that all his duties both public 
and private have been honestly and faithfully dis- 
charged, and that he is enabled to spend the later 
part of his life in ease and retirement, free from the 
cares and anxieties of business, in the enjoyment 
of the undiminished confidence and respect of all 
who know him, we must pronounce his a useful 
and worthy life. 





S. W. TWICHELL. 



MRS. S. \V. TWICHELL. 



STODDARD W. TWICHELL. 



Among those who may be appropriately called 
the founders of the town of Hamburg, the subject 
of this narrative occupies a prominent position. 
He was born in the town of Wolcott, New Haven 
Co., Conn., Dec. 27, 1806. He was the second in 
the family of Joseph and Phoebe (Atkins) Twichell, 
which consisted of seven sons. The elder Twichell 
was bred a merchant, but in the later portion of his 
life became a farmer. When Stoddard was sixteen 
years of age his father died, by which event he was 
thrown upon his own resources. He secured a 
situation in a button-factory, where he remained 
two years, when he went to Madison Co., N. Y. 

From this time until his emigration to Michigan, 
in 1833, he followed various occupations, in which 
he was moderately successful. At this time Michi- 
gan was considered a most desirable portion of the 
West, and Mr. Twichell, foreseeing the advantages 
of cheap land and a virgin soil, determined to come 
West. 

Accordingly, in May, 1833, he left his busi- 
ness and came to Hamburg. Being favorably im- 
pressed with the southern part of the town, he 



located eighty acres of land. He remained during 
the summer and in the month of October following 
returned to Madison County, where he married 
Miss Dorcas Mathewson, a native of Smithfield. 
She was born April 3, 18 10. They immediately 
returned to their new home, where they have 
since resided. The life of Mr. Twichell has been 
comparatively uneventful, and marked by few in- 
cidents save such as occur in the lives of most 
men. Two years subsequent to his settlement the 
town was erected, and he a.ssisted in its organi- 
zation. He was elected its first clerk, and has since 
held various positions of trust and responsibility, 
the duties of which he discharged with credit to 
himself and to the satisfaction of his fellow-towns- 
men. 

Prominent points in the character of Mr. Twichell 
are his energy, thrift, and marked business ability. 
In his chosen occupation, that of a farmer, he has 
been eminently successful. Commencing life at 
sixteen, with only his natural resources for his 
capital, he has by his own unaided efforts secured 
a well-earned competency. 



HAMBURG TOWNSHIP. 



285 



Case, Joseph. 
Cunningham, James. 
Cust, Edwin M. 
Case, Ezekiel. 
Case, Samuel. 
Case, Spaulding M. 
Case, Ira \V. 
Case, Mitchell C. 
Case, Rodman. 
De Wolf, Jason G. 
Dayley, Thom.is. 
Dunlevy, Felix. 
Davis, James D. 
Davis, Elios. 
Ferrcl, Henry. 
Foster & Walker. 
Foster, Benjamin F. 
Fagan, James. 
Farley, Barney. 
Gallagher, P.itrick. 
Gallagher, James. 
Grisson, George G. 
Grisson, Ferdinand. 
Gidley, Robert. 
Gidley, Lorenzo. 
Gillman, John. 
Gilbert, Norman M. 
Griffith, Eastman. 
Gallula, Thomas. 
Galloway, George. 
Hall, Jesse. 
Hall, Daniel S. 
Hasklns, Charles. 
Hall, Daniel. 
Hall, Elizabeth. 
Hayner, Jacob C. 
Hoagland, Christopher. 
Hendrick, Peter S. 
Hines, James. 
Inslee, John. 
Jefferds, Luther. 
Jordan, Lorenzo. 
Kirlland, William. 



Larkin, Daniel. 
Lytic, Andrew. 
Lake, Truman. 
Mercer, George. 
Mackcy, Francis T. 
Moon, Amrod. 
Moon, John. 
Munday, Ezra. 
Melvin, Martin. 
Newton, Samuel. 
Nute, Joseph. 
Near, Charles. 
Olsavcr, Martin. 
O'Conner, Patrick. 
O'Mara, Cornelius. 
Ohrnn, Matthew C. 
Power, David B. 
Power, Anson L. 
Patterson, Ralph. 
Petteys, Seth A. 
Purvis, William. 
Parker, Esther. 
Peck & Campbell. 
Quinn, Joseph. 
Rice, Thomas J. 
Ryan, John. 
Richmond, David. 
Stewart, John. 
Salmon, Simeon D. 
Sullivan, Daniel. 
Schmidt, Adolph. 
Stage, Nicholas. 
Shannegan, Andrew. 
Stone, Jonathan. 
Teachworth, Rachel. 
Twichell, Stoddard W. 
Weller, Henry. 
Wallace, John. 
Walker, Leland. 
Weller, William. 
Wilkie, David. 
Williamson, William. 



VILLAGE OF HAMBURG. 



George G. Grisson. 
Charles Ormsby. 
David Page. 
John S. Bennett. 
W. Nottingham. 
Conrad Epley. 
Jason G. De Wolf. 



NAMING AND 



G. M. Armstrong. 
Revo C. Hance. 
Isaac De Forest. 
John C. .Steinman. 
John Pickard. 
John F. Grisson. 
Charles Howard. 



ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIP- 
CIVIL LIST, ETC. 

At a meeting held previous to the organization 
of the township, to choose a name for it, 19 persons 
were present ; 8 of them wished to call it Steuben, 
while 8 others preferred Leno.x, and the remaining 
3, who were Germans,* had no choice, until finally 8 
of those who could not agree, gave the Germans the 
privilege of naming the township, consenting to 
vote with them. They chose the name of their 
native city, — Hamburg, — and as such the town was 
organized. As originally formed, it included the 

* The Messrs. Grisson. 



present township of Genoa, the organizing act 
being approved March 26, 1835. Genoa was taken 
off March 11, 1837. 

" The electors of the township of Hamburg met at the house of 
James Burnett — the place appointed in the law to meet — on rtie 
third Monday of April, eighteen hundred and thirty-five, for the 
purpose of holding their first township-meeting. The meeting 
organized by choosing Stoddard W. Twichell Moderator, and 
James Burnett Clerk of the meeting /ro tent., and Christopher L. 
Culver A.ssistanl Clerk, and after being sworn into office by George 
W. Dexter, Esq., opened the poll for choosing township ofticers."-j- 

The following were the officers chosen, viz. : 
Supervisor, Christopher L. Culver ; Town.ship 
Clerk, Stoddard W. Twichell ; Assessors, George 
Galloway, Daniel Hall, Lester Burnett ; Collector, 
George Galloway; Directors of the Poor, Justus 
J. Bennett, Jesse Hall ; Commissioners of High- 
ways, Justus J. Bennett, Daniel B. Harmon, Au- 
gustus Hall ; Constable, George Galloway ; Fence- 
Viewers, James Burnett, Christopher L. Culver, 
William H. Bennett; Poundmaster, James Bur- 
nett ; Commissioners of Common Schools, Chris- 
topher L. Culver, Lester Burnett, Daniel B. 
Harmon ; Inspectors of Cotnmon Schools, Lester 
Burnett, Stoddard W. Twichell, Christopher L. 
Culver, James Burnett, William H. Bennett ; Over- 
seers of Highways, James Burnett, Hiram Mason, 
Daniel Hall, Miner Kellogg. 

" Voted, That our township-meeting be adjourned to George 
Grisson's dwelling house, for eighteen hundred and thirty-six, 
first Monday in April." 

In 1836, at the annual election, it was 

"Voted, That fifty dollars be raise<l by tax for the purpose of 
building a bridge across the Huron River, near George G. Gris- 
son's dwelling-house." 

At the meeting for 1838 it was 

" Voted, That fifty-four dollars and twenty cents, with interest 
on the same from the first day of February, eighteen hundred and 
thirty-eight, be raised by lax and paid to J.imes Burnett, it being 
due him for building the bridge across the Huron River, near 
George G. Grisson's, in the town of Hamburg. 

" Voted, That fifty dollars be raised i)y tax for the purpose of 
building a bridge across the Huron River, on the Slate ro.ad, when- 
ever it shall be ascertained that the Slate road has been laid out 
and established accmding to law." 

It appears to have been some time before the 
fact of this road being laid was definitely settled, 
for it was not until 1840 that it was finally con- 
cluded to raise the money, as witness the record 
for that year : 

" Voted, To raise fifty dollars to build a bridge across the Huron 
River, on the State road." 

In the previous year it had been 

" Voted, That the sum of fifty dollars be raised to build a bridge 
across the Huron River, between Christopher L. Culver's and 
George Galloway's." 

M.ay I, 1843. — " At a meeting of the board held this day, pur- 
suant to notice, it was agreed to fix the price of Five Dollars for 

\ Town records, 1835. 



286 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



persons applying for licenses to keep tavern, and to storekeepers 
to retail liquors, &c. Samuel Case made the application, which 
was granted." 

May 3, 184.3. — " By order of the majority of the board, granted 
a license to John Pickard to keep tavern ; received his note of 
Five Dollars for the, same." 

Sept. 23, 1843, licenses were granted to George 
G. Grisson to keep tavern, and to Spaulding M. 
Case to sell liquors, wines, etc. 

The following is a list of township officers from 
1836 to 1879, inclusive: 

SUPERVISORS. 
1836, Christopher L. Culver; 1837-3S, Thomas J. Rice; 1839, 
Bradford Campbell; 1840, Sioddard W. Twichell; 1841, 
David B. Powers; 1842, John F. Grisson; 1843, Bradford 
Campbell; 1S43, Spaulding M. Case; 1845-46, Bradford 
Campbell; 1847, Thomas J. Rice; 1848, Leland Walker; 
1849, Thomas J. Rice ; 1850, Leland Walker; 1851, Thomas 
J. Rice; 1852-54, Leland Walker; 1S55-56, Cephas Dun- 
ning; 1857-58, Stoddard W.Twichell; 1859, Leland Walker; 
I S60-62, Geurge Mercer; 1S63-64, William Ball; 1865-66, 
Stephen Galloway ; 1867-68, Ely Snyder ; 1869-71, Stephen 
Galloway; 1872-73, Edwin li. Winans ; 1874-78, Stephen 
Galloway; 1S79, James Van Horn. 

TOWNSHIP CLERKS. 
1836-39, Stoddard W. Twichell; 1840-41, Leland Walker; 
1S42-47, George Mercer; 1848, David F. Hess; 1849-50, 
William Williamson; 1851-52, J. H. Buck; 1853-34, Cephas 
Dunning; 1855-56, William Williamson; 1857-59, George 
Mercer; 1860-61, llobart A. Twichell; 1862-63, Stephen 
Galloway; 1864, George Mercer ; 1865-66, James Cunning- 
ham ; 1867, Bates W.Goodfelliiw ; 1 86S-69, George Mercer ; 
1870, Hobart A. Twichell; 1871, William D. La Bonla; 
1872, George Mercer; 1873, Henry W. Rolason; 1874-76, 
John McDevilt; 1877-78, John Ryan, Jr.; 1879, William 
Peters. 

A.SSESSORS. 

1836, Ely Barnard, Timothy H. Peltit, D.nniel Hall ; 1837, Samuel 
Gardner, Garner Carpenter, George W. Case ; 1 838, John F. 
Grisson, George W. Case, Reuben H. Bennett ; 1839, Reul)en 
H. Bennett, Robert Gridley, D. B. Power; 1840, George 
Mercer, D. B. Power; 1841, Anson L. Power, George 
Mercer; 1842, Reuben H. Bennett, John C. Culver; 1843, 
Daniel Hall, Daniel Larkins; 1844, David B. Power, Nor- 
man M. Gilbert; 1845, R. H. Bennett, D.aniel Hall; 1846, 
R. H. Bennett, Patrick O'Conner; 1847, Elias J. Smith, 
Bradford Campbell; 1848, Bradford Campbell, David B. 
Power; 1849, R. H. ticnneit, William Placeway ; 1850, John 
Ryan, William Pl.rcew.ay ; 1851, R. H. Bennett, H. A. 
Twichell; 1852, R. E. Butler, William Placeway. 

COLLECTORS. 

1836-37, George Galloway; 1838, George W. Case; 18^9-41, 
George Galloway. 

TREASURERS. 

1839-41, Eastman Griffith ; 1842-49, George Galloway ; 1850-51, 
Horace Griffith; 1852, William Williamson ; 1853-54, Reuben 
H. Bennett; 1855-56, R. S. Hall; 1857-58, Daniel S. Ben- 
nett; 1859-60, John Pickard; 1 86 1, Isaac De Forest; 1862- 
63, Joseph Quinn; 1864-65, Daniel S. Hall; 1866, Joseph 
Culy ; 1867, tie vole between Chester O. Burgess and James 
Van Horn; record does not decide who was elected; 1868, 
James Van Horn; 1869-70, Nathan S. Buller; 1871-72, D. 
S.Bennett; 1873-74, Bernard McCloskey ; 1875-76, Jacob 
Humphrey; 1877, James Van Horn ; 1878-79, Mortimer H. 
Twichell. 



JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 

1836, Ely Barnard, Timothy H. Pettit, James Burnett, D.avid B. 
Power; J837, Ransom Robinson, D. B. Power; 1838, 
Abram D. Peck, Jesse Hall ; 1839, C. L. Culver, E. M. Cust; 
1840, George M. Richmond; 1841, E. M Cust, S. W. 
Twichell, Isaac Brown ; 1842, Leland Walker ; 1843, S. W. 
Twichell, George Mercer, Peter S. Hendrick; 1844, Peter 
S. Hendrick; 1845, Isaac Brown; 1846, Eastman Griffith, 
Isaac Brown ; 1847, J. D. Stevens; 1848, Peter S. Hendrick, 
Stoddard W.Twichell; 1849, Isaac Brown; 1850, Eastman 
Griffith ; 1851, R. S. Hall ; 1852, Ferdinand Grisson, Manley 
Smith; 1S53, Isaac Brown, Charles H. Cavil;* 1S54, Man- 
ley Smith, Leland Walker; 1855, Ferdinand Grisson; 1856, 
Edward Bishop; 1857, Isaac Brown; 1858, Leland Walker; 
1859, Ferdinand Grisson; 1S60, George Burnett; 1861, 
Daniel Larkins; 1862, Leland Walker, Joseph Culy; 1863, 
George Mercer; 1864, George Burnett; 1865, F. Grisson, 
Eli Snyder; 1866, Edward Bishop; 1867, George Mercer; 
1868, C. H. Cavil; 1869, F. Grisson, Keiron McDonnell; 
1870, Valentine Wiegand; 1871, Robert Stackable; 1872, 
Keirun McDonnell; 1873, Charles H. Cavil, John Donahey; 

1874, Edward Bishop; 1875, Willi.am ; 1876, Robert 

Stackvlile; 1877, Helem Bennett, Joseph Culy ; 1S78, Daniel 
Larkin, F. Grisson; 1879, George L. Hull. 

VILLAGE OF HAMBURG. 

In 1835, K. F. Gay, a merchant residing in Ann 
Arbor (afterwards of Howell, and father of Mylo 
L. Gay, now of that place), together with Amariah 
Hammond, purchased 30 acres of land of Jesse 
Hall, including a portion of the site of the present 
village. The purchase was made with the view of 
improving the water-power, and as soon as possible 
a dam was constructed and a saw-mill built. Sub- 
sequently, Mr. Gay disposed of his interest to Mr. 
Hammond, and the latter, in turn, sold to the 
Messrs. Grisson. This was one of the first water- 
privileges improved in Livingston County, but few 
antedating it, and Mr. Gay, in an address before 
the Pioneer Society, expressed the opinion that it 
was the very first. That is, however, an error, as 
will be found by reference to other pages in this 
volume. 

John Frederick Grisson, William Grisson, George 
G. Grisson, Samuel Grisson, and Ferdinand Gris- 
son, brothers, from the city of Hamburg, Germany, 
all settled at different times in this township. The 
first two named came in the spring of 1834, after 
having stopped a short time in Oneida Co., N. Y., 
and were followed in the tall of the same year by 
their brother Ferdinand. George bought and set- 
tled north of the village, near the bridge across 
the Huron, and Ferdinand on the same side of the 
river, above and joining his brother, to whom he 
afterwards sold and moved into the village. J. F. 
Grisson lived in Ann Arbor and Detroit, and died 
in the latter place. William stopped only a short 
time in this country. George returned to Germany 
about 1873-74, and Ferdinand is the only one of the 

* This name spelled also on records, Cavel, Cavell, and Cavill. 





ELIAS DAVIS 



MRS ELIAS DAVIS. 



Vj-^ '%^|, 




- r''^•^-^^i^^■^J*> 




W:] «fTi*tfi -twifrii^wht^ii 




Residence: OF MRS. MARY E. DAVIS, Hamburg, Mich 



HAMBURG TOWNSHIP. 



287 



brothers now residing in town. John F., William, 
and Samuel are deceased. 

After selling his Huron River farm to his brother, 
Ferdinand Grisson purchased the Lester Burnett 
farm, including the site of the village, or most of 
it, anil, in company with his brother, John F. Gris- 
son, bought Amariah Hammond's saw-mill (built 
b\- Hammond & Gay), and also built and opened 
the first store at the place. They erected the grist- 
mill and the hotel, which arc now standing, and 
gave the latter to their brother William, who had 
been unfortunate and lost his property in the old 
country. The hotel is now known as the " Rogers 
House," George Rogers, proprietor. The grist- 
mill and saw-mill are yet in operation, the former 
having two run of stones, as originally it had. The 
first store burned down, but was rebuilt by the 
same parties who erected the first one ; the second 
building is now used as a w<igon-shop. 

The village plat of Hamburg was laid out April 
27, 1837, on the west hcdf of section 25, and re- 
corded May 2d, following. Its proprietors were 
John F. Grisson, Ferdinand Grisson, I.saac De 
Forest, Lester Burnett, and H^lisha W. Brockway, 
one of the associate judges of Livingston County. 

Hamburg post-office was established in the 
neighborhood of 1840, with John Frederick Gris- 
son as first postmaster. The present incumbent is 
Ferdinand Grisson, who has held the office since 
i86[,e.\cept during President Johnson's adminis- 
tration, when R. S. Hall was in charge. 

The early settlers in this locality were never 
long blessed with the presence of a physician 
among them, but had to secure the services of 
those living at Whitmore Lake. Samuel Grisson 
studied with Dr. Halleck at the place named, went 
to Geneva, N. Y., where he received his diploma, 
came to Hamburg and practiced a year or two, 
finally removing to Freedom, Washtenaw Co. One 
Dr. Goodenough, still a resident of some other 
portion of the county, was also here a short time, 
and Dr. Miller practiced a few months. These 
were all who ever .settled in the village, which has 
no resident physician at present (1879). 

VILLAGE OF I'ETTEYSVILLE. 

Seth A. Petteys, a native of Montgomery Co., 
N. Y., and for three years a resident of Rochester, 
Monroe Co., came to Michigan in May, 1836, with 
his father, Thomas Petteys, and settled in Putnam 
township, Livingston Co. Mrs. Petteys, Sr., died 
in that township, and her husband's death occurred 
in Hamburg, where he was living with his son. 

S. A. Petteys came to Hamburg in 1843, and 
built a carding- and fulling-mill on the outlet of 
Walker Lake. In 1849 he added a run of stones, 



and did grinding in connection with his woolen 
manufactures. From 1843 to 1863, Mr. Petteys 
continued to operate his fulling-mill ; but in the 
latter year he added a .second run of stones, and 
converted the whole institution into a grist-mill. 
The building now standing is the one erected in 
1843. Mr. Petteys engineered the work, being him- 
self a millwright by trade, anti in two months and 
six days from the time the first timbers were cut 
the mill was completed and running. The lumber 
was partly sawed at Leland. Walker's saw-mill, in 
the north part of the township, and part was [)ro- 
cured in Ingham County. The timbers used were 
cut on Mr. Petteys' own place, near the site of the 
mill. The building is three stories high, with a 
basement. 

In 1846, Mr. Petteys built a saw-mill, but removed 
it at a subsequent date, owing to the scarcity of 
timber. In i860 he built a cider-mill, which is 
j'ct in use. Mr. Petteys also manufactures apple- 
jelly. In 1850 he built a blacksmith-shop. The 
place now contains a blacksmith-shop, a wagon- 
shop, two stores, a post-office, a grist-mill, a cider- 
mill (both owned by Mr. Petteys), and a school 
building. The village received its name from the 
following circumstance: Mr. Petteys procured some 
stencil-plates with which to mark his flour-barrels, 
and the person who made them, wishing some 
name for the mills, proposed " Petteysville," after 
the proprietor, and it was cut on the stencil-plate 
and adopted as the name for the settlement. No 
village plat has yet been laid, but .Mr. Petteys has 
sold numerous building-lots, his object being to 
induce mechanics to settle here. 

The first store in the place was opened by David 
F. Hess in the building still occupied for like pur- 
poses by Samuel M. Fletcher. 

For a number of years, mail was received by the 
citizens of this locality at the Pinckney post-office 
in Putnam, but about 1863 Pettey.sville post-office 
was established, with Valentine Wiegand as post- 
master, and that gentleman still continues to dis- 
charge the duties of the office. The first mail was 
carried by subscription. 

Mr. Petteys, who also built the grist-mills at Pinck- 
ney and Hamburg villages, discovered the site of 
Petteysville while engaged at the second-named 
village, and subsequently purchased the west half 
of the northwest quarter and the northwest quar- 
ter of the northeast quarter of section 16, and 
upon a portion of this land his mills and the vil- 
lage are located. 

David Van Horn, living immediately south of 
Petteysville, came from the State of New Jersey in 
1850, and settled upon the place he now occupies. 
William Williamson, now of Howell, had formerly 



288 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



lived on the same farm, and still earlier it was 
occupied by Mr. Wilson. 

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

At Hamburg village, meetings were held at an 
early day by the Presbyterians, Universalists, and 
others, but no society had effected an organization 
until the formation of " St. Stephen's Protestant 
Episcopal Church," with the Grissons and others 
among its prominent members. A frame church 
is owned by this society, which latter is in a fairly 
prosperous condition. It is the only one in the 
county e.xcept an organization oftiie same denom- 
ination which meets in the court-house at Howell. 
The Methodists also have a society and a church 
building at Hamburg.* 

UNION CHURCH, PETTEYSVILLE. 

In 1845 the Methodists held meetings at this 
village, in the building standing opposite the resi- 
dence of Mr. Pette)S, now used as a wagon-shop. 
The same building was a little later used for school 
purposes. After the new school-house was built 
the Methodists occupied it until the fall of 1S78, a 
period of over thirty years. In the latter year a 
frame church was erected one mile north of the 
village. Rev. Mr. Sayre, a local preacher, and the 
first who held services here, went to California 
finally, and met his death at the hands of an assas- 
sin, whose object was to secure his money. The 
class at Petteysville was organized at some date 
succeeding the first meetings by Rev. Mr. Warren. 
The society held at one time a membership of over 
40. The present pastor resides at Pinckney, in 
Putnam township, where he also has charge of a 
church. The building erected near Petteysville is 
a neat frame church, costing about ;$I50D. It was 
built for use as a union church, but dedicated as a 
Congregational. That denomination and the Meth- 
odists hold their meetings in it, while all societies 
or sects have a right to occupy it as a place in 
which to hold religious services. 

SCHOOLS. 

The first school in the township of Hamburg 
was taught in a log school-house, one-fourth of a 
mile west of the site of the present frame building 
in District No. i. The e.xact date is not recol- 
lected, nor the teacher's name. 

When, in the year 1835, Daniel B. Harmon lo- 
cated upon his land north of what is now Petteys- 
ville, he built a small shanty, which he occupied 

* It is regretted that no more complete account can be given of 
the religious societies at Hamburg vilLnge, but the written infor- 
mation which was promised faiied to be fonhcoming, whence its 
non-appearance. 



until a log house could be constructed. Some time 
in the same year, after moving into the house, a 
school was taught in the vacated shanty by a fe- 
male teacher. The expenses of this school were 
paid by subscription, as it was before the district 
was organized. 

At Petteysville, in the summer of 1844, Mrs. 
George Mercer taught a school at her own house, 
and after that was closed the children were obliged 
to go two and a half and three miles to school, 
— sometimes to the " north district" and some- 
times to the "south district." In 1845 the daughter 
of Rev. Mr. Sayre taught a school in a building 
then standing on Mr. Petteys' place, afterwards 
converted into a dwelling. In the fall of 1846 a 
frame school-house, 18 by 26 feet, was built, and 
is still in use. The present district. No. 9, was 
organized about the same time. The term taught 
by Mrs. Mercer was the first school in the neigh- 
borhood, and it is remembered that she was an 
amiable and excellent teacher. The schools in 
the " north" atid " south" districts— one north and 
the other south of Petteysville, hence their names 
— had been in existence for several years before 
one was organized at the village. 

From the report of the school inspectors of the 
township for the year ending Sept. 2, 1878, the 
following statement is taken, showing the condition 
of the schools at that time: 

Number of whole districts 4 

" fractional districts 3 

" children of school age 252 

" school-houses (frame) 7 

Value of property S2825 

Number of nuile teachers 6 

" female teachers 8 

Total paid male teachers S707 

" " female teachers §364. 25 



Total receipts for year 

Amount on hand Sept. 2, 1S78. 



$1473-74 
19850 



Total expenditures, less amount on hand $1275.24 

CEMETERIES. 

The township contains two cemeteries, one on 
section 19 and the other on section 25. The latter, 
located south of Hamburg village, was laid out on 
an acre of land taken from the farm of Jesse Hall. 
At an early day the " First Hamburg Burial Asso- 
ciation" was formed, and still has charge of this 
cemetery. Ferdinand Grisson was for many years 
its president. The present officers are, President, 
James Cunningham; Vice-President and Secretary, 
Ferdinand Grisson ; Treasurer, Dennis Cor.y ; Se.x- 
ton, William Potterton. In this ground repose 
the remains of many of the pioneers of the neigh- 
borhood, with others who were prominent at dif- 
ferent periods in the history of the township. 
Among those buried here are the following : 



HAMBURG TOWNSHIP. 



289 



Elisha \V. BrocUway, a native of Lyme, New London Co., Conn., 

(lied July i, l86l,aged 71 years. 
Mary L., his wife, a nalive of Geneseo, Ontario Co., N. Y., died 

July 28, 1874, aged 72 years. 
Ann G., wife of W. C. BrocUway, a nalive of Wayne, Steuben Co., 

N. Y., died Oct. 19, 1874, aged 50 years. 
Ferdinand H., son of F. and S. Grisson, born June 6, 1837 ; died 

Aug. 9, 1842. 
Leonard Cooley, died July 26, 1847, ^S^^ 68 years. 
Daniel Hall, died April 26, 1S57, aged 67 years. 
Letly, his wife, died Jan. 29, 1851, aged 47 years. 
Peter P. Galatiaii, M.U., a nalive of Coldenham, N. Y., died at 

Green Oak, Michigan, May 1 1, 1862, aged 68 years. 
Sarah, wife of .Slcphen Haij^ht, died Oct. 7, 1853, aged 75 years. 
Susan, wife of William Ilaight, died Oct. 2, 1874, aged 63 years. 
Thaddeus S. Mapcs, died Nov. 23, 1875, -""Ke'l 64 years. 
Jacob C. Hayner, died April 9, 1862, aged 78 years. 
Elizabeth, his wife, died Dec. 10, 1S67, aged 76 years. 
Edward Bishop, died Aug. 24, 1876, aged 81 years. 
Lovina, his wife, died Dec. 21, 1878, aged 81 years. 
John S. Bennett, died May 24, 1871, aged 81 years. 
Martin Olsaver, <lic<l Aug. 4, 1862, aged 85 years. 
Frances, hi'i wife, died May 4, i860, aged 71 years. 
Kev. A. S. Hollister, died Jan. 4, 1856, aged 60 years. 
David B. Power, died Feb. 28, 1864, age<l 58 years. 
Harriet, wife of A. L. Power, died March 31, 1850, aged 41 

years. 
Peter S. Hendrick, died May 9, 1869, aged 70 years. 
Christopher L. Culver, died April 7, 1839, aged 39 years. 
Lucy H., his wife, died March 7, 1848, aged 29 years. 
Abner Butterfield, died March 19, 1873, aged 65 years. 
Richard E. Butler, died Nov. 5, 1866, aged 74 years. 
Cornelius Olsaver, died Jan. 19, 1875, aged 65 years. 
Jesse Hall, died Aug. 8, 1872, aged 78 years. 
Rev. S. M. Rigl, died June 26, 1848, aged 44 years. 
Sarah Corey, died Sept. 22, 1870, aged 85 years. 
Thomas A. Galloway, died Sept. 2, 1847, aged 68 years. 
Mary, wife of Rev. Ephraim Sawyer, died Nov. 19, 1847, aged 

73 years. 
J.ames Burnett, died March 29, i860, aged 77 years. 
Asenath, his wife, died March 10, 1852, aged 56 years. 

RAILROADS. 

Various projects have been considered for rail- 
ways to cross this township and furnisli an imme- 
diate market for the products of its farms. A 
proposition was submitted at one time to have the 
Grand Trunk Railway continue its line through 
this town to pass within one mile of Hamburg 
village, but, when the vote on the subject of raising 
$36,000 to aid the road was taken, the scheme was 
defeated. The Michigan Air- Line Railway, to ex- 
tend from Jackson to Port Huron, was afterwards 
talked of, the route being intended as a direct air- 
line from the connection with the Grand Trunk 
Railway, at Port Huron, through to Chicago. 
June 19, 1869, pursuant to printed notice, an elec- 
tion was held to determine whether the sum of 
$ 1 8,000 should be raised by the township in 
aid of the road, and the result stood 128 votes in 
favor to 25 against. Bonds were subsequently 
issued, and it was confidently expected the road 
would at once be built. It was graded from the 
west into the township of Putnam, and property 
37 



in the village of Pinckney, which lay on the route, 
advanced rapidly. The failure of the entire pro- 
ject caused the prices of property along the line to 
decline as rapidly as they had risen, and Pinckney 
especially felt the blow. The bonds issued by 
Hamburg, as well as by other townships, were 
cancelled, and the people settled back into their 
former state of suspense and anxious waiting for 
the time when the iron horse should thunder 
through their domain and transport to distant 
markets the products of their broad acres. The 
extension of this road from Jackson to Niles is 
owned by the Michigan Central Railway, and is 
laid on almost the exact route originally surveyed. 
Grading was also done at the eastern end of the 
route, from Port Huron to Romeo. 

CENSUS STATISTICS. 
In 1837 the township of Hamburg contained a 
population of 490. Thirty-seven years later, in 
1874, the number of inhabitants was 887, — males, 
464; females, 423. from the State census for 
1874 the following statistics are gathered : 

Number of acres of taxable land in township 21,617 

" " laud owned by individuals and com- 
panies 21,621 

" " improved land ■0.391 

" " land exempt fr.>m taxation 4 

Value of same, including impiovenients S8,0OO 

Number of acres in school-house sites 3 

** ** church and parsonage sites 1 

" " wheat raised in 1874 2,748 

" " '• " 1873 2,880 

" " corn " " 1.030 

Number of bushels wheat raised in " 28,148 

" " c irn " " 36,060 

" " all other grain " '5'305 

" " potatoes " 5455 

" tons hay cut " 1,841 

" pounds wool sheared " 27,770 

" " pork marketed " 49.790 

" " butter nia<le " 48,360 

" " fruit dried for market in 1S73 8,280 

" barrels cider ni.ade in 1873 457 

" acres in orchards " 363 

" bushels apples raised in 1872 14,825 

1873 "■95° 

Value of fruit and garden vegetables, 1872 S4.0CX) 

1873 S4.500 

Number of horses one year old and over, 1874 405 

" work oxen, 1874 8 

" milch cows, '• 395 

" neat cattle, one year old and over, other than 

oxen and cows, 1874 428 

" swine over six months old, 1874 429 

" sheep " " " 4.921 

•' " sheared in 1873 5.050 

Number of flouring-mills in township 3 

Number of pei^sons employed 3 

Capital invested $13,500 

Number of barrels of Hour m.ade 1, 1 00 

V,ilue of products 38,000 

Number of sawmills I 

Number of persons employed in same I 

Capital invested Si. 500 

Feet of lumber sawed 20,000 

Value of products S300 

The following persons are among the many who 
have contributed information in this township, and 
to all who have thus aided sincere thanks are due 
and tendered : Daniel S. Bennett, of Ionia County, 



290 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



son of Justus J. Bennett; Seth A. Petteys, Mrs. 
George Mercer, and others, at Petteysville ; Hon. 
William Ball, Mrs. Stoddard W. Twichell, Ferdi- 
nand Grisson, Mrs. George Burnett, ard others, at 
Hamburg village and vicinity, and others in various 
portions of the township. Indebtedness is also 
acknowledged to the Pioneer Society of tiie county, 
and to Hon. Edwin B. VVinans, present judge of 
probate. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



MAJOR GEORGE MERCER. 
Among the early settlers and prominent citizens 
of Hamburg the subject of this narrative during 
his lifetime occupied a conspicuous position. He 
was born in Devonshire, England, in 1795. His 
father, William Mercer, was a cloth-merchant, a 
successful business man, who gave his children 




lFS-\" -•? 



MAJOR GEORGE MERCER. 



liberal advantages, and reared a family of five 
children, — four sons and one daughter. George 
received a collegiate education, and was associated 
with his father in business until about 1820, when 
he came to this country, settling in New York 
City, where for many years he did business as an 
importer and jobber of cloths. 

His business ventures were unsuccessful, and in 
1833 he went to Monroe Co., N. Y., and engaged 
in farming. Here he lived until 1836, when he re- 
moved to Hamburg, Mich., with his family, and 
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, 
upon which he resided until his decease. The 
pioneer life of Mr. Mercer was one of unusual 



hardships and trials. Being city-bred and without 
practical experience as a farmer, he was beset with 
difficulties almost insurmountable. It is needless 
to say that, as a farmer, Mr. Mercer was unsuccess- 
ful, and a few years after, he accepted a situation as 
book-keeper in the drug and dry-goods house of 
W. S. Maynard, of Ann Arbor, where he remained 
for fifteen years. 

Oct. 26, 1831, Mr. Mercer was married to Miss 
Mary, daughter of William and Mary Williamson, 
of Brooklyn, N. Y. Mr. Williamson was a mer- 
chant, and came to Brooklyn in 18-25, where he 
resided until his death, which occurred in May, 
1827. 

Mr. Mercer was a man of more than ordinary 
ability and acquirements. He creditably filled 
many positions of trust. In 1846 he was elected 
supervisor, and for many years he served the town 
as magistrate and clerk. Mr. and Mrs. Mercer 
reared a familj' of five children, three of whom are 
living in the vicinity of the old home. 



HON. WILLIAM BALL. 

This gentleman, one of the prominent agricul- 
turists of Livingston County, was born in Niles, 
Cayuga Co., N. Y., April 7, 1830. When six years 
of age his father emigrated with his family to 
Washtenaw County, settling in the township of 
Webster- 
William received but very little adventitious aid 
in making a future for himself; he obtained, how- 
ever, a collegiate education, and inherited from his 
parents a robust constitution and industrious habits, 
and with these as his exclusive capital he com- 
menced life for himself. After finishing his edu- 
cation he was for several years engaged in teaching, 
but the profession not proving congenial, and having 
a decided taste for farming, he resolved to make 
that his business for life. In 1858 he purchased, in 
the town of Hamburg, one hundred and forty-seven 
acres of land, which is a portion of his present farm 
of five hundred acres. As a farmer and stock- 
grower Mr. Ball has been very successful, and 
holds a deservedly prominent position among the 
leading farmers of the State. He is president of 
the Michigan Sheep-Breeders' and Wool-Growers' 
Association, and of the Livingston County Agri- 
cultural Society, and for two years has officiated as 
a director in the State and Central Michigan Agri- 
cultural Societies. He is extensively known as a 
successful breeder of short-horns and Spanish Me- 
rinos, has done much to improve the sheep and 
cattle interests of Livingston, and his stock is con- 
sidered among the best in this section of the State. 
Notwithstanding his extensive agricultural oper- 




Residence OF CHESTER HAZARD, Genoa. Livingston Co., Mich. 




Residence OF 0. W. SEXTON, Hamburg, Michigan 



GENOA TOWNSHIP. 



291 



ations, Mr. Ball lias always manifested an interest 
in public affairs, and the people have shown their 
appreciation of his .services by electing him to 
various positions of influence and responsibility, 
which he has filled with scru[)ulous fidelity. In 
his political belief he was originally a Whig, and 
upon the organization of the Republican party he 
espoused its cause, antl has since labored in that 
organization. In 1863 he represented Hamburg 
upon the Board of Supervisors, where he was ac- 
knowledged an able and efficient member. In 1864 
he was elected to the representative branch of the 
Legislature. In 1866 he was re-elected, .serving as 
chairman on the committee of towns and counties. 
In 1874 he was elected county superintendent of 
schools, which position he filled acceptably until 
that office was abolished by act of the Legislature. 

In 1858, Mr. Ball was married to Miss Catherine, 
daughter of David B. and .Sarah (Culver) Powers, 
who settled in Hamburg in 1831, and whose names 
are prominently associated with its early history. 

Mr. Ball is a self-made man, and one of whom 
the Latin phrase, " Fabcr siiiz fortii>i<e," is eminently 
true. Commencing life with only his natural re- 
sources for capital, he has in a few years attained 
an enviable position among the representative men 
of Livingston County. 



DENNIS COREY 

was born in the town of Edinburg, Saratoga Co., 
N. Y., Jan. 18, 1S24. His parents, John D. and 
Parney (Armstrong) Corey, had a family of thirteen 
children, — six sons and seven daughters. When 
Dennis was seven years of age his father came with 
his family to Michigan, settling in Wayne County. 



Dennis remained with his father until he was nine- 
teen years of age, when he purchased his time, and 
commenced life for himself as a farm laborer. He 
followed that occupation, however, but a short 
time, subsequently acq liring the trade of an en- 
gineer, which he followed until 1852, when he pur- 
chased the farm upon which he now resides. The 
land for the most part was unimproved, and the 
fine farm of to-da)', with its finely cultivated fields 
and commodious buildings, is the result of his own 
energy and industry. In 1854 he was married to 
Miss Luzette, daughter of Heman Lake, one of 
the town's first settlers. In 1858, Mrs. Corey died, 
and in i860 he was married to Catharine Corey, of 
Oti.sco, Onondaga Co., N. Y., where she was born, 
December, 1824. By his first wife Mr. Corey had 
one child, Parney E, now Mrs. George Banghart. 
Mr. Corey has been successful, and his farm (a 
view of which we present on another page) evi- 
dences his thrift and enterprise. 



ELI.VS D.AVIS 
was born in the town of Tyrone, Steuben Co., 
N. Y., in 181 3. In 1834 he came to Michigan, and 
purchased eighty acres of land in the town of 
Hamburg, upon which he resided until his decease, 
June 30, 1845. He was married to Mary P'llcn 
Myer, of Seneca Co., N. Y., where she was born, in 
the town of Lodi, Oct. 4, 1 8 1 8. 

Mr. Davis was a successful farmer, and acquired, 
by his own industry and good management, a valu- 
able farm of two hundred acres, which he left to 
his widow and children. He had three children, 
viz., Caroline, now Mrs. Henry Poulsen, Deborah 
C, and Myer A. 



" > ' (0 i 1 



GENOA TOWNSHIP. 



The northwest corner of Genoa township is at 
the geographical centre of Livingston County. 
The township is bounded north by Oceola.east by 
Brighton, south by Hamburg, and west by Marion. 
It is crossed iliagonall)', near the centre, from south- 
east to northwest, by the Detroit, Lansing and 
Northern Railroad, upon which is a flag-station at 
the corner of sections 14, 15, 22, and 23. The old { 
" Grand River road," now a toll turnpike, ex- 
tends across the northern portion of the town, and 
through some of its best- improved parts. On sec- 
tion 6 the Ann Arbor road leaves the first-named 



highwa}', and after a course of several miles enters 
Hamburg from section 33. 

The water area of Genoa is extensive, although 
no streams of note flow within the township. Nu- 
merous lakes, which are peculiar to and character- 
istic of Michigan, exist, of greater or less area. Of 
these the finest is Long Lake, on sections 3, 4, 9, 
10, and 1 1. Its shores arc for the most part wooded, 
and abound in pleasant camping and fishing re- 
sorts. Much of the lake is shallow, and filled with 
the grassy growth common to the waters of the 
county. This pleasant sheet of water was one of 



292 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



the prominent landmarks known to the early set- 
tlers, and more than one pioneer camped with his 
family on its shore and admired its beauty. The 
origin of its name is apparent when a glance is 
taken at the map, or at the lake itself Its length 
is about one and three- fourths miles, and its aver- 
age width in the neighborhood of one-fourth of a 
mile. 

Crooked Lake, lying south of the centre of the 
township, on sections 21, 22, 27, and 28, is a large 
body of water, of such peculiar form as to render 
its name appropriate. In its southern arm are 
several small islands, as shown on the map. Its 
outlet flows south, and furnishes power at least at 
one point before it joins the Huron, viz., at Petteys- 
ville, in Hamburg township. Feet, Lime, and other 
lakes in the township, some of which are not pos- 
sessed of names, are of lesser area. Round Lake 
lies partially in Oceola and partly in the northwest 
part of Genoa. Ore Creek, after leaving the town- 
ship of Brighton, crosses the southeast corner of 
Genoa, in which it receives one or two small tribu- 
taries. Tamarack swamps are common in portions 
of the township, and open marshes are met with in 
numerous places. 

The general surface of the township of Genoa is 
undulating, with occasional fertile plains, and, in 
the southern portion, high gravel ridges. Its soil 
is generally productive, and many of its farms are 
improved to an extent which gives evidence of 
their value, as well as the thrift and enterprise of 
their owners. The township has not as large an 
area available for agricultural purposes as some 
others in the county, yet it ranks among the first 
in importance, and is strictly a farming township. 

LAND-ENTRIES. 

The following is a list of those who entered 
land in what is now Genoa township, together 
with the sections upon which they located and the 
years in which the entries were made : 

Section i. — 1835, Alvin F. Benjamin, William S. Conely; 1836, 
Peter Duress, Erastus Kellogg, Alvin Norton, Andrew Lamb, 
John W. Williams, Valentine Strack, Horace R. Hudson ; 
1837, William Placeway. 

Section 2. — 1835, Chester Hazard; 1836, James M. Murray, 
Erastus Kellogg, Abram Hankins, Joseph Placeway, John 
While; 1837, Amasa Dean ; 1838, John Clark. 

Section 3. — 1835, John L. Martin; 1836, Benjamin Earl, Benja- 
min J. Boutwell, Er.istus Watrous, Richard Brown, John 
White; 1837, William Jacobs; 1853, Charles P. Bush, J. J. 
Bush. 

Section 4. — 1835, Samuel West, John Ellis, John L. Martin; 
1836, Benjamin Earl, John Earl, John Ellis, John F. Law. 
son; 1837, Cornelius W. Burwell. 

Section 5. — 1833, John Drew; 1835, John Ellis, Asahel Dibble; 
1836, Asahel Dibble, John Ellis; 1837, Cornelius W. Bur- 
well, Orson Elliott. 



Section 6. — 1835, Asa Colib, William Shaft, Asahel Dibble, 
Flavins J. B. Crane; 1836, Horace M. Comstock, Mark Hea- 
ley, B. B. Kercheval. 

Section 7. — 1834, Ely Barnard; 1835, Edward Latson, William 
Shaft; 1836, Asahel Dibble, William Burr Curtis, Peter 
Shaft; 1837, David Parker, Asahel Dibble. 

Section 8. — 1834, Ely Barnard; 1835, John Ellis, Asa Cobb, Jr., 
Jacob Vandewalker. 

Section 9. — 1834, Zacharkah Sutlon ; 1835. Samuel West, Neil 
F. Butterfield, Lucius H. Peat; 1836, William P. Patrick; 
'837, John ¥. Lawson. 

Section 10. — 1833, John Whyte; 1834, Jehiel Barron; 1835, 
John White; 1836, Horace H. Comslock ; 1837, Steward 
H. Hazard; 1853-54, Charles P. Bush. 

Section ii. — 1835, Jacob Euler, Lavina Robbins, Thomas Pinck- 
ney, Chester Hazard; 1836, Steward Hazard, Oren Rhoades, 
Lucius H. Peet, Pamelia, Lavina, and Jane E. Ward, John 
White. 

Section 12. — 1835, Alvin F. Benjamin, Peter Euler, George 
Henry Zulauf, Aaron H. Kelley, John Euler; 1836, Peter 
Duross, John J. Brown, Elisha Hodgnian; 1S37-47, Lawrence 
Euler. 

Section 13. — 1834, Alexander Fraser, Thomas Pinckney, Charles 
A. Green; 1835, Mansing Hithaway, Alvin F. Benjamin, 
Roswell Barns; 1836, Horace H. Comstock, Benjamin J. 
Boutwell, Nehemiah Boutwell. 

.Section 14. — 1835, Lucius H. Peet, Neil F. Butterfield, Isaiah 
P. Robbins, Abigail A. R. Pinckney; 1836, Mark Healey 
and B. B. Kercheval; 1837, Philip Coon. 

Section 15. — 1835, Isaiah P. Robbins, Peter McDerby; 1836, 
William Miller, Mark Healey and B. B. Kercheval, Jacob 
Fishbeck, Charles Benedict, P.itrick Bogan, Samuel Sewall. 

Section 16 (school lands). — 1846, Freeman Fishbeck; 1851, 
Jacob Fishbeck, Charles Benedict; 1853, Hans Russell, 
William Crostick, John E. Dorn, William Van Blarcom, 
James O'Hara, John Duffy, John Bogan, Freeman Fishbeck; 
1854, Catharine McGark, Charles Benedict. 

Section 17. — 1834, Ely Barnard ; 1835, Asa Cobb, Pardon Bar- 
nard, Elias Davis, Joseph Rider; 1836, Isaac Morse, David 
Pierce, Henry Williams. 

Section 18. — 1834, Ely Barnard; 1835, Pardon Barnard, Jr., 
Josiah Ward; 1836, George Babcock, Timothy R. Bennett, 
William T. Curtis, Lawrence Noble, Asahel Dibble; 1854, 
Richard Britten. 

Section 19. — 1835, Timothy R. Bennett, Reuben Moore; 1836, 
Richard Britten, John Tompkins, Enoch Webster, Samuel W. 
Baldwin, Joseph Bower, Lawrence Noble, Samuel Sewall; 
1837, Consider Crapo. 

Section 20. — 1835, James H. Cole; 1836, Elias Davis, Amariah 
Hammond, Hubbard McCloud, Henry S. Lisk, Margaret 
Canline, Caleb Curtis; 1838, Wm. T. Curtis; 1854, James 
Welch. 

Section 21. — 1835, Freeman Fishbeck, David Pierce, Jemima 
Fishbeck; 1836, William B. Yauger, Charles Benedict, 
Abram Cantine, Freeman Fishbeck, Philip Fishbeck ; 1854, 
William Suhr, Alexander Carpenter. 

Section 22. — 1835, Peter McDerby; 1836, Chauncey Symonds, 
Lawrence Euler, John Magee, Gardner Carpenter; 1837, 
Daniel Jones, Peter Coon ; 1840, Rodman Stoddard; 1850, 
Lewis Dorr; 1854, William Suhr, Joseph M. Gilbert. 

Section 23. — 1836, Henry Smith, Martin Hartman, Charles Con- 
rad, Haz.ard Newton ; 1837, Henry Smith, George Ranscher, 
Catharine Hartman, Henry Foster, William Hacker; 1838, 
Moses O. Jones; 1839, Henry Bush ; 1852, Jacob Conrad. 

Section 24. — 1835, Chester Hazard ; 1836, Benjamin J. Boutwell, 
Mark Healey, B. B. Kercheval, Charles S. Emerson. 

Section 25. — 1833, Almon Maltby; 1S35, Joseph Brown, Jr.; 
1836, Mark Healey, B. B. Kercheval, Hiram Olds; 1837, 
Truman B. Worden ; 1839, Grace Thomson; 1847, John 
Cushing. 



GENOA TOWNSHIP. 



293 



Section 26. — 1836, Nathaniel Carr, Henry Earl, Justin Willey ; 
, 1S3S, Francis W. Brown; 1839, Daniel S. O'Neal; 1840, 
Nathaniel Carr; 1854, John Bauer, Gustav Baetcke. 

Section 27,-1835, Merman C. Hau-ie; 1836, Nathan Ilawley, 
John D. Robinson, Luther H. Ilovey, Henry Hand; 1837, 
Charles Weller; 1838, Moses O. Jones, Betsey McMulling; 
1856, Philip Conrad. 

Section 28. — 1835, Nicholas Kristler, William Harmon, Herman 
C. Hause ; 1836, Justus J. Bennett, Amariah Hammond, Dan- 
iel B. Harmon, Norman L Gaston, Abner Ormsby, Margaret 
Cantine; 1854, Alexander Carpenter ; 1857, Edward N. H. 
Bode. 

Section 29. — 1835, Nichol.as Kristkr, David Hight, Daniel Jes- 
sup; 1836, Reuben Haight, Ira While, Caleb Curtis, Byram 
Timmons, Patrick Smith, .\sahel Diblile. 

Section 30. — 1835, Reuben Moore; 1836, Richard Britten, John 
Jennings, Enoch Webster, Patrick Smith, Samuel Sewall, 
William L.Tompkins; 1837, Jonathan P. King, NichoLis 
Fishbeck; 1846, J.acob D. Gall ; 1854, Matthew Brady. 

Section 31. — 1837, John B. Britten, Samuel Dean, Michael 
Fuhay ; 1838, James Collins, Joseph Gruver; 1847, Seymour 
Phillips; 1S50, Mallhew Brady ; 1853, Philip Brady. 

Section 32. — 1836, Parley Phillips, Henry PhiUips, David Wf^ht, 
David Wells, Francis A. Fisk ; 1837, William Bloodworih, 
John B. Britten, Denison Tisdale ; 1838, Joseph Gruver; 
1853, Timothy Phillips. 

Section 33.— 1835, Garner Carpenter, Eastman Griflfeth ; 1836, 
Daniel B. Harmon, Miletus H. Snow, Fanny L. Snow, East- 
man Griflfeth, Reuben H. Bennett, Christopher Hoagland, 
Caleb Curtis, Jonathan Stone, Rodney D. Mill; 1837, Deni- 
.son Tisdale, Jr. 

Section 34. — 1836, Nelson Mawley, David Whitney, Rodney D. 
Hill, B. B. Kercheval, Luther M. Hovey; 1837, George J. 
Moon. 

Section 35. — 1836, Samuel E. Chapman, Levi Hanley; 1836-37, 
Joseph Charles. 

Section 36.— 1835, Elijah Fitch, William IL Townsend, Philip 
Stewart, Amy Hawkshurst; 1837-54, George J. Moon. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

Although the first entries of land in Genoa were 
made by Almon Maltby* and John White in May 
and July, respectively, in the year 1833, yet it was 
not until the second year afterwards that a settle- 
ment was made. The veil of uncertainty is thrown 
around the first improvements and their projectors, 
but the following are the facts as near as can at 
present be ascertained : 

In the summer of 1835 the township received 
the advance guard of its pioneer army in the per- 
sons of Thomas Pinckney and Pardon and Ely 
Barnard, — the latter two named being brothers, — 
all since deceased. Pinckney came from Dutchess 
Co., N. Y , and the Barnards from Madison County, 
in the same State. It has been the general opinion 
heretofore that Pinckne)''s log house was the first 
structure built in the township for the use of a 
white family, and such is probably the case, al- 
thotigh it can have the precedence by only a few 
days to that built b)- the Barnards. Both were 
built in the summer of 1835. Thomas Pinckney 
was a brother of John D. Pinckney, one of the 

* Maltby settled in Brighton. 



early settlers of Howell, in which village the 
latter's widow yet resides. 

In the fall of 1834, Ely Barnard visited Genoa, 
and entered considerable quantities of land for him- 
self and his brother. Ely Barnard was at the time 
a single man, and, with his brother, "kept bach- 
elors' hall" in 1835 '" ^^^^ '^s Iiouse they had 
erected. Pardon Barnard had come in the spring 
of that year to the State. He was a native of the 
town of Leno.x, Madison Co., N. Y., where he was 
born Jan. 11, 1812. In 1832 he was married to 
Eliza A. Curtis, of Morrisville, N. Y., and in 1834 
was licensed as a Methodist preacher. In Novem- 
ber, 1835, he moved his family into the log house 
in Genoa, his wife's brother, Burr Curtis, coming 
with them. The father of the latter, William T. 
Curtis, moved into town in June, 1836, with his wife 
and daughter, — the latter afterwards becoming the 
wife of Ely Barnard, who was much of a sports- 
man and a true lover of the chase. He was also a 
man of remarkable business capabilities, and one 
of the foremost citizens of the town and county in 
which he had made his home. Burr Curtis is now 
a resident of Howell, where also dwell Pardon Bar- 
nard's widow and one son, William. A second son, 
Henry, lives at Brighton, to which place he moved, 
froiTi Howell, in August, 1879. Mrs. Barnard, Sr., 
relates that from the time when she came to Genoa 
it was six weeks — and long enough they seemed 
to her — before she saw another white woman. 

The farms of the Messrs. Barnard were upon 
the Ann Arbor road, and are now owned by Henry 
Spencer and William Bell. Thomas Pinckney 's 
place was in the eastern part of town, on the Grand 
River road, and is the present property of Andrew 
Pless. 

Joseph A. and Asahel Dibble were among the 
pioneers of the last-mentioned part of the town- 
ship, arriving in June, 1837. The latter is deceased 
and the former resides north of Howell. 

John W. Lawson settled west of Long Lake in 
the summer of 1836, and built his house in the 
fall of the same year, it being well under way in 
November, when C. W. Burwell arrived. Mr. 
Lawson's son, John, occupies the old place at 
present. In this locality are some of the best- 
improved farms in the township. A plain of con- 
siderable area offers special attractions and advan- 
tages to the agriculturist, and the settlers were not 
slow in appreciating them. 

Two of the most attractive places along the 
Grand River road in Genoa are those owned by 
William and Albert Toolej'. The latter came from 
Wayne Co., N. Y., in June, 1841, and settled on 
the farm east of the one on which his brother lo- 
cated in September, 1844. William Tooley was 



294 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



accompanied by bis wife. The land on which 
these gentlemen settled was originally located by 
their half-brother, Samuel West, but he made no 
improvements whatever upon it. The two brothers 
are still residing upon the liomesteads they origi- 
nally settled, and which they have so extensively 
improved. 

The following sketch of the early history of Ge- 
noa was prepared by Mrs. C. W. Burwell in 1877, 
and read before the June meeting — in that year — 
of the Pioneer Association : 

" The first location was made in vvliat is now Genoa, on section 
25, near Biigbton -village, May 13, 1S33, by Almon Maltby, and 
sold by him to B. Gushing, in 1841. Mr. Mallljy is still Uving in 
the. town of Green Oak ; has held the office of supervisor of that 
town, and other offices; is to-day one of our best citizens. 

" The second location was made on section 10, July 22, 1833 
(land now owned by Henry Weinieister, on Long Lake), by John 
White, an Englishman and a bachelor. He built a small log 
house and then went to Detroit to live, where he died in 1S47. 
After his death, A. Harvey, of Detroit, an administrator of White's 
estate, sold the land to C. P. Bush. 

" The third location, 240 acres on .section 5, by John Drew, 
Aug. 13, 1833. The.se were the only lands located in 1S33, and 
the first in the township as above stated. 

" The fourth location was made Aug. 9, 1834, by Alexander 
Fraser, of New York City (father of Mrs. John D. Tinckney, of 
Howell), on section 13, now owned by N. S. Benjamin. 

" The fifth location was made by Thomas Pinckney, on section 
13, Sept. 30, 1834. Mr. Pinckney soon settled on his lanil, and 
there the first white child in Genoa was burn. This land is now 
owned by A. Pless. 

" The sixth location, October 24, on section 9, by Zachariah Sut- 
ton, and sold to John F. Lawson, July g, 1836, who settled on it 
that year. It is now owned by his son, J. W. Lawson. 

" Charles A. Green located on section 13, Aug. 22, 1834, forty 
acres, now owned by Louis Meyers. Ely Barnaril, of Madison 
Co., N. Y., located on sections 7, 8, 17, and 18, in all 240 acres. 

" Chester Hazard located the southwest quarter of the southwest 
quarter of section 3, and other lands, Nov. 3, 1835. Mr. Hazard 
still lives on and tills, or oversees the tilling of his farm, and is 
now a very old but hale man. 

"C. W. Bui well located lands in 1S37 on sections 4 and 5. 

" Thomas Pinckney built the first house in the town, and Pardon 
Barnard the second, I believe. Mr. F. Curtis was the first su]ier- 
visor of the town of Genoa under that name in 1837. 

" Ely Barnard was the first register of deeds for the county and 
clerk of the first Board of Supervisors in 1836. He was after- 
wards a member of the State Legislature, and one of the members 
to amend the constitution in 1850. The first year after the town 
was organized the valuation was $60,000; no town tax ; S18 State, 
and $110 county tax. 

"John Ellis located in 1835, where C. W. Burwell now lives; 
Samuel West, where the Tooleys live, afterwards the Bush farm, 
where C. P. Bush settled in 1837, first m a log house on the site 
of what is now the Widow Sweet's house and farm. Afterwards 
he built the first frame house* in Genoa, in 1S38 or '39, — a part of 
it is yet >tanding on the farm now owned by Kinsley Tooley, in 
full view of our beautiful Long Lake. C. P. Bush settled first in 
the town of Handy, and then here, in the fall of 1837. He was 
a ' mighty hunter.' The first winter of his residence here he shot 
thirty-three deer, besides other game, and his neighbors well re- 
member the savory bits he sent so often. . . . 



* See Chester Hazard's statement, — latter's frame house built in 
1837- 



" Mr. David Hight is still living, aged ninety-six or over. The 
writer anil fainily came to Michigan and settled in Genoa in the 
autumn of 1836. The face of the country was even then very 
pleasant. These openings were not at all like timbered woods, 
but like trees set in a park, as they were by the All Father. One 
could walk anywhere he pleased, as there was no underbrush. We 
stayed in Ypsilanti a short time. In the mean time Mr. Burwell 
came out to Livingston and engaged a man to put up for us a log 
house. It was to be finished in three weeks. Within half a mile 
of our place were two families (transient settlers) living in shanties, 
one on the site of our neighbor's (Mr. Cro^tick's) old house, the 
other exactly opposite. The last-mentioned family agreed to va- 
cate and rent to Mr. Bush for twenty-five cents. He paid in ad- 
vance, and when we came we took possession. It was about 17 
by 14. There were eight in our family, including three little chil- 
dren. There we stayed six weeks. Our goods, except some of 
our beds and bedding, were stilUin Detroit, and our journey to De- 
troit in those days was about like going to California now. Mr. 
Fraser, our ne.irest neighbor west, and the only one between here 
and Ho\\eII, kindly lent us a small iron kettle and S|nder, a tea- 
kettle, and a tea-pot without any cover. Of our ' opposite neigh- 
bor' we borrowed one plate, one knife and fork, and one chair, all 
of which we courteously left for the mistress of the mansion. 
The rest used cleaned chips for plates, and pocket-knife and fingers 
for forks. The meat was fried in the spider and served in the 
same. Thanks to our Michigan appetites, nothing before nor since 
was ever eaten with a better relish than was that fried meat, well- 
watered gravy, excellent potatoes, bread, cheese, etc. Can't re- 
member that we had a spoon ; think that we all dipped our morsels 
in the same dish, — said spider. We brought a cow with us, and 
to change our diet occa^ionally made a dish of thickened milk, 
the milk well diluted with water, to make it go further, until .about 
the color of clear-starch, — delicious nevertheless. 

" There are few evils so bad but some good comes out of them, 
and when at last our house was so we could move into it, no room 
I ever was in (thanks to our shanty experience) seemed to nie so 
grand and spacious as did that log house, with its clean hewn logs, 
rough board floor, a partition for bedrooms, a fireplace, the back 
of which took in almost the whole end of the house; a stick 
chimney, through which we could look up and see the stars ; round 
.stones for a hearth, — no others could be got at that time of the year, 
— and such fires ! as high as our heads, made of oak limbs and logs, 
crackling and sparkling, making the room glow like a fairy palace. 
The pine boxes were soon converted into closets and shelves for 
dishes and books, by the ingenious hands of the hiied man that 
came with us from York Stale ; with old white muslin for curtains, 
it all looked indeed homelike and cosy. Thanks again to the 
shanty, it m.agnified by comparison every after-comfort and con- 
venience. We can never fully appreciate the value of what we 
have never had. There is nothing like a new country experience 
to make us appreciate home comforts, as they are brought about 
one by one by our own exertions. And the greatest blessing of 
all, we were in perfect health; especially were the children so 
much better than they ever were in New York. That alone would 
have reconciled us to any amount of discomfort, but we were rest- 
ing very comfortably after we got settled. The winter was very 
mild, with only snow enough to be pleasant, as were many of the 
succeeding winlers. The deer were very numerous, — would come 
sometimes almost to the door, and if we went only a little distance 
from the house we were almost sure to see two or more of the 
graceful creatures. Once, and only once, we were surrounded by 
wolves. We did not seek for nor admire them as we did the deer. 
Game of all kinds was very plenty, also fish in great abundance in 
our numerous lakes, — a great help and luxury to new-comers. Our 
nearest neighbor, until after the Tooleys came, was the family of 
John T. Lawson, about three-quarters of a mile east of us, where 
his son, John W. Lawson, now lives. They came in the spring of 
the same year we did. I think Mr. Pardon Barnard came a year 
before; he lived about three miles from us, — near neighbors in 
those days, — and we visited them and other-, often, and they us. 



GENOA TOWNSHIP. 



295 



with oxen and sled<. The sleighing was good, and riding Ihroiigli 
among tlie trees very pleasant, oxen notwithstanding. Mr. Curtis, 
too, — Mr. Barnard's father-in-law, — lived near them, and came 
soon after we did. One knows how to value good neighbors and 
pleasant intercourse with them in a new countiy. Before the next 
winter the Hon. Charles P. Bush settled near us, as I mentioned 
elsewhere. He was one of the first to represent our county in the 
Legislature, and hel|>ed to hring about the removal of the capital 
from Detroit to Lansing, Ingliam Co., then a 'wild wood,' and 
very few settlers between Howell and there. A few years after, 
Mr. Roswell Pettibone settled and lived many years on the place 
now owned by Mr. Conrad Slioenhals. He now lives in Oceola, 
but is a near neighbor yet. Our neighbor. Rev. William Sledman, 
came in a few years later than we did ; he settled on the pl.ace 
owned now by Mr. Fitch, and resided there until recently; he 
lives now in the vill.ageof Howell. Mr. Brewster Carpenter came 
still later, and settled .about one mile, I think, from what w.as the 
Buckland place, on the Ann Arbor rond, and is still living on the 
old homestead. Mr. A. Dibble also settled on the same road in 
either 1836 or '37, but has left long ago ; the place is now owned 
by Mr. G.irlock. Mr. William Shaft settled on the a<ljoining farm, 
now owned by Mr. Wesley Garlock. 

" Mr. William A. Buckland, now deceased, located and resided 
for many years on the corner of Grand River and Ann Arbor 
roads, now owned by the Messrs. Hubbanl. Mrs. liuckland was 
the daugliter of Dr. Wheeler, of Howell, still well remembered 
by pioneers of Howell and Genoa. Mrs Buckland resides .at 
present with her family in the village of Howell. 

" For several of the first years we all went visiting and to meet- 
ing (as we sometimes had preaching at our different houses), and 
to church at Howell, — after one was organized there, — with our 
own ox-teams. A horse at the church door was a rare sight. We 
could not boast of their speed, but they were safe, especially if a 
man was at their heads, and their lack of speed was only a source 
of merriment, as was every other annoyance from what we had 
not, but hoped some time to have. . . . 

" In the spring of 1839 we commenced our first school in Dis- 
trict No. 2, consisting of three families, — Lawson, Bush, and Bur- 
well, — nine children in all, part of them hardly old enough to go, 
but we must send all we could of those nine. All are still living, 
and heails of families, except George Lawson, who died in early 
manhood. Our fir.st school-house (log, of course) was nearly op- 
posite Mr. Lawson's house, and on his land. Our first teacher 
was Miss Electa Bush, a daughter of John Bush, of Handy, and 
mother of Mrs. John W. Lawson. She was then a very young 
girl. C. W. Burwell, being director, went after her with his pony. 
She rode and he walked back, a distance of fourteen miles. A 
killing matter that wouhl be now, but teachers were not so j^Ienty 
then. District No. 2 built the second school-house in Genoa, I 
think, that in the Benjamin district being the first. ..." 

Mr. BurvvcU and lii.s family still reside 011 the 
place they settled in 1836, and he has grown old 
in the land of his adoption. 

Chester Hazard, from Steuben Co., N. Y., came 
to Genoa in 1835 and purchased land, returning 
afterwards for his family. July 4, 1836, he left his 
home and started on the overland journey to 
Michigan, accompanied by his family. His wagon 
was drawn by two yokes of cattle, and nine addi- 
tional head were driven. The trip was made 
through Canada, and in the course of time Detroit 
was reached. Mr. Hazard's brother, Stewart 
Hazard, was then living in Wayne County, and 
with him the family staj-cd until some time in the 
month of August, when they proceeded to the 



new home in the wikleriiess. One child had been 
buricil before leaving New York; btit four sons 
and three daughters accompanied their parents to 
Michigan, and aided in the conquest of the diffi- 
culties which there beset them. On the place 
adjoining Mr. Hazard's, at the east, a log house 
had been erected by Mr. Butterfield, of Kensing- 
ton, Oakland Co., but it had not been completed. 
Mr. Hutterficld informed Mr. Hazard that if he 
chose to finish it up he was welcome to the use of 
it until he cotild build for himself, and his offer 
was gratefully accepteii. William Wood, a ctr- 
penter and joiner by trade, who had been one of 
Mr. Hazard's neighbors in the .State of New York, 
came to Genoa e.irly in 1837. He wished for 
work to enable him to ])urchase some land, and 
Mr. Hazard "-mployetl him to build the fr.tme 
house which is still standing on the latter's place. 
Mr. Hazard cut whitewood (tulip) trees on his 
own farm, drew the logs to Maitby's mill below 
Brighton, and had them sawed into lumber. This 
was in the winter of 1836-37, and it was princi- 
pally of this lutiiber that the house was btiilt. 
Mr. Hazard is of tlie opinion that his was the 
first fr.ime house erected in the township. When 
he arrived here his nearest neighbors were Thomas 
Pinckney and Lucius H. Pect. Manning Hatha- 
w.iy came soon after. In early life Mr. Hazard 
learned the trade of tanner, currier, and shoemaker 
at Arlington, Bennington Co., Vt., and conducted 
a moderately extensive business in that line while 
living in New York, but never after coming to 
Michigan. In 1S42 he was elected treasurer of 
Livingston County, which office he held two suc- 
cessive terms, residing during the time at Howell. 
While absent frotn the farm his son-in-law, Abram 
Upthegrove, kept a hotel in the house he had 
vacated. In 184S, Mr. Hazard was chosen to the 
State Legislature, and has also held other offices, 
having been a justice of the peace for many years, 
and supervisor of Genoa several terms, etc. Since 
1849 he has resided upon his farm. 

Lucius H. Peet for a number of years kept a 
tavern in the log house he had erected on his place. 
A frame house was subsequently built by Jacob 
Etiler, who had purchased the property. The farm 
is now owned by Henry Ratz, as is also the one 
near, which was settlei.! quite early by Louis Dorr. 

The Manning Hathaway place was purchased 
by diaries and John Myers in 1837, in which year 
they came, and is now owned by Louis Myers. 
These two brothers stayed for a short time with Mr. 
Hazard upon their arrival. Their father followed 
them, and settled in town in 1838. Mr. Hathaway 
removed from the township. 

When Chester Hazard came into town with his 



296 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



family he left a portion of his houseliold goods in 
Detroit. He subsequently went after them, and 
on the way met Patrick Bogan, who was out on a 
peddhng tour, and expressed himself as desirous 
of purchasing some land. He had a description 
of a certain tract with him, and was quite free in 
showing it, and Mr. Hazard advised him to be more 
quiet about it, or he would run the risk of having 
some other person reach the land-office and locate 
it before him. Hazard told Bogan where he lived, 
and on the return of tlie former from Detroit the 
latter came to see him. Mr. Hazard conducted 
him to his land, and he settled upon it, and lived 
there until his death, which occurred about 1876- 
jj. Mr. Bogan was a native of Ireland, and the 
father of the present postmaster at Genoa Station. 

Mr. Hazard mentions the fact that upon his ar- 
rival in town he found the deer to be very plenty. 
He had never in his life killed one, but it tempted 
him to such an extent to live, as it were, among 
them, that he finally went to Ann Arbor and had 
a rifle made. The weapon proved an excellent 
one, and its owner seldom missed a shot with it at 
any distance. On one occasion he killed four deer 
inside of six hours, coming to the house twice in 
the time. Whenever the supply of fresh meat gave 
signs of failing, Mrs. Hazard mentioned the fact, 
and her willing lord, as soon as a leisure moment 
offered, took his rifle, and soon returned with an 
addition to the larder. On five successive occa- 
sions he went out, and inside of two hours returned 
with a deer he had slain. Mr. Hazard does not 
claim to have been the hunter which Charles P. 
Bush undoubtedly was, as he hunted from neces- 
sity many times, while Bush was a genuine lover 
of the sport, and passed more time in that way 
than perhaps any other man in the township. 

Erastus Watrous, from Connecticut, came to the 
township in June, 1836. He was then a bachelor, 
but afterwards married a Miss Walker, of Oceola, 
the ceremony being performed by Chester Haz- 
ard, Esq., who was called upon to do the greater 
proportion of such business in the township during 
his long service as magistrate. Mr. Watrous, whose 
home was on the northeast shore of Long Lake, is 
at present residing in Howell. 

Richard Behrens, from Hanover, Germany (near 
Bremen), emigrated to the United States in 1837, 
and located in New York. In 1845 he came to 
Genoa and settled on section 14, where he still 
resides. A few other German families had pre- 
viously settled in the township. 

Henry Hartman, from the State of New York, 
came to Detroit in 1836, and obtained employment 
at his profession, that of a cook. In 1841 he re- 
moved to Genoa and settled on the farm he still 



owns, his first house having stood on the opposite 
(south) side of the road from the site of the present 
one, or on section 23. His son, John G. Hartman, 
at present occupies the place, and Mr. Hartman 
lives in Brighton, where he is engaged in the grain 
trade. His father, Martin Hartman, entered the 
land in 1836, and settled upon it with his youngest 
son, John Hartman, who yet resides on the south 
line of the same section (23). 

William Suhr, from the city of Hamburg, Ger- 
many, came to Michigan first in 1838, but did not 
settle until 1842, when he located on the place he 
now owns and occupies in Genoa, on the eastern 
and most picturesque shore of Crooked Lake. 
He was accompanied by his wife. Mr. Suhr, who 
is possessed of most excellent business tact and is 
a neat penman and accountant, holds the present 
position of secretary and treasurer of the Livingston 
County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, beside 
numerous others of greater or less responsibility. 
He has also held the position of town clerk of 
Genoa since 1850, with the exception of the three 
years from 1861 to 1863, inclusive; and without 
flattery it may be said that the township records 
of Genoa are the neatest, most thorough, and con- 
venient of any in Livingston County. 

Gustav Baetcke, also from Hamburg, settled 
where he now lives in 1837, having previously re- 
sided one year in Oceola. The same year in 
which he located in Genoa, four other Germans 
settled with their families, viz. : George Ransher, 
Martin Hartman (who had purchased in 1836), 
Charles Conrad, and Jacob Euler. These, with 
Mr. Baetcke, were the first of the nationality to 
settle in the township. Jacob Euler was the 
pioneer, having entered his land in 1835. The 
others, except Mr. Baetcke, entered in 1836. 

William Suhr lives in the frame house he built 
and moved into in 1842. Like all the dwellings 
of that day, it originally possessed a huge fire- 
place, but that has been removed and a stove sub- 
stituted. The early settlers suffered considerably 
at times from scarcity of food and clothing, yet, 
withal, they were sociable and happy. From the 
beams in the house hung festoons of dried pump- 
kin, known in the parlance of the day as " Michi- 
gan apples," and a frontiersman's house was 
scarcely homelike in the fall and winter without 
this appendage. Most of the pioneers of this 
township were men in the prime of life, and the 
heads of families. 

Joseph Rider, from Oswego, N. Y., in company 
with his father, Joseph Rider, Sr., came to Michi- 
gan in 1833, and settled in what is now the town- 
ship of Milford, Oakland Co. In December, 1835, 
the son removed to the place he at present occu- 



GENOA TOWNSHIP. 



297 



pies, upon section 17, in Genoa. His mother died 
several years before the family left the State of 
New York. While buildin<j their log house on the 
place in Genoa, the Riders boarded with a man 
named Johnson, who had squatted and erected a 
log cabin on a piece of land to the eastward, which 
had been taken up by a man named Cole. John- 
.son remained but a short time; the place is now 
owned by Mr. Holtforth. 

As soon as the Riders completed their house 
they moved into it. Hay and stock were brought 
in from Oakland County. The senior gentleman 
died during the war of tiic Rebellion, and the son 
still lives on the old place. Tiie log house stood 
about twenty-five rods east of the present fnime 
residence. 

Another early settler in the same neighborhood 
was Freeman Fishbeck, who married a sister of 
Joseph Rider, Jr., while living in Oakland County, 
to which he had come with the Rider famil)'. He 
purchased in Genoa a short time previous to the 
date of Mr. Rider's purchase, and the latter helped 
him build a house, after which the elder Rider 
went to Ohio, and his son boarded for a time with 
Mr. Fishbeck. Mr. Rider, Jr., was soon afterwards 
married to Mr. Fishbeck's sister. Miss Isabella M. 
Fishbeck, and was one of the earliest residents of 
the township who took upon himself bonds hy- 
meneal. The father of Freeman Fishbeck and 
sister, Jacob Fishbeck,. lived in the township of 
Marion. The son is at this date (1879) a resident 
of Howell. 

David B. Pierce, who married a sister of Mrs. 
Joseph Rider, Sr., came from New York with the 
other two families, and when Fishbeck first located 
in Genoa, Mr. Pierce built a house on a portion of 
his (Fishbeck's) land. He was a carpenter and 
millwright by trade, and built the mills at Milford 
and aided in building one in the township of 
Brighton. He also aided in erecting numerous 
barns and other buildings. The first mill he built 
in Michigan was for parties at Kensington, Oakland 
Co. He is now deceased. 

Edward Latson settled in the northwest part of 
the township in 1836, and still resides on the place 
he then located. The land was purchased from 
the government in 1835. 

Charles P. Bush came to the township of Handy 
in 1836, in company with Calvin Handy and 
family, from Danby, Tompkins Co., N. Y., — his 
native place. These were the first settlers in the 
township named, and Mrs. Handy was the first 
white woman who had ever set foot within its 
limits. Both men purchased land. Mr. Bush 
built a log house on his place, and returned to 
New York for his family. In the spring of 1837 
38 



he moved with them to the place he had prepared, 
and was also accompanied by his brother, Richard 
P. Bush, and their cousin, John Bush, both having 
families with them. The Bush's were connected 
with the Platts, of Oswego, N. Y., one of the 
prominent families of the State. 

The Messrs. Bush all located in Handy. Crops 
had been put in, and after that of C. P. Bush's was 
harvested in 1837, he sold out to John B. Fowler, 
brother of Ralph Fowler, of F'owlervillc,and moved 
in the fall of the same year to Genoa township, 
in which he purchased land on sections 8, 9, 
and 10, and made the first improvements upon it, 
although buying from second hands. He at one 
time owned about 1 700 acres in this township. The 
old home in Genoa is now owned by the heirs of 
Newberry Sweet. Mr. Bush's house was at first 
half a mile or more back from the Grand River 
road, south of John Lawson's present place, and 
there his youngest son, Elbert C. Bush, now of 
Lansing, was born in 1838. Mr. Bush ere long 
moved up nearer the highway, and built one of 
the earliest frame houses in the township. The 
latter place he owned at the time of his death, 
which occurred in Lansing, where members of his 
family at present reside. The only one left in 
Livingston County is his son, Isaac W. Bush, 
Esq., of Howell. 

Mr. Bush has elsewhere been mentioned as a 
hunter of note. So much of one was he that he 
would acknowledge but one superior in all this 
region at the time, and that was " Old Si Badgero," 
a professional hunter, who lived in Conway town- 
ship. Elias Sprague, then of Brighton, and now 
living in Cohoctah, was nearly the equal of Mr. 
Bush, but the latter always claimed superiority. 
But few men who ever hunted with Mr. Bush were 
able to follow him all day in the chase, and he 
always went on foot. Joel Rumsey, of Oceola, was 
one who claimed equal endurance. As a rifie s'not 
Mr. Bush was unexcelled. He finally moved to 
Lansing, where he was frequently known to cross 
Grand River in the winter after a deer. His official 
record will be found elsewhere in this volume. 

Andrew Sharp, from the town of Bennington, 
Genesee Co., N. Y. (now in Wyoming County), 
came to Michigan with his father, Andrew Sharp, 
Sr., in the fall of 1837. They stopped for one week 
at Pontiac, and then moved into Genoa, and settled 
on the place where the elder Sharp's widow and 
widowed daughter — Mrs. Melvin — now live, on the 
west line of town. Andrew Sharp, the son, was 
then but twelve years of age. He at present re- 
sides a mile south of the old place. His f.ither 
purchased his land in Genoa, of a brother, who 
lived in Eaton County. Mr. Sharp, a blacksmith 



298 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



by trade, built a shop on his place, and used it a 
number of years. The son learned the same trade, 
and operated a shop two years in Howell. Farm- 
ing was, however, the principal business of both. 
Mr. Sharp, Sr., has been dead about ten years. 

Cyrus Hoyt, from Yates Co., N. Y. (his wife 
from Steuben County), and a native of Connecti- 
cut, came with his wife to Genoa early in June, 
1846, settled on land he had previously purchased 
from second hands, built a log house, and is yet 
living in it. He first came into the township in 
April, but was unable to prepare a house before 
June. The first improvements were made upon 
the place by Mr. Hoyt. Mrs. Hoyt's brother, 
Jacob N. Switzer, a single man, came with the 
Hoyts, and at the same time Mr. Hoyt went to 
Gratiot to purchase land for himself; he bought 80 
acres also for Mr. Switzer. The latter did not settle 
in town, and now lives in tlie State of New York. 

David Hight, a native of New Jersey, and for 
some time a resident of Steuben Co., N. Y., came 
to Michigan, with his wife and two children, in 

1835, and settled on the place where he yet lives. 
Nathan and Deborah, the two children who came 
with their parents, were unmarried, while a second 
daughter, the wife of Reuben Haight, came at the 
same time with her husband and three children. 
They arrived in the fall of the year, and during the 
winter remained with Timothy Pettit, who lived in 
the edge of Hamburg township, two miles south- 
east of Mr. Hight's place. During the time thus 
spent Mr. Hight built a log house, and, in March, 

1836, moved into it with his family. The lumber 
used inside was hauled from Redford, thirty miles 
away, in the direction of Detroit, and the glass and 
sash were brought from Detroit. The only house 
between their place and Howell was that built by 
Pardon and Ely Barnard. In the opposite direc- 
tion, between them and Timothy Pettit, lived 
Christopher Hoagland and Nicholas Kristler, the 
former in Hamburg ; the latter came from Dela- 
ware in October, 1835. Mr. Hight is now in his 
ninety-ninth year. His wife died in 1864, at the 
age of eighty-four. Nathan Hight lives near his 
father, on the old place. His wife is the daughter 
of Elijah Bennett, who settled in Hamburg in the 
spring of 1835. 

Among those who had settled in this immediate 
region at that time, and who were pioneer neighbors 
of those already mentioned, were Garner Carpenter 
and soon after Samuel Case and his sons, Joseph 
and Elisha, the latter at present living in Brighton. 
Joseph Case's son, Oren Case, owns and occupies 
a farm in the south part of Genoa ; and Elisha 
Case's son, Niles N. Case, occupies his father's old 
farm in Hamburg. 



About 1849-50, while the stage-line was yet in 
operation over the Grand River road, a post-office, 
called Genoa, was established in the township, and 
Chester Hazard received the first appointment as 
postmaster, which position he held several years. 
Finally, on account of the necessary care it took to 
see to the office, he wrote to the Department and 
secured the appointment of John VVeimeister in his 
place. The latter, now of Howell, was then keep- 
ing a grocery in Genoa. Old Mr. Myers was his 
deputy. The office is now near Genoa Station, 
and James Bogan is the postmaster. 

One of the later settlers of the township, and 
one who became prominent in political circles in 
the county and held numerous offices therein, was 
Daniel D. T. Chandler, who came from Buffalo, 
N. Y., in the fall of 1843, and settled on section 4 
in Genoa, where John O'Connor now lives. He 
was accompanied by two sons, George VV. and 
John K. Chandler. The former at present resides 
in Lansing, Mich., and the Litter at Atchison, Kan. 
Two sons and two daughters were born in Mr. 
Chandler's family after his settlement, and of 
these, three are now living, viz.: Lewis C, of Jack- 
son, Mich.; A. J., of Lafayette, Ind., treasurer and 
auditor of the C. C. & I. C. Railway; and an un- 
married sister with George W. Chandler, in Lan- 
sing. Mr. Chandler lived in Howell during his 
terms in county offices, but subsequently moved 
back to the farm in Genoa, where he died in 
December, 1857. Judge George VV. Kneeland, of 
Howell, was the brother of Mrs. Chandler. 

Among other early arrivals in the township were 
Charles E. Beurman, from Germany, August, 1840; 
H. Kellogg, 1842; G. C. Westphal, 1846; and 
Riley and John Earl. The wife of the latter died 
in the winter of 1835-36, and it is probable that 
this was the first death among the white popula- 
tion of the township. The grave was dug by Hen- 
son Walker, of Oceola. The Earls lived on the 
north line of the township, and were among its 
earliest settlers. 

The following is an alphabetical list of the resi- 
dent tax-payers in the township of Genoa, for the 
year 1 844 : 



Acker, Frederick D. 
Abljey, Jerry. 
Benjamin, Alvin F. 
Brown, Richard. 
Butler, Catharine. 
BurwcII, Cornelius W. 
Biickland, William E. 
Barnard, Pardon. 
Barnard, Ely. 
Bush, Ciiailes P. 
Bennett, Morris. 
Benjamin, Nelson S. 
Brown, Allien G. 



Benedict, Charles. 
Bogan, Patrick. 
Bennett, Elijah. 
Britton, Richard. 
Baetcke, Guslav. 
Behrens, Richard. 
Barnard, James.. 
Barnard, Amos. 
Burmann, William H. 
Brittun, John B. 
Bloodsworth, William. 
Bradncr, John D. 
Chandler, D. D. T. 



GENOA TOWNSHIP. 



299 



Conrad, Charles. 
Crosman, Frederick G. 
Carpenter, Garner. 
Ciirlis, Willi.-ini li. 
Curtis, William T. 
Dean, Amasa. 
Diblile, Asahel 
Dibble, Silas A. 
Dibble, Amos. 
Dickerson, Alanson P. 
Dorr, Lewis. 
Davis, John. 
Earl, Riley. 
Earl, William. 
Elliott, Henry. 
Ellis, James. 
Eilmumls, James. 
Eiiler, Jacob. 
Eiiler, John. 
Eiiler, Lawrence. 
Euler & Dickerson. 
Elliott, Orson. 
Everetts, Sophia. 
Kishbeck, Jacob. 
Fishbeck, Freeman. 
Filch, Elijah. 
Fewhey, Michael. 
Hazard, Chester. 
Hunt, Joseph. 
Hartnian, Henry. 
Hinckley, Benjamin. 
Hause, Hejmaii C. 
Highl, David. 
Jacobs, William. 
Jacobs, Mark. 
Jessop, Daniel. 
Kristler, Nicholas. 



Latson, Edward. 
Lawson, John F. 
Latson, John. 
Lawrence, George. 
Laughlin, John. 
Murray, James M. 
Moore, John. 
Morse, Francis. 
Morse, Isaac. 
Morse, Benjamin. 
Moon, George J. 
Orr, Joseph. 
I'laceway, Joseph. 
Petlibone, Ro^well. 
Pless, Andrew. 
Pierce, David B. 
Paddock, George W. 
Paddock, Richard. 
Paddock, John. 
Sle<lnian, Geoige. 
Shaft, William C. 
Steel, Joseph H. 
Sharp, Andrew. 
Stedman, William. 
Sutton, Richanl. 
Snider, Isaac II. R. 
Suhr, William. 
Stone, David. 
Tooley, Albeit. 
Terry, Stephen H. 
Tiramfins, liryan. 
Upthe^rove, Abiani. 
Vealy, Benjamin. 
Walker & Foster. 
Weichers, John E. 
Winter, Theodore. 
Yawyer, William B. 



Many of these were emolled among those who 
had a personal tax to pay only. Among the 
heavier tax-payers were the following : 



Tot.il Tax. 

Chester Hazard 833-62 

Charles P. Bush ij-49 

William Jacobs 14.80 

John Euler 11.12 

Euler & Dickerson 22.77 



Total Tax. 

Morris Bennett S14.95 

Andrew l'le~s 11. 6S 

Benjamin Vealy 10.50 

Lewis Dorr 12.79 

Frederick D. Acker 12.01 



The non-resident tax payers numbered at that 
time in the neighborhood of lOO. 

From .some of the early records it is utterly im- 
possible to determine the correct orthography of 
certain proper names, as many as four or five differ- 
ent ways being often found of spelling the name of 
but one person. This will account for any errors 
in that respect which may be discovered. 

TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION— LIST OF OFFICERS. 

On the 26th of March, 1835, the township of 
Hamburg was created by the Legislative Council, 
including the present township of the same name, 
together with what is now Genoa. The latter 
township was formed from the north half of Ham- 
burg, by an act of the Legislature approved March 
II, 1837, and reading as follows: 



" All that portion of the county of Livingston dcsi;»n.ated in the 
United Sl.iles survey as township 2 north, r.inge 5 east, be, and 
the same is, hereby set ofT and organized into a separate township 
by the name of Genoa; and the first lownship-meeling therein 
shall be held at the house of Lucius H. Peet, in said township." 

The first township-meeting was held in and for 
the township of Genoa, at Lucius H. Peet's inn, 
on the first Monday in April, 1837, and the follow- 
ing persons were elected to office, viz. : Supervisor, 
William T. Curtis; Township Clerk, Charles Ben- 
edict; Justices of the Peace, Chester Hazard, Wil- 
liam Tompkins, Cornelius W. Burwell, David B. 
Harmon ; As.sessois, Daniel Jessup, Joseph Place- 
way, Asahel Dibble; Commissioners of Highways, 
David Hight, Freeman Fishbeck, Thomas Pinck- 
ncy; Poormasters, Caleb Curtis, William T. Cur- 
tis; Commi.ssioiiers of Schools, Zebulon M. Drew, 
David B. Pierce, Isaac Morse; School Inspectors, 
Z. M. Drew, Pardon Barnard, Jr., Lucius H. Peet; 
Collector, William C. Shaft; Constables, William 
C. Shaft, Lucius H. Peet. 

The following list comprises the officers for 
Genoa township from 1838 to 1879, inclusive: 

SUPERVISORS. 

1838, Cli.ules P. Bush; 1839, William T.Curtis; 1840, Charles 
lleiiedicl; 1841-42, Chester Hazird ; 1843-44, Charles Ben- 
edict; 1845-46, James M. .Murray; 1847, Daniel D. T. 
Chandler; 1848-49, Charles Benedict ; 1850-51, William A. 
B.ickland ; 1S52-54, Henry Hartman ; 1855, Chester Haz- 
ard; 1S56-57, Oren H. Winegar; 185S-59, James M.Mur- 
ray; 1860-61, Cornelius W. Burwell ; 1862-63, Wdliam B. 
Curtis; 1864, Oren H. Winegar; 1865, Ely Barnard; 1866- 
67, Chester Hazard; 1868-71, Charles Fishbeck; l872,Omar 
H. Benedict; 1873, Willi.am H. Ilalleck; 1S74, Chester 
Hazard; 1875, Charles Fishbeck; 1876-77, Gustave J. 
Baetcke ; 1878-79, Louis Meyer. 

TOWNSHIP CLERKS. 

1838, Charles Benedict; 1839, Chester Hazard; 1840-42, Charles 
Benedict; 1843-46, Joseph Rider, Jr. ; 1847, Charles Bene- 
dict; 1848, Ely Barnard; 1849, Oren H. Winegar; 1850- 
60, William Suhr; 1861-63, W'dliam J. Hazard; 1864-79, 
William Suhr. 

TREASURERS. 

1839, William T. Curtis; 1840-41, David Hight; 1842-46, John 
Davis; 1847-50, Albeit Tooley; 1851-54, John E. Dorn ; 
1855,0. H. Winegar; 1856, John Hartman; 1857-58, Rich- 
ard Behiens; 1859-60, James Bogan; 1861-63, Lewis Pless; 
1864-66, Freeman ¥. Pierce; 1867-68, Conrad Schoenhals, 
Jr.; 1869-70, Samuel Stark; 1871-72, William Fishbeck; 
1873-74, Gustave J. Baetcke; 1875-76, Charles Grosstick; 
1877, Frank W. Benedict; 1878, Frederick C. Benedict; 
1879, John Seim, Jr. 

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 

1838, Chester Hazard, David B. Pierce, Gardner H. Carpenter; 
1839, G. H. Carpenter, C. P. Bush; 1840, Charles P. Bush, 
Chester Hazard; 1 841, Chester Hazard ; 1 842, Ely Barnard ; 
1843,0. H, Carpenter, J. M.Murray; 1844, Wm..\. Buckland; 
1845, Erastus Watrous, Charles P. Bush ; 1846, Ely Barnard; 
1847, Ely Barnard, Joseph Rider, Jr., H. Hartnian; 1848, 
Joseph Rider, Jr.; 1849, Cornelius W. Burwell; 1S50, H. C. 



3CX) 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Hause; 1851, Henry Hartman ; 1S52, Joseph Rider, Jr.; 
1853, Cornelius W. Burwell ; 1854, H. C. Hause ; 1855, 
James M. Murray; 1856, David B. Pierce; 1S57, C. W. Bur- 
well, \Vm. B. Curlis; 1S58, Oren H. Winegar; 1859, Ches- 
ter Hazard; i860, Ely Barnard; 1861, Ely Barnard, Floyd 
S. Wykoff; 1862, Oren H. Winegar; 1863, Chester Hazard, 
Isaac W. Bush; 1864, Cornelius W. Bnrwell; 1865, Charles 
Benedict, Samuel Stark ; 1866, Charles Dingier; 1867, John 
A. Meyer, Chester Hazard; 186S, C. W. Biuwell, Joseph 
Rider; 1869, Andrew C. Pless; 1870, Cliester Hazard, New- 
berry H. Sweet ; 1S71, N. C. Sweet, Richard Behrens; 1872, 
Joseph Rider, Joseph Birkenstock ; 1S73, David Hughes; 
1874, Peter T. Gill, David Hughes; 1S75, James Timmons, 
John O'Connor; 1876, George A. Whitehead; 1877, James 
Boylan, Henry Ratz; 1878, Joseph Rider, William H. 
Trowbridge; 1879, George Bauer. 

ASSESSORS. 

183S, Joseph Ri<ler, James M. Murr.iy, Daniel Jessup; 1S39, 
William B. Curtis, James J. Forsylhe, Charles Benedict ; 
1840, William A. Buckland, William B. Curlis, John D. 
Bradncr; 1841, C. P. Bush, C. Hazard, J. D. Bradner; 1842, 
Ely Barnard, H. C. Hause; 1843, Amos Foster, Daniel Jes- 
sup; 1844, J. D. Biadner, E. Walrous; 1845, Albeit Tooley, 
John D. Bradner; 1846, Daniel Jessup, Albert Tooley. 

COLLECTORS. 

1838, Erastus Watrous ; 1839-40, Reuben Ilaight ; 1 84 1, John 
Davis. 

SCHOOL INSPECTORS. 

1838, C. P. Bush, C. Hazard, W. T. Curtis; 1839, C. P. Bush, 
Lucius H. Pact, G. H. Carpenter; 1840, C. P. Bush, C. Haz- 
ard, Wm. A. Buckland; 1841, C. P. Bush, C. Hazard, H. C. 
Hause; 1842, W. A. Buckland, E. Barnard, Wm. Stedman ; 
1843, Wm. B. Curtis, Wm. A. Buckland; 1844, Wm. H. 
Beurman, D. D. T. Chandler ;■ 1845, Wm. H. Beurman; 
1846, D. D. T. Chandler, Charles Benedict; 1847, WiUi.am 
B.Curtis; 1848, William Suhr; 1849, Alexander Caipenter ; 
1850, Charles Benedict; 1851, George A. Lawson ; 1852, 
Alexander Cai-penter; 1853, Chester Hazard ; 1854, Olympus 
Spencer; 1855, Ely Barnard; 1856, Wm. J. Hazard, B. H. 
Lawson; 1857-58, Charles Benedict, Ely Barnard; 1859, 
Omar H. Benedict, W. Wallace Carpenter; i860, W. Wal- 
lace Carpenter; 1861, Smith Benson, J. Bruce Fishbeck ; 
1862, Ebenezer Culver; 1S63, Charles Benedict, Charles 
Fishbeck; 1864,0. H. Benedict, Dwiglit T. Curlis; 1865, 
Dwight T. Curtis; 1866, A. M. Davis, O. H. Benedict; 
1867, Omar H. Benedict; 1868, A. M. Davis; 1869, O. H. 
Benedict; 1870, Conrad Schoenhals; 1871, A. M. Davis; 
1872, Peter P. Gill; 1873, A. M. Davis; 1874, O. H. 
Benedict; 1875, Frank W. Benedict; 1876-77, Henry D. 
Rider; 1878, Charles T. Barnard ; 1879, Henry Holtforth. 

TOWNSHIP SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS. 
1875-76, A. M. Davis; 1877-79, Peter T. Gill. 

The vote on the license question of Genoa in 
1845 -Stood 53 in favor to 19 against. In 1850 the 
following persons receivetJ the number of votes set 
opposite their names as delegates to the State Con- 
stitutional Convention : 

Daniel S. Lee 71 > Ira Jennings ig 

Robert Crouse 61 j James W. Stansbury 9 

Robert Warden, Jr 66 | Pieirepont P. Smitli 15 

Ely Barnard 65 Austin W.akeman 14 



SCHOOLS.* 

The present District No. i was the first one 
formed in the township. Probably in 1836 or 
1837, the first .school in town was taught in this 
district by Alexander Carpenter, who was after- 
wards a school inspector. The school-house, Mr. 
Hazard thinks, was possibly a frame building, 
though said by some to have been constructed of 
logs. It stood near the site of the present frame 
school-house in the same district. A brick build- 
ing was subsequently erected, and is now used as 
a blacksmith-shop. 

In District No. 3 a log school-house was built 
about 1839-40. It stood on the south side of the 
road, a short distance east of the site of the present 
frame edifice. Mariette Hayner, a lady whose 
home was in Brighton, was one of the earliest 
teachers. The log school house was finally re- 
moved. 

The first school in District No. 5 was taught by 
George Griffith, in the winter of about 1837-38, or 
the one following. A log school-house had been 
built, and was used also as a place in which to 
hold religious meetings. The building was used 
a number of years. The first school was not 
largely attended, as the number of children in the 
district was few. The first summer term was 
taught in the season following Griffith's term, by 
Mary Ann Hinkley, who was retained through 
several subsequent ones. Griffith returned East 
not long after his administration as a teacher here 
had closed. The present stone school-house was 
built about 1857. 

The following statement of tlie condition of the 
schools as appearing Sept. 2, 1878, is from the re- 
port of the township school inspectors for the year 
ending at that date: 

Number of whole districts 22 

" fractional districts 10 

" children of school age 344 

Attendance during year 307 

Number of school-houses 9 

Value of sclioul property ^6000 

Number of male teachers employed, 8 

" female teachers employed 10 

Amount paid male teachers 5821.50 

" " female teachers $37^ 

Total receipts for year $2096.46 

Amount on hand Sept. 2, 1878 410.23 

Expenditures, less amount on hand S1686.23 

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 
BAPTISTS. 
Probably the first religious meetings in the town- 
ship were held in the fall and winter of 1835-36, 
in the house of David Hight, continuing, with 

* See Mrs. Burwell's narrative for account of first school in Dis- 
trict No. 2. 



GENOA TOWNSHIP. 



301 



Sabbath-school, for a period of two years or more, 
or until the school-house was built in District No. 
5, when that was made the place of meeting for 
such services. Elder Jonathan Stone, a Baptist 
minister, who had previously lived for several 
years in Webster, Washtenaw Co., purchased land 
in Genoa, south of Mr. Hight's place, and in 
the fall of 1836 built a house upon it, boarding 
with Mr. Hight during its construction. He, some 
years later, died on the farm where he had settled. 
Meetings were held also in the winter of 1835-36, 
at the house of Justus J. Hennett, in the north part 
of Hamburg, and Mr. Stone preached both there 
and in the Hight neighborhood. In a year or two 
a Baptist society was organized under the leader- 
ship of Elder Post. It was given the name " Ham- 
burg," but was subsequently changed to " Hamburg 
and Genoa." It continued to hold services until 
about 1865-67, when it was finally disbanded. No 
house of worship had been erected, the " stone 
school-house" furnishing accommodations for the 
congregation. 

" Preaching" was also held in other parts of 
town at an early day, at the dwellings of numerous 
individuals, and by ministers of different denomi- 
nations. Howell, however, was the principal place 
at which the settlers attended religious meetings, 
and has continued to be to the present. 

GERM.\N LUTHERAN CHURCH. 

About 1858 "St. George's German Evangelical 
Lutheran Congregation" was organized by JRev. 
Mr. Smith, of Ann Arbor. In 1861, three acres 
of land were donated by Richard Behrens, on sec- 
tion 14, for a church and burying-ground site, and 
at a later date three acres on section 13 were given 
for the use of the minister. Dr. Buck (LL.D.), 
father-in-law of John Weimeister, of Howell, after 
the organization of the society-, went to Europe to 
raise sufficient funds to build a church. The sum 
of $300 was given by Hamburg, Germany, and the 
present frame building was erected. Dr. Buck 
succeeded Smith as minister. The succeeding 
ones have been Revs. Meyer,* of Genoa township, 
Christopher Watt, Mr. Kramer, and Mr. Sheibly, 
who is at present in charge. The resident mem- 
bership of this church in July, 1879, was from 50 
to 60, and others attend who do not live in the 
neighborhood. The church erected by this society 
is the only one built by any denomination in the 
township. 

CEMETERIES. 

The oldest burial-ground in the township is the 
one on section 13, off land now owned by Nelson 

* Myets. 



S. Benjamin, and it contains the dust of many of 
the early settlers of this and neighboring town- 
ships. A second one is located in the Benedict 
neighborhood, in the south part of the town, and 
is also old ; and a third, belonging to the Germans, 
is near their church on section 14, east of Genoa 
Station. 

POPULATION— STATISTICS. 

The number of white inhabitants in the town- 
ship of Genoa in 1837 was 361. In 1874 the 
number had increased to 921, including 475 males 
and 446 females. From the census of the latter 
year are compiled the following statistics: 



Number of acres of taxable land in township 22,800 

" " land owned by individuals and 

conip.-inics 22,890.50 

'* " inipioved Innd 11,478 

" " land exempt from taxation yo.50 

Valne of >anie, with improvements £11,119 

Number of acres in school-house sites 5. 50 

" " church and parsonai;e sites 2 

" " Ijuiyinjj-grounds 3 

" " railroatl riyht of way and depot 

j^rouTuls 80 

" " wheat raised in 1874 3. '93 

1873 2,881 

corn " 1873 1,229 

" bushels of wheat raised in 1873 38,684 

" " corn " 1873 34,446 

" " all other yrain r.iised in 1873... 16,045 

" " potatoes raised in 1873 7.964 

" tims of hay cut in 1873 2,919 

" pounds woiil sheareil in 1873 27,137 

" " pork marketed in 1873 82,772 

" " cheese made in 1S73 60 

" " bultcr made in 1873 37-483 

" " fruit dried for market ni 1S73 6,707 

" barrels cider made in 1873 307 

" acres in orchaids 407 

" bushels of apples raised in 1872 13,282 

1873 10,846 

" ** pears, cherries, and strawbcirics, 

1872 126 

" *' pe.Trs, cherries, and strawberries, 

1873 "5 

Value of fruit and garden vegetables, 1872 $5,001 

1873 S5,o'S 

Number horses, one year old and over, 1874 415 

" mules, 1874 8 

" work oxen, 1874 36 

" milch cows, 1874 482 

" neat cattle, one year old and over, other than 

oxen and cows 373 

" sheep over >ix months old 6,060 

" " sheared in 1873 6,314 

Number saw-mills I 

Persons employed in same I 

Amount of capital investetl $1,800 

Number feet of lumber sawed So.ooo 

Value of products $960 



Among the many who have aided in furnishing 
the facts which are included in the foregoing hi.s- 
tory of Genoa are C. W. Burwell and wife, Chester 
Hazard, Isaac W. Bush, Esq., of Howell, Richard 
Behrens, William Suhr, Joseph Rider, Andrew 
Sharp, Mrs. Cyrus Hoyt, Miss Deborah Hight 
(daughter of David Hight), Mrs. Pardon Barnard, 
of Howell, and numerous others. The thanks 
which are justly due them are hereby tendered. 



302 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



JOSEPH RIDER. 

Among the names of those who are conspicu- 
ous in the early history of Genoa, and in the 
various enterprises connected with its interests, 
none stand higher than Joseph Rider. He has not 
only witnessed the transition of a thin settlement 
into a busy and prosperous community, of a semi- 
wilderness into one of the most productive and 
wealthy towns in the county, but in his own person 
has typified so admirably the agencies that wrought 
many of these changes, that no history of Genoa 
would be complete without a sketch of his life. 

He was the son of Joseph and Sarah Rider, and 
was born in the town of De Kalb, St. Lawrence 
Co., N. Y., March 25, 1817. The elder Rider was 
a shoemaker by trade, and previous to his emigra- 
tion to Rockland Co., N. Y., in 18 10, lived in New 
York City. When Joseph was ten years of age he 
removed to Oswego, where he purchased a farm, 
upon which he resided until his emigration to Oak- 
land Co., Mich., in 1833. He purchased in the 
town of Milford fifty acres of land, which he sold 
in 1835 and removed to Genoa. Here he located 
one hundred and twenty acres, which is a part of 
his present productive farm of two hundred and 
eleven acres, a view of which is presented in the 
history of the town. 

Mr. Rider has been prominently identified with 
the development of the town and all its material 
interests. His life has been one of industry, and 
his aim has been to earn the position he now 
occupies among the successful and wealthy far- 
mers in the county. That he had a full portion 
of hardships and privations in his pioneer life, 
none will deny. 

In 1840, Mr. Rider was married to Miss Isabella 
M., daughter of Jacob and Elsie Fishbeck, one of 
the well-known early families of Genoa. Mrs. Rider 
was born in the town of De Peyster, St. Lawrence 
Co., N. Y., in 1824, and emigrated to Michigan 
with her parents in 1836. She, like her husband, 
is one of that noble band of pioneers to whom the 
present generation is indebted for much that they 
now enjoy. Mr. Rider is a self made man. Early 
in life he learned that the way leading to success 
was no royal road, but was open to strong hands 
and willing hearts ; that 

" Honor and fame from no condition rise. 
Act well your part, there all ihe honor lies." 

He early established methodical habits, and his 
energy and perseverance, coupled with integrity of 
character, have rendered his life a success. Politi- 



cally, he is a Democrat. In his religious affilia- 
tions he is a Free-VVill Baptist, and manifests a 
deep interest in religious matters. 



CHESTER H.-^ZARD 

was born at Arlington, Bennington Co., Vt., June 
23, 1796, being the oldest of a family of nine chil- 
dren. His parents were Evans and Abigail (Haw- 
ley) Hazard. His mother belonged to one of the 
old Puritan families of Connecticut. His father 
was of Scotch-Irish descent, born in Connecticut 
in 1774, and lived at various times in the States of 
New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. He finally 
removed to Michigan, where he died in 185 1. 
Chester Hazard was a studious boy, and acquired 
a thorough common-school education. In 1806 
he went to the home of an uncle, with whom he 
lived until he was seventeen years old. He then 
spent four years in learning the tanner's and shoe- 
maker's trades. He worked at these trades four 
years in Cambridge, Washington Co., N. Y. In 
1 82 1 he took a partner, by whose dishonesty he 
lost everything he had accumulated. By working 
his father's farm in Chenango Co., N. Y., two years, , 
and his grandfather's in Broome County, N. Y., five j 
years, lie saved five hundred dollars. With this / 
capital he engaged in farming and tanning at ' 
Wheeler, Steuben Co., N Y. After ten years of 
successful labor there, in 1836, he purchased three 
hundred and twenty acres of wild land in Genoa, 
Livingston Co., Mich., and worked till 1842 in 
clearing it. In that year he was elected county''^ 
treasurer, and removed to Howell. This office he 
held for two terms, and in 1847 was elected to the 
State Legislature, where he was instrumental in 
procuring the passage of the bill appropriating ten 
thousand acres of land for internal improvements. 
Since 1849 he has resided on his farm. He has 
been supervisor of the town and chairman of the 
Board of Supervi-sors for many years, and justice 
of the peace for forty years, besides holding many 
other offices. He cast his first vote for Andrew 
Jackson, and has always been a Democrat. Simple 
in his manner of life, Mr. Hazard has acquired a 
fortune by honesty, industry, and economy. He 
is a man of marked character and striking appear- 
ance. Now, at eighty-three years of age, he is 
still hale and vigorous, and his voice is as strong 
and clear as at the age of forty. No man ever 
questioned his integrity, and no one more than he 
deserves the respect which is universally accorded 
to him. His first wife, to whom he was married 
Aug. 31, 1817, died March 6, 1858, leaving six 
children. His second wife was Julia A. Buck, to 
whom he was married Sept. 8, 1863. 




X ? 



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#^^ %». 



r 




V ^ 





#, 




N\ .\ 1 



WILLIAM BLOODWORTH. 



MRS. WILLI AM BLOODWORTH. 



GENOA TOWNSHIP. 



303 



CHARLES BENEDICT 

was born in Cambridge, Washington Co., N. Y., 
May 4, 1S09. Mis father, Isaac Benedict, was a 
soldier in the war of tlie Revolution; after the war 
he settled on a farm at Cambridge, where he died 
at an advanced age. 

Ciiarles Benedict lived with his father until he 
grew to manhood, assisting on the farm, and re- 
ceiving sucli educational advantages as were offered 
by the district schools. 

When a young man, he taught school several 
terms in the neighborhood of Cambridge. In 1830 
he emigrated to Michigan, purchasing some land 
near Dexter, where he remained two years, teach- 
ing school a portion of the time. In 1832 he 
returned to New York, and married Miss Amy 
Church, of Otsego Co., N. Y. They came to Liv- 
ingston Count)' in 1836, and settled on section 21, 
in what is now the town of Genoa. At that time 
neither the town or State were yet organized. 
Mr. Benedict at once took an active and important 
part in the erection and organization of the town. 
The first town election was heldathis house, when 
he was elected township clerk, an office he filled 
for several years. Subsequently he filled several 
of the town and county offices, among others that 
of supervisor; and was for two terms county 
treasurer. 

He was a man much respected for his sterling 
integrity and sound judgment. He died Nov. 22, 
1870, leaving a family of seven children, — four sons 
and three daughters. Ale-xander, the oldest child, 
lives at Fowlerville, this county ; Omer H. married 
the oldest daughter of the late Ely Barnard, is a 
farmer, and lives adjoining the old home ; Mari- 
ette married James Taylor, of Chelsea, Mich. ; 
Martha A. married Freeman W. Allison, a farmer 
in Putnam; Alida C. married Dwight T.Curtis, 
a farmer in Genoa; Frank W. married Henrietta 
Beurman, and died October, 1878, in his twenty- 
eighth year; Fred. C. married Julia E. Beurman, 
lives on the home-farm with his mother, who is 
now in her sixty-seventh year, but vigorous and 
healthy. Having shared in the hardships and 
privations of pioneer life, and witnessed the trans- 
formation of the wilderness into a prosperous 
community, she now looks back over a long and 
industrious life with the satisfaction of having 
acted well her part. 



ELY i!.\RNARU 

was born in Madison Co., N. Y., Sept. 9, 1S07, and 
emigrated in company with his brother, Pardon 



Barnard, to Michigan in 1834, settling on the farm 
in Genoa, where he died Sept. 9, 1871. 

Possessing abilities of a commanding order, Ely 
Barnard soon took a prominent and active part in 
the early history of the county, and in the forma- 
tion here of the Democratic party, of which he 
was an influential member throughout his life. 
Aside from local offices, at the first election, after 
Michigan became a State, he was elected to the 
office of register of deeds, and in 1842 and 1843 
he was one of the two members to represent the 
county in the State Legislature, which then met 
in Detroit. He was also a member of the State 
Convention, which met in 1 850, to revise the 
Constitution. In all these positions Mr. Bar- 
nard commanded the respect and confidence of his 
fellow-citizens for his signal ability and rigid hon- 
esty. After his return from the constitutional con- 
vention he refused to accept office again. He 
retired to his farm, which he cultivated assiduously, 
and he was considered one of the best agricultur- 
ists of the county. In the private relations of 
life he was held in high esteem. Judge Turner, 
in an address before the Pioneer Society, said 
of him, " Well do we remember with wlrat no- 
bility and independence he always bore himself 
in all the business of life. He was a man who 
never abdicated his dignity for a moment, but was 
a gentleman at all times and on all occasions." 

Mr. Barnard was married, Jan. 31, 1839, to Miss 
Aristine Curtis, daughter of William Curtis, who 
emigrated from Madison Co., N. Y., in 1836, and 
settled on lands adjoining Mr. Barnard, where he 
died April 8, 1850, in the seventy-thirtl year of 
his age. 

Mrs. Barnard has conducted the farm since her 
husband's death. She has been the mother of nine 
children, seven of whom are now living, — three 
sons and four daughters. 



WILLIAM BLOODWORTH 

was born in Creeton, Lincolnshire, England, Dec. 
3, 1803. His parents, William and Elizabeth 
Bloodworth, were farmers, and reared a famil)' of 
four children, — three sons and one daughter, — Wil- 
liam being the youngest. He received the advan- 
tages of the schools of his native town, and at the 
age of nineteen enlisted in the " King's Guard," in 
which he served twelve years. In 1833 he emi- 
grated to this country. He spent the first winter 
in Ann Arbor, and in the spring following, removed 
with his family upon the farm which he had located 
in Genoa the previous fall ; here he has since re- 
sided. The pioneer life of Mr. and Mrs. Blood- 
worth was one of 'much hardship and privation. 



304 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Did our space permit we could pen from their lips 
many a tale of early life in Genoa that to the pres- 
ent generation would sound more like fiction than 
fact. But they are now receiving the full fruition 
of their long and successful life ; having amassed 
a competency, they are enjoying the benefits re- 



sulting from a life of industry and economy. Mr. 
Bloodworth was married in 1831 to Miss Elizabeth, 
daughter of John and Ann Lown. She was born 
in Little Bytham, Lincolnshire, England, May 4, 
1805. They have one child, Mrs. Isaac Sapp, who 
is living with her husband at the old home. 



UNADILLA TOWNSHIP. 



Unadilla, one of the original townships of Liv- 
ingston County, lies in the southwest corner of the 
latter, and is bounded north and east respectively 
by the townships of Iosco and Putnam, south by 
VVa.shtenaw County, and west by Ingham County. 
It includes town.ship i north, in range 3 east, as des- 
ignated on the government survey of the State. 
It contains the three villages of Unadilla, Wil- 
liamsville, and Plainfieid, located respectively on 
sections 35, 28, and 5, Plainfieid extending also 
into section 8. 

The surface of the township is greatly diversi- 
fied. Along the various water-courses it is broken 
by considerable hills, and in places qgite extensive 
marshes are found, — such as are common in, and 
peculiar to this part of the lower Peninsula. A 
large portion of the township in the northwest lies 
on a beautiful plain, where are everywhere found 
excellent improvements, and in the midst of which 
is located Plainfieid village. The Portage River 
and its tributaries water the town, and several lakes 
add to the variety whicii is here found. Among the 
latter are a portion of Bruin or Patterson Lake, on 
section 36; VVoodburn and Bass Lakes, on section 
25 ; Williams Lake, on sections 29 and 32 ; Mor- 
gan Lake, on section 10; and several others which 
have not been named on the map. Portage River 
furnishes power at Unadilla and VVilliamsville, and 
in this town was made the first improvement of 
water-power in the county. 

LAND-ENTRIES. 

The following is a list of the original entries of 
land in this township: 

SECTION I. 

Acres. 

Henry Cassidy, Wayne Co., Mich., Aug 3, 1836 40 

Thomas Sulheiland, Livingston Co., Mich., Se|)i.2I, 1836. 160 

Avciy Bruce, Genesee Co., N. Y., Nov. 2, 1836 33-4° 

As.i P. WoQilanl, V\'ashlcnaw Co., Midi., Nov. 14, 1836.. 80 

Moses Keye^, Seneca Co., N. Y., Nov. 16, 1836 80 

Heniy Colclazei-, Washtenaw Co., Mich.-, Nov. 29, 1836... 80 



Acres. 

Owen Martin, Livingston Co., Mich , May 2, 1S50 40 

Pairicli Kay, Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 15, 1853 33-4° 

Thomas Fay, Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 17, 1S55 70.12 

SECTION 2. 

Joseph Venu^, Huron Co., Ohio, April 21, 1836 240 

Byron Hart, Wayne Co., Mich., May 28, 1S36 80 

John Sutherlanil, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 8, 1836 150.63 

George Reeves, W.ishtenavv Co., Midi., June 8, 1836 147-9^ 

SECTION 3. 

Caleh Mnnger, New Haven Co., Conn., April 2g, 1836... 160 

Morris Howe, Genesee Co., N. Y., June 8, 1S36 80 

Solomon Sutherland, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 8, 1 836... 72.25 
Solomon .Sutherlaud, Livingston Co., Mich., Sept. 21, 

1836 72.25 

James Sutherland, Livingston Co , Mich., Sept. 21, 1S36... 139.33 

Allred Denio, Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 16, 1836 40 

Van Rensselaer T. Angel, Livingston Co., Mich., June 24, 

1851 40 

SECTION 4. 

Chester J. Tuttle, Cuy.ahoga Co., Ohio, Oct. 19, 1835 40 

Jonathan E. Mnnger, New Haven, Conn., April 29, 1836.. 160 

(ohn C. Sharp, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 7, 1836 40 

Miles A. Hinman, Genesee Co., Mich., June 25, 1S36 214.61 

Emery Beal, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Sept. 21, 1836 80 

Charles Harford, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 3, 1836 4983 

SECTION 5. 

S.^muel Clements, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 8, 1835.... 160 

Ciiesier J. Tuttle, Cuyalioga Co., Ohio, Oct. 19, 1S35 So 

John B. Vandoren, Washtenaw Co , Mich., Feh. 12, 1836. 80 

David Dutton, Wa-.htenaw Co., Mich., May 27, 1836 40 

Philip Dyer, Livingston Cl, Mich., June 7, 1S36 85. 37 

Setli Eiston, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Aug. 2, 1S36 125.10 

SECTION 6. 

Samuel Townsend, Niagara Co., N. Y., April 22, 1836.... 173.96 

John Cool, Livingston Co., Mich., June 7, 1836 152.12 

John Cool, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 25, 1836 80 

SECTION 7. 

Levi and George Westfall, Ontario Co., N. Y., June iS, 

1834 .'. 160 

George Westfall, Ontario Co., N. Y., June 19, 1S35 46- 30 

Myron H. Rowley, Addison Co., Vt., .May 26, 1836 160 

John Cool, Livingston Co., Mich., June 7, 1836 82.08 

John Howell, Ingham Co., Mich., March 12, 1841 4630 

Calvin Hallock, W.ishlenaw Co., Mich., Jan. 6, 1854 33-70 

SECTIO.V 8. 

Levi and George Westfall, Ontario Co., N. Y., June 18, 

1S34 80 

William H. Dunn, War.en Co., N. J,, June 4. 1835 160 

Levi Clawson, Richland Co., Ohio, Feb. 15, 1836 80 

Samuel Case, Livingston Co., Mich., March 25, 1836 40 



UNADILLA TOWNSHIP. 



305 



Acres. 

M.iriin Uunning, Renssel.ier Co., N. Y., June 27, 1836. ... 80 

Lorcnzi) Secoril, Wnshteii.iw Co.. Mich , July S, 1836 40 

John r. R..<lj;er>, GciiL-ce Co., N. V., .Sept. 24, 1836 80 

"Morliiin.T Winilsor, Wayne Co., Mich., Jan. 3, 1837 .. 40 

Geo. \V. Richmond, Livingston Co., Mich., Oct. I, 1844. 40 

SECTION 9. 

l.cnuiel F. Chipman, Washtenaw Co., Mich., March 5, 

1836 40 

Luiher Chipman, Washtenaw Co., .Mich.", Miy 24, 1836.. 80 

Horace A. Smiih, Washtenaw Co , Mich., June 10, 1836. 40 

Abr.im .Mpholl, Ginesee Co., N. Y., June 25, 1836 80 

S.xniuel K. Van Sickle, Livinysion Co., Mich., June 28, 

1836 80 

Lorenzo Secord, Washtenaw Co., Mich , June 30, 1836... 40 
Daniel S. McGranger, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Aug. I, 

1836 40 

Sophronia Heal, Li\in^ton Co., Mich., Jan. 11, 1837 80 

lames Waters, Livint;sion Co., Mich., Oct. 1, 1844 40 

Van R. T. An^el, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 17, 1847. 4° 
ILinn^h \l. Chipman, Livin;.jstun Co., Mich., May 16, 

1855 ". 40 

Nathaniel Braley Ingham, Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 13, 

1853 '. 40 

SECTION 10. 

Lemuel K. Chipman, Washtenaw Co., Micii., March 5, 

1836 40 

Abner H. Wond, Washtenaw Co., Mich., M.irch 5. 1836... 80 

N.ithaniel lirown, Gene>ec Co , N. Y, June 25, 1836 40 

Abram Abb It, Genesee Co., N Y., June 25, 1836 40 

Samuel S. Chipman. Livingston Co., Mich., June 25, 1830 So 

Solomon Sutlierland, Living'-lon Co., Mich., Aug. 2, 1836 80 

Edward Sutherland, Livingston Co., Mich., Sept. 21, 1836 120 

Patrick Keenan, Livingston Co., Mich., M.ty 25, 1837 160 

SECTION II. 

Joseph Venus, Huron Co., Ohio, April 21, 1836 240 

P.itrick McC.ibe. Wayne Co., M.ch., May 28, 1836 360 

Jaiucs Elscy, Washten iw Co., .Mich., Oct. 26, 1836 40 

SECTION 12. 

Charles M. Moses, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 25, 1835. 40 

Richard Shear, Ont.ario Co , N. Y., Miy 12, 1836 160 

I'hineas Prouty, Ontaiio Co., N. Y., May 12, 1836 80 

Lawrence Jones, Wayne Co., Mich., Mav 28, 1836 80 

John Shiel, W.iyne Co., .Mich., M.iy 28,1836 80 

I'alrick McCabe, W.iyne Co., Mich., M.ay 28, 1836 40 

James .\niistrong, Erie Co., N. Y., July I, 1836 40 

James Elsey, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 26, 1836 120 

SECTION 13. 

George Bennett, Wa.shtenaw Co., Mich., Sept. 3, 1835 ^° 

Charles Bullis, W.ishtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 26, 1835 ^° 

Phincas Prouty, Ontario Co., N. Y., May 12, 1836 80 

James H. Wood, Ontario Co , N. Y., May 12, 1836 80 

George Wiglit, Ontario Co , N. Y., M.ay 12, 1836 So 

Robert H. Bullis, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. 11, 1838... 80 

Henry .Sliles, Livingston Co., Mich., July 14, 1838 80 

Charles Bullis, Dec. 13, 1853 80 

•SECTION 14. 
Ira A. Blossom and E. D. Efi'ner, Erie Co., N. Y., July 2, 

1835 l6o 

William S. Mead, Cayu;ja Co., N. Y., Oct 19, 1835 40 

Joseph Venus, Huron Co., Ohio, April 21, 1836 200 

Juli.i Ann Kent, Erie Co., N. Y., June 8, 1836 80 

James EUey, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 26, 1836 80 

Henry V. H.icon, Berkshire Co., Mass., Oct. 26, 1836 80 

SECTION 15. 

Sally Ray, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Aug. 12, 1834 80 

Blossom and Effner, Erie Co., N. V., Aug. 3, 1835 80 

Lemuel K. Chipman, W.ishtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 2, 1835 160 

I'itch Chipman, Genesee Co., N. Y., Oct. 2, 1835 80 

S.imuel S. Chipman, Genesee Co., N. Y., Oct. 2, 1835 160 

William S. Martindale, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 2, 1836 40 

William Utter, St. Clair Co., Mich., July 20, 1846 40 

SECTION 16. 

Dudley Hdl, September, 1841, and July, 1844 40 

V. R. Angel, Sept. 16, 1841 40 

39 



Acres. 

V. R. T. Angel, [uly 11, 1844 40 

I. B. Fitch, March 19, 1846 4° 

D. R. Hdl, Nov. 14, 1846 40 

D. O. Dulton, June 30, 1850 40 

John Grongan, Sept. 17, 1845 40 

L. Berean. July 11, 1844. 40 

D. O. Dutton, June 23, 1847 4° 

Joseph CJilliert, Sept. 28, 1846 40 

H. Tidford, Julv 11,1844. 40 

A. L. Dulton, March 18, 1846 80 

James Hirney, June 29. 1S47 40 

A. L. Dulton, June 23. 1847 4° 

V. R. T. Angel, Feb. '26, 1846 40 

SECTION 17. 

Cyrus Jackson, Wayne Co., N. Y., June 23. 1834 40 

Charles Tetley, Washtenaw Co., .Mich., July 17, 1834 80 

John Callahan, W.ashten.iw Co., Mich., Nov. 21, 1S34 80 

Charles Tetley, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 17, 1835 40 

James Gaiison, Genesee Co., N. Y., June 29, 1835 160 

David S. Curtis, Liviiig^ti.n Co., Mich., Miy 30, 1836 40 

Jason Swilt, Wayne Co., Mich., June 8, 1836 80 

John G. Soverhill, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 10, 1836. 120 

SECTION 18. 

Cyrus Jack-on, Wayne Co., N. V., June 23, 1834 349 88 

William Beattie, W.ashienaw Co., Mich., Nov. 21, 1834... 8a 

George Fitts, Niagara Co., N. Y., June 13, 1836 101.84 

SECTION 19. 

Thomas Smith, Wayne Co., Mich., June 16, 1834 62.9S 

Eli UugMlcs, Fairfield Co , Conn., July 19, 1834 80 

Chester j. Tutlle, Cayuga Co., N. Y., Oct. 19, 1835 lOo 

J lines D. Winans, Wayne Co., Mich., March 26, 1836.... 142.9S 

Edward llingham, Wayne Co., Mich., April 12, 1836 117-92 

SECTION 20. 

Henry Angel, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Aug. 24, 1833 120 

Paliick Hubbard, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 14, 1833.. 40 

Maiy Winans, W.ishtenaw Co., Mich.. Nov. 27, 1S33 80 

Simuel W. Holmes, Washtenaw Co., Mich., April 22, 1834 80 

David S. Curtis, Washtenaw Co , Mich., May 28, 1835.... 40 

James Ganson, Gi^ne-ee Co., N. Y., June 29, 1835 160 

Chester J. Tuttle, C.iyuga Co., N. Y., Oct. 19, 1S35 40 

Jason Swift, Wayne Co., Mich., June 8, 1S36 80 

SECTION 21. 

Francis Lincoln, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Aug. 24, 1833... 320 

Philander Gregory, Monroe Co., N. Y., May 20, 1836 80 

Edward Bingham, Wayne Co., Mich., May 20, 1836 240 

SECTION 22. 

Chloe Buck, Onond.iga Co., N. Y., July 12, 1834 40 

John Beaille, Cayuga Co., N. Y., April 17, 1835 80 

Charles Rutgers,' Cayuga Co., N. Y., .Vpril 17, 1835 80 

Blossom and Et'fiier, Erie Co., N. Y., July 2, 1835 120 

Jeremiah Wilco.x, Genesee Co , N. Y., May 27, 1S36 80 

William S. Mariind.^le, Genesee Co , N. Y., June 25, 1836 40 

William S. Martindale, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 2, 1836 40 

Sarah Curtis, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 22, 1836 40 

Lawrence C. Hays, Washtenaw Co., Mich., April 26, 1837 120 

SECTION 23. 

James Livcrmore, Tompkins Co., N. Y., June 3, 1835 40 

George Wight, Ontario Co., N. Y., May 12, 1835 80 

Noyes Wilcox, Ontario Co., N. Y., May 27, 1835 160 

Jeremiah Wilco.t, Ontario Co., N. Y., .M.iy 27, 1835 80 

Sarah Curtis, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 22, 1835 40 

Philip II. Oilman, Livingston Co., Mich., July 20, 1838... 40 

Charles Rutgers, Livingston Co., Mich., July 5, 1839 40 

Eiienezer J. Penniman, Wayne Co., Mich., Feb. 29, 1840. 40 

J.imes Livermore, Livingston Co., Mich., Feb. 26, 1848... 40 

Jeremiah B. Swift, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 27, 1S47.. 40 

.Seth B. Torrey, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 7, 1853 40 

SECTION 24. 

George W. Noble, Portage Co., Ohio, July 22, 1834 80 

H. De Graff and W. H. Townsend, Ontario Co., N. Y., 

July 22, 1834 80 

James Livermore, Tompkins Co., N. Y., June 3, 1835 80 

Sylvanus P. Jermaine, Albany Co., N. Y., March 4, 1836. 80 

EInathan Botsford, Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 31, 1836. 80 



3o6 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Acres. 

Amos H. Breed, Livingston Co., Mich., June 13, 1S36 80 

Phineas I'rouly, Ontario Co., N. Y., July 14, 1836 80 

SECTION 25. 

Robert H. Titiis, Erie Co., N. Y., July 15, 1836 80 

Samuel Phillips, New York City, August 5, 1836 160 

Thomns J. Dudley, Yates Co., N. Y., Jan. 3!, 1837 80 

Alexander McPherson, Ontario Co., N. Y., June 19, 1838 80 

Gideon Chalker, Seneca Co., N. Y., June 28, 1838 120 

Joseph Hartsuff, Livingston Co., Mich., Oct. 24, 1853 40 

Nelson H. \Ving, Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 31, 1853 40 

WiUiam Sales, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 20, 1854 40 

SECTION 26. 

William Woodburn, Wayne Co., Mich., Aug. 23, 1834 120 

John S. Prouty, Ontario Co., N. Y., May 12, 1836 160 

Calvin H. Bryan, Livingston Co., N. Y., June 6, 1836 120 

Healey and Kercheval, United Stales, Aug. 4, 1836 80 

William S. Mead, Livingston Co., Mich., June 24, 1839... 40 

Plicebe Hartsuff, Livingston Co , Mich., Feb. 8, 1844 40 

Thomas Stanfleld, Livingston Co., Mich., June 28, 1S48... 40 
Adam Sales, Livingston Co., Mich., July 30, 1S51 40 

SECTION 27. 

Richard M. Gnggins, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 15, 1833 120 

John La Grange, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 2, 1834 80 

Chloe Buck, Onondaga Co., N. Y., July 12, 1834 80 

David M. Hard and Joseph Peck, Otsego Co., N. Y., June 

20, 1834 160 

Stephen B. .Sales, Livingston Co., Mich., .Sept. 24, 1S34... 40 
Frederick Hartwig, Waf.htenaw Co., Mich., May 4, 1837.. 80 

Stephen B. Sales, Livingston Co., Mich., Jan. 15, 1S46.... 40 
Stephen B. Sales, Livingston Co , Mich., Dec. 19, 1850... 40 

SECTION 28. 

David Holmes, Hartford Co., Conn., Aug. I, 1833 160 

Darwin C. Edson, Washtenaw Co., Mich., .'\ug. 27, 1833. 80 

Stephen Cornell, Dutchess Co., N. Y., Sept. 23, 1833 120 

Curtis Noble, Otsego Co., N. Y., Oct. 17, 1833 ' 80 

Richard M.Gujjgins, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 15, 1833 80 

Richard M. Guggins, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. 9, 1834 40 

Eli Ruggles, Fairfield Co., Conn., July 19, 1S34 40 

James McClear, Hartford Co., Conn , June 18, 1836 40 

SECTION 29. 

David Holmes, Hartford Co., Conn., Aug. I, 1833 160 

Jeremiah Bullock, Orleans Co., N. Y., Aug. 29, 1833 160 

David M. Hard, Otsego Co., N. Y., Oct. 17, 1833 80 

Abiam Kern, Livingston Co., Mich., June 14, 1S34 80 

William Turner, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 13, 1834... 80 

Stephen H.avens, Livingston Co., Mich., May 25, 1836.... 40 

Leonard Backus, Livingston Co., Mich., March 27, 1854.. 40 ■ 

SECTION 30. 

M.ary Winans, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 27, 1833 62.92 

H. C. Sharp, Livingston Co., N. Y., March 19, 1834 160 

D.avid D. Bird, W'ashlenaw Co., Mich., June 13, 1834 141.60 

Elijah Bird, Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 4, 1834 146 92 

Robert L. Taylor, New York City, Dec. 2, 1835 80 

SECTION 31. 

John Davis, Washtenaw Co., Mich., April 2, 1834 78.18 

James D. Mclntyre, W'ashtenaw Co., Mich., July 10, 1834. 160 

Hiram Putnam, Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 21, 1834 39-09 

John McCimacliie, Livingston Co., N. Y., June 8, 1835.... 74-54 

Peter N. Hard, Livingston Co., N. Y., Aug. 4, 1836 40 

Joseph N. Schidmore, Ontario Co., N. Y., Sept. 22, 1836.. 30.09 
James Schoonhoven, Livingston Co., Mich., Oct. 27, 1836. 40 
Ann Schoonhoven, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 14, 1836.. 40 

Joseph J. Skidniore, W'ayne Co., Mich., Nov. 22, 1S36 74-54 

James Mclntyre, Livingston Co., Mich., Jan. 2, 1855 40 

SECTION 32. 

David M. Hard, Otsego Co., N. Y., Oct. 17, 1833 80 

Sally Turner, Livingston Co., N. Y., June 6, 1836 40 

William Turner, Livingston Co., N. Y., June 29, 1836 40 

James Schoonhoven, Portage Co., Ohio, June 30, 1836 80 

Jesse McKinney, Tompkins Co., N. Y., June 30, 1836 80 

Peler N. Hard, Livingston Co., Mich., Aug. 4, 1836 80 

Maria L. McKinsie, Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 25, 1836 120 

Margaret Wright, Livingston Co.. Mich., Jan. 23, 1S37... 40 

Henry Hartsuff, Livingston Co., Mich., June 24, 1S51 40 

Henry Hartsuff, Livingston Co., Mich., June 7, 1855 40 



SECTION 33. 

Acres. 

Eli Ruggles, Fairfield Co., Conn., June 20, 1833 80 

David Holmes, Ilariford Co., Conn., Aug. I, 1833 160 

Mary Winans, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 27, 1833 160 

Amos Williams, Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 19, 1834 40 

Warren Spalding, Washtenaw Co , Mich., July 23, 1S34... 120 

Gairy Brigys, Livingston Co., Mich., June 22, 1837 40 

Anson Denton, Livingston Co., Mich., July 21, 1849 40 

SECTION 34. 

James Craig, Hartford Co., Conn., Aug. I, 1833 80 

Archibald Marshall, Hartford Co., Conn., Aug. I, 1833... 80 

Curtis Noble, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Dec. 20, 1833 80 

David M. Hard, Otsego Co., N. Y., May 27, 1S36 160 

John G. Gutekunst, W'ashlenaw Co., Mich., June 6, 1836. 40 

Phineas Piouty, Ontario Co., N. Y., June 21, 1836 160 

Joseph L. Hartsuff, Living.ston Co., Mich., Aug. 25, 1841 .. 40 

SECTION 35. 

Robert Glenn, Seneca Co., N. Y., May 25, 1833 80 

Robert Minnis, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June II, 1835 40 

John George Gutekunst, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 22, 

1835 80 

Sally M. Glenn, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Dec. 2, 1S35 40 

Robert Glenn, Washtenaw Co.. Mich., Dec. 2, 1835 40 

Luke Montague, Cayuga Co., N. Y., May 19, 1836 120 

John Drake, Livingston Co., Mich., Oct. 29, 1836 40 

Robert L. Glenn, Washten.aw Co., Mich., Dec. 7, 1836.... 80 

Luke Montague, Livingston Co., Mich., May 15, 1837 40 

George Davis, Livingston Co., Mich., June 2, 1837 40 

Junius L. Field, Livingston Co., Mich., Aug. 26, 1841 40 

SECTION 36. 

Luke Montague, Cayuga Co., N. Y., Aug. 4, 1836 40 

Junius L. Field, Berkshire Co., Mass., Sept. 23, 1836 80 

."Vlex. S. Montague, Livingston Co., Mich., .May 15, 1837. 40 

William F'aulk, Livingston Co., Mich., June 2, 1S37 40 

Charles Glenn, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 21, 1839 40 

Nelson H. Wing, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 21, 1839.. 40 

Junius L. F'ield, Livingston Co., Mich., .A.ug. 26, 184I 40 

Junius L. Held, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 8, 1843 40 

Daniel L. Glenn, Livingston Co., Mich., F"eb. 25, 1853... 40 

Joseph L. Hartsuff, Livingston Co., Mich., Oct. 24, 1S53.. 40 

Nelson A. Glenn, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 18, 1854.. 40 

Joseph L. Hartsuff, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 22, 1854. 80 

James Gaunt, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. 8, 1855 40 

j. L. Harlsufi", Livingston Co., Mich , Dec. 26, 186- 40 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 
The following item.s in the history of this town- 
ship are extracts from an address delivered by T. 
R. Shields before the County Pioneer Association, 
at Howell, June 20, 1877 : 

"Previous to 1833 the land comprising this townshij) was an 
unbroken wilderness, inhabited by a few half-civilized Indians, 
who had their camping-grounds on the north shore of the Suth- 
erland Lake, a beautiful little sheet of water situated in the north 
part of the township, and named after Judge Sutherland, who 
located land near it, and who was a leading man in the town for 
a good many years. Those Indians held communication with a 
tribe ill Washtenaw County, and the old trail which they used, 
together with a peculiar cedar bridge which they built over the 
Portage River, were objects of interest long after they had disap- 
peared. . . . The tide of emigration from the East was moving 
slowly but steadily westward. So favored a spot as Unadilla could 
not long be neglected, and on the 20th day of June, 1833, one Eli 
Ruggles, of Brookfield, Conn., became owner of the first farm 
ever purchased in Unadilla, consisting of 40* acres of land, on 
which he reared his log hut and commenced his pioneer life. But 
this life did not agree with him. He sickened, went back to Con- 
necticut, and died. His brothei-in-law, Mr. W'illiams, after whom 
the village of Williamsville was named, became owner of the land. 

* Entry reads, — north half of northwest quarter, section 33, 

eis'hlv acres. 



UNADILLA TOWNSHIP. 



307 



Others followed in rapid succession. On August i, 1833, J.imes 
Craig, Archil)ald Marshall, ami David Holme-;, all from Hartford 
Co., Conn., made for themselves homes in Unadilla. David C. 
Edson located land on the 2d of August, 1833. Francis Lincoln 
and Henry Angel were the next to come. They located Aug. 
24, 1833. They were followed by Jeremiah Bullock, Aug. 29, 
1833. The next was Stephen Cornell, Sept. 23, 1833 ; David M. 
Hard, October 17th; Patrick Hubbard, November 14th; Richard 
M. Guggins, November I5lh ; Mary Winans, November 27th ; and 
Curtis Noble, December 20th; all in 1S33. Stephen 1$. Sales, 
who was for many years supervisor of the town, and who died a 
few years ago at Lansing, located Sept. 24, 1834; I-evi and 
George Wcstfnll, June iS, 1S34; William Woodburn, of Wayne 
Co., N. Y., Aug. 23, 1834; David D. Uircl,June 13, 1834; James 
Mclntyre, July 10, 1834; Cyrus Jackson, June 24, 1834; and 
George W. Noble, July 22, 1834. In 1835 the locations increased. 
One of the fust to locale in that year was Luke Montague, from 
Cayuga Co., N. Y. He was followed by Chailes Hullis, Oct. 26, 
1835 ; James Livermore, June 3, 1835 ; Abner B. Wood, March 5, 
1835; John Shields, May 28, 1835 ; and William H. Dunn, June 
4, 1835. Some of the leading settlei-s in 1S36 were the .Suther- 
land boys, four in number, who located .Sept. 21, 1836. Emery 
Beale located on the same d.iy of the same year ; David Dutton, 
May 27, 1836 ; Philip Dyer, June 7, 1836 ; Samuel Townsend, of 
Niagara Co., N. Y., April 22, 1836; John Cool, June 19, 1836 ; 
Levi Clausen, Feb. 15, 1836; Luther Chipman, May 24, 1836.; 
A. S. Montague and Patrick Keenan, in 1837. 

" The first town-meeting was held on the first Monday of .^pril, 
1S35, at the residence of Baxter Collins, anil the following named 
gentlemen were elected: Supervisor, John Drake; Town Clerk, 
Peter N. Hard; Justice of the Peace, EInathan Noble; Treas- 
urer, J.ames Mclntyre; Commissionei-s, Selah B. Collins, Ehia- 
than Noble, and Francis Lincoln. The township election* fol- 
lowed, taking two days, — the first Monday and Tuesday of October 
of the same year. The opposing candidates for Governor were 
Stephen T. Mason, who received seven votes, and Edward Mundy, 
who received one vote. Seven votes were cast in favor of the 
adoption of the constitution, and three against it. It will be re- 
membered that the town h.id been connected with Washtenaw 
County for political purposes, but was changed into Livingston in 
the year lS37.f The places of holding the election were changed 
to suit the convenience of the people. At one time it was held in 
Mr. Lincoln's barn, in the west part of the town, .again at the resi- 
dence of Mr. Noble, in the southern part, and still again at Mr. 
Martindale's, in the north part. Mr. L. S. Montague, now a part- 
ner in the law-firm of Waddell & Montague, in this village (How- 
ell), was born while his father was attending the election at the 
la.stnamed pLacc, in 1S47. 

" The first store started in town was owned by John Drake. It 
afterwards became the property of one Dibble; it w.is situated 
where John Dunning's store now stands, in fact, part of the build- 
ing occupied by Mr. Drake is now used by Mr. Dunning. The 
first hotel w.as kept by Mr. Noble, near the place where Unadilla 
village now stands. The church and school house were consi<l- 
ered extremely ornamental, as they were the first brick buildings 
in the vilFage. 

" The first physician in the town was Dr. I'ieM, a man of good 
ability, but very eccentiic in lii> ways. Mr. A. Montague tells a 
very amusing story about the old doctor. A wager was made by 
the boys that they could make the old man believe he was sick, 
although in perfect health. They arranged so as to meet him one 
at a lime, each one telling him that he looked very sick, and 
should go to bed .at once. The plan worked admirably. The doc- 
tor went himie and went to bed, ami it was several days afterwards 
before he discovered the joke. 

"Thcfin>t child born in the town was Minerva Briggs, a grand- 
daughter of Mr. Williams, who is now married and residing in the 
city of Ypsilanli. The first blacksmith in town w.as Abner B. 

* General election. + Livingston County organieed in 1836, 



Wood, who died a few years ago at the age of eighty-three. His 
shop was situated in the north part of the town, where his son 
William now resides. The first work which he was called on to 
do w.os for a man from Ingham County, who was on his way to 
Dexter to get some machinery mended, but found that the work 
could be done by Mr. Wood, and so went no farther. The first 
land cleared up in town was fourteen acres, now owned by Mr. 
Mont.igue, on which one of his orchards is situated. It was cleared 
by Mr. Isaac Ray, who now resides in an adjoining town. It will 
be seen th.it I mentioned the names of fourteen persons who located 
land in Unadilla in the year 1833. It is a sad fact that eleven of 
the fourteen have been ' gathered to their fathers.' Three still 
remain, one of whom, Mr. James Craig, now lives in the town, 
and is the proprietor of the Unadilla House. He held the office 
of township clerk for a great many years, and is still enjoying th.at 
honor. The second, David Holmes, or Deacon Holmes, as he is 
usually called, is now residing in St. Johns, while the third, Mr. 
Francis Lincoln, who held the office of township treasurer for a 
number of years, is now living in Chelsea, and is still healthy and 
vigorous, with faculties unimpaired. 

" Many are the pleasing anecdotes I have heard my father re- 
late of Col. George Bennett, of Un.adilla, while out with the 
'boys,' among whom were Peter Morgan, .•\. S. Montague, Selah 
B. Fitch, Henry Cassady, Emery Beale, Judge Sulherlan^l, and 
others. Old boys they are now, and widely scattered. Some in 
their graves and others waiting patiently their time, — happy in the 
knowledge that life's great work has been well done, and the re- 
ward will surely come. One dark tragedy must be recor<led. In 
the year 1845 the community was stariled by the report th.at one 
Green w.os shot and instantly killed by a man named Cole, while 
in the woods ne.ir his house. Cole admitted the shooting, but 
claimed that he mistook Green for a deer and shot him accident- 
ally. This story, however, was not generally believed, and Cole 
was looked upon as a murderer, although no positive proof was 
brought against him on the trial. Morally speaking, the town has 
always had a good standing; litigations are few and far between, 
while it is a fact worthy of particular notice that intoxicating 
liquors of any description have not been retailed in the town for 
the last twenty years, until quite recently. . . . 

" In the year 1845 the property in the township was valued at 
$62,241 ; in 1S46, only one year later, it was valued at $65,647 ; 
and thus the increase kept on from year to year, until it reached 
the sum of §520,275, according to the valuation in 1876, making 
an average of nearly $500 for every man, woman, and child in the 
town. From the eight men who cast their ballots in 1835 h.ave 
grown 285 voters. . . . 

"The sons of Unadilla h.ave not been backward in winning for 
themselves positions of honor and trust. Gen. George Hartsuff 
w.is a Unadilla l)oy, .and drew in with its fresh, pure air those 
dreams of greatness which led him on step by step along the rugged 
pathway of success. Being appointed to West Point, he graduated 
with lionor, entered the service, w.as in the Florida war, remained 
hid in a marsh with nothing but his he.id above water for four "lays, 
without food, to escape from the Indians. He entered the war of 
the Rebellion, and won a reputation as wide as the nation itself. 
His brother William is postmaster at Port Huron, while another 
brother is a leading physician in a distant State. S. L. Bignall, one 
of the leading business men of Chicago, was a Unadilla man, and 
the Glenn Brothers, who are doing such an exten-ive business at 
Fowlerville, were for many years leading men in the town, while 
J. C. Shields, of Lansing, and E M. Joslin, of Saginaw, are two 
more of her sons winning honors in the legal profession." 

Mr. Sliields mentions others wlio are yet resi- 
dent.s of the county, and taking a protiiinent part 
in her general affairs, who look back to Unadilla 
as the home of their earlier \ears, and remetiiber 
it when its forests were yet almost unbroken and 
its inhabitants were very few in number. 



308 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



In connection with the liistory of WiUiamsville, 
to be found on a succeeding page, will be found va- 
rious additional facts regarding the first settlement 
in the township, which was made at that place. 
The following interesting narrative concerning the 
early settlement of the township was prepared by 
James Craig, of Unadilla, and read before the Pio- 
neer Society of Livingston Count)'. After telling 
of a preliminary visit made to Unadilla in 1833 
with David Holmes, in which they came by way 
of Ann Arbor to Dexter to find Mr. Nathaniel 
Noble, to whom they had a letter of introduction, 
and from thence to where Pinckney village now is, 
where they found a solitary family residing, Mr. 
Craig proceeds as follows : 

"Alexander Pyper came out in 1835, and Ijuilt a log hou'^e and 
got apiece broken up. My l>rotlier William came in the spring 
of 1836, and built tlie first frame house in that section. Rev. 
James Pyper, D.D., Deacon Holmes, and James McLear, with 
part of his family, came in 1837. Archibald Mnrshall and family, 
and my mother and I, came in 1838. We had to go to Dexter or 
Ann Aibor to do our trading, and pay $1 for a bushel of potatoes, 
20 cents per pound for salt pork, $1 for a hen, and the same for a 
dozen of eggs, and ;jSlo for a barrel of flour; these were 'Wild- 
Cat' times. The first wheat I had to sell was in 1842. which I 
took lo Reeves' mill, and sold it for 40 cents per bushel, and had 
to go three times before I got my pay. I thought then farming 
was a ytoov business. 

*' We have had the very best of neighbors; never bad a (piairel 
in either school or road district. A pettifogger came to settle 
among us over twenty years ago, and tried his best to get us at 
loggerheads, but he could not come it, so he pulled up stakes and 
went to California. We used to have very sociable times in the 
long winter evenings. Charles Dunkin, Piiilander Gregory, S, B. 
Sales, Benjamin Sales, Archibald Marshall, my brother William, 
myself, and others, with our families, would meet at some one's 
house and spend a happy evening, and after enjoying the good 
things of this life, and before we parted, would settle at whose 
house we would meet next, generally about two weeks hence. I 
believe Unadilla has cost the county less for the support of paupers 
and the prosecution of criminals than any township in it, and that it 
has been effected through the influence of religion and temperance. 

"On the 4th of February, 1837, the following-named persons 
united and organized a church, to be known as the First Presby- 
terian Church of Unadilla, viz. ; Luke Montague, Eunice Mon- 
tague, Alexander S. Montague, William Craig, Christiene Craig, 
William Pyper, Agnes Pyper, John Brewyn, Junius 1,. I'iekl, 
Maria B. Field, and John Drake. William Craig and Luke Mon- 
tague were elected ruling elders and acting deacons. A. S. Mon- 
tague, Mrs. C. Craig, and Mrs. M. B. Field are all that are left of 
the original membeis. When I came on in 1838, I brought a 
trunk full of Sunday-school books, which I got from the school 
that I was connected with in Connecticut and other schools in the 
neighborhood, which seived the school here and at WiUiamsville 
and Iosco for eight or ten years. The Methodists and Baptists 
soon after organized churches, and now there are two Presby- 
terian, one Baptist, and tlu'ee Methodist churches in town. The 
church members were not generally the richest in this world's 
goods, and had sometimes to solicit outsiders to help, — those whose 
worldly interests were most benefited by good society. 

" The temperance cause always flourished in our town, at first 
as Sons of Temperance, then as Good Templars, and now as the 
Reform Club. The first lodge of Good Templars in Michigan 
was organized in Unadilla, and named Pioneer Lodge, No. i, 
over thirty years ago." 



James Craig, the author of the foregoing, is a 
native of Scotland. In 1831 he came to this 
country and located in New York City, where he 
remained six months, moving afterwards into Con- 
necticut. When, in July, 1833, he visited Unadilla 
and made his purchase of land, not a solitary white 
person was living in the township, and but forty 
acres had been entered, — that being the previously 
described tract taken by Eli Ruggles. Mr. Craig 
held numerous township offices, among them those 
of assessor and treasurer, and for thirteen years 
filled the position of township clerk. He is the 
present postmaster of Unadilla village. 

John C. Stedman came to Michigan from Tioga 
Co, N. Y., in May, 1844, and settled on section 
14 in Unadilla, where Joseph Kirtland now lives. 
He was accompanied by his wife and five children. 
In 1854 he moved upon the farm he now occupies. 
In 1846 he returned to New York for his parents, 
John Stedman and wife, and piloted them to a new 
home in the West. The elder gentleman, a former 
resident of Connecticut, lived to the age of eighty- 
four years, and died in this township. 

Joseph L. Hartsufif, from Seneca Co., N. Y., came 
with his family to Michigan in October, 1S35, and 
located at Coldwater, Branch Co. A little more 
than a 3'ear later he moved to Washtenaw County, 
and in 1837 to the farm in Unadilla now owned by 
Thomas Milligan, north of Unadilla village and 
next south of the farm on which Mr. Hartsuff's 
widow and son (Zenas A. Hartsuff ) at present re- 
side. The place, consisting of 120 acres, had been 
slightly improved by a Dutchinan named Gute- 
kunst, of whom Mr. Hartsuff purchased ; a log 
house of small dimensions had been built, and 
stood on a portion of the ground now covered by 
the orchard. Gutekunst removed to De.xter, Wash- 
tenaw Co. Mr. Hartsuff bought other land in the 
township, including several parcels from govern- 
ment. A number of years later his brother, Henry 
Hartsuff, located in town, on a farm he purchased 
of the former. Henry Hartsuff is at present a 
resident of Port Huron. His son, George L. 
Hartsuff, entered the Union service during the 
Rebellion, attained to the rank of major-general of 
volunteers, and finally laid down his life in defense 
of the principles of freedom and union. He was 
the oldest son. His brother, William Hartsuff, 
also distinguished himself in the same struggle, 
and rose to the rank of brigadier-general. A 
third son, Albert, served as surgeon. 

The widow of Joseph L. Hartsuff states that 
even as late as the time of their settlement, Unadilla 
village was an insignificant place, containing a saw- 
mill and a store, the latter kept by Drake & Dibble, 
and a log house. A short distance north of the 



UNADILLA TOWNSHIP. 



309 



village, in a frame house, lived Dr. J. L. Field, who 
had come the previous fall (1836). He died in No- 
vember, 1867, one week after the death of Mr. 
Itartsuff] and had lived and practiced here during 
the entire time since he first settled, a period of 
thirty years. 

James Livermore settled in February, 1836, 
north of Unadilla village, near the present resi- 
dence of his son, John J. Livermore. He was 
from Tioga Co., N. Y. His brother-in-law, John 
Watson, from the same locality, settled in town in 
the fall of 1843, staying through the winter with 
Mr. Livermore. He was accompanied by his 
father, John Watson, Sr. The son now resides in 
the village of Unadilla. 

In August, 1837, Philander Gregory removed to 
this township from Rochester, Monroe Co., N. Y., 
and located on section 21, where he still resides. 
His wife and infant son, the latter only three 
montlis old, were with him. From Detroit to 
Unadilla the journej- was made in a lumber-wagon. 
The son, Halsted Gregory (recently county clerk 
of Livingston), lives with his father on the old 
farm, which is among the best improved in the 
township or county. 

The first white child born in what is now Una- 
dilla township was Minerva Briggs, daughter of 
Garry Briggs, her birth occurring May 8, 1836. 
She is now living in Dansville, Ingham Co. Her 
father came to the township with Amos Williams, 
and assisted tlie latter in building his saw-mill at 
Williamsville. Mr. Briggs, in the summer of 1879, 
was living at Dexter, Washtenaw Co. 

Royal C. Barnum settled as early as 1836-37, 
in this township, on a farm near the Gregory place. 
He subsequently sold out and went to Ohio and 
engaged in milling operations, but finally came 
back and purchased Robert Glenn's property, at 
Unadilla village. His death occurred a number of 
years since. Before coming to this town he had 
traveled extensively, and followed the sea for some 
years. In his contact with the world he acquired 
all the polish of a perfect gentleman, and his mind 
became stored with much that was useful. His 
son. Royal Barnum, at present lives in the village. 

Samuel G. Ives, who settled west of Williams- 
ville, in April, 1835, is now living in Chelsea, 
Washtenaw Co. He was one of the most promi- 
nent and influential citizens of Unadilla, and served 
as member of the State Legislature before remov- 
ing from the township. 

Elnathan Noble, from Geneva, Ontario Co., 
N. Y., removed to Michigan in the spring of 1832, 
and located at Dexter, Washtenaw Co. In the 
spring probably of 1834 he came into Unadilla, 
purchased land, built a log house, and moved into 



it. The house was a large double structure of logs, 
and was used by Mr. Noble both as a dwelling and 
a tavern. Mr. Noble had the honor of being the 
second settler in the township, as no other house 
had then been built except Williams', at Williams- 
ville. Mr. Noble was accompanied by his son, 
Sylvester G. Noble, now of Unadilla village. When 
night first overtook them after their arrival in the 
township.theysoughtand found shelterin Williams' 
log house, sleeping on the floor. Either that season 
or the next, Stephen Winans built a house on the 
opposite side of the road from and west of Mr. 
Noble's. Help was so scarce at that period that 
" raisings" were successfully completed only by 
the aid of horses and stout ropes, — the logs being 
lifted into position literally by "brute force." 

Mr. Noble was one of the first associate judges 
for Livingston County. Before the county was 
organized he was appointed a Territorial justice of 
the peace by Governor Stevens T. Mason. He 
was concerned in the matter of choosing a name 
for the county, and to him is also given the credit 
of naming the township in which he settled, giving 
it the name of Unadilla, after a township in Otsego 
Co., N.Y. 

It is stated that the first wheat cradled in Una- 
dilla was cut by S. G. Ives and Stephen Haven, 
but when, or on whose farm, is not made clear. 
Mr. Haven now lives on the west line of Iosco 
town.ship. 

David S. Denton, from Tompkins Co., N. Y., 
settled in Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1836. In the fall 
of 1837 he was followed by his father, Daniel 
Denton, and the family moved to Henrietta, Jack- 
son Co., where they remained until Februar>', 1838. 
While there three of the brothers of D. S. Denton 
died within two or three months after they had 
settled, having contracted the " ship fever" on the 
way. D. S. Denton was then unmarried. At the 
last named date (February, 1838) the family re- 
moved to the township of Lyndon, Washtenaw 
Co., and finally, in the spring of 1842, to the farm 
in Unadilla upon which David S. Denton now 
resides. The latter place was originally entered 
by Mary Winans, a widow, who settled upon it 
with her family and built a log house. One of her 
sons, John Winans, now resides in Chelsea, Wash- 
tenaw Co. A family named Rockwell afterwards 
occupied the place before Mr. Denton moved upon 
it. From the south side of the old house, timbers 
projected for the purpose of buikiing a portico 
upon. The family clothes-line was fastened, one 
end to a timber, and the other to a tree. An ox 
belonging to Mr. Rockwell became entangled in 
the line one night, and in his efforts to escape 
pulled the beam partly out, so that one end 



3IO 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



dropped upon the floor. The family had retired 
for the night, but the noise and shock aroused 
them as effectually as an earthquake would have 
done. In fact, they were frightened into the belief, 
for a short time, that no smaller calamity could 
have happened, and flitting forms in nightly robes 
ran out in the darkness in a frenzy of terror. The 
cause of the disturbance was soon discovered, 
however, and they once more sought their beds, 
but the amount of sleep which fell to their lot 
during the remainder of the night is not vouch- 
safed, and their dreams, if dreams they had, were 
probably filled with wild visions and strange ad- 
ventures. 

Mr. Rockwell was subsequently so unfortunate 
as to lose his reason, yet he lived to the age of 
eighty-four years. His death occurred in Water- 
loo, Jackson Co. He occupied tiie house where 
Mr. Denton now lives only until he could build 
one on his own place, across the line in Washtenaw 
County. 

Stephen Cornell, a Quaker, settled early near 
the Gregory farm, and died there. He was a 
politician of some note, and strove usually to 
secure for himself the best places. , About 1848 
he was successful in procuring the appointment of 
postmaster, and the office was removed to his place 
from Unadilla. The neighborhood, however, was 
not sufficiently strong to retain it, and it was sub- 
sequently moved back to the village. 

Hatil Sharp settled two miles west of Williams- 
ville as early as 1834-35, ^'^'^ '^^s sons now living 
in the township. 

Orla J. Backus, from Washington Co., N. Y., 
settled where he now lives in 1837. His brother, 
Gordon Backus, came in May of the following 
year, and purchased land of the former, lying on 
section 21. He lived upon it five years, and finally 
removed to the place he now occupies on sec- 
tion 20. 

Gilbert J. Daniels, another early settler, came 
here from Orange Co., N. Y., and is still a resident 
of the town. 

John and Richard Taylor settled in Unadilla in 

1840. The former's wife was the widow of James 
Tcttley and sister of Robert Brearley. Mr. Tettley 
located in 1836 on the farm now owned by his 
son-in-law. George Taylor, the father of Richard, 
Zachariah, and Christopher Taylor, settled in July, 

1 841, on property now owned by his son, Chris- 
topher, opposite the residence of the latter. Robert 
Brearley came with Geoige Taylor, and is now 
living at Williamsville. Abram Taylor, not re- 
lated to the others of that name who came to the 
township, settled in 1843. The Taylors, Robert 
Brearley, and John Asquith all came from the 



same neighborhood in Yorkshire, England. As- 
quith, who settled in 1845, is now deceased. Wm. 
Barrett, who married one of his daughters, lives 
on the old place. George, Christopher, and Zach- 
ariah Taylor came in i84i,and the three brothers, 
Richard, Christopher, and Zachariah, with John 
and Abram, yet reside in the township. George 
Taylor died in the fall of 1863. The land upon 
which these people settled was all wild except the 
eighty purchased by George Taylor, and that had 
been slightly improved by a man named Danser, 
who built a small shant)' upon it. He and his 
brother, John Danser, both lived in this town a 
short period ; the former removed to the south- 
west part of the State, and the latter to Waterloo, 
Jackson Co. 

John Jackson, now of Pinckney, settled west of 
the Taylor places, before the latter families came. 
His son, James Jackson, now occupies the old 
farm. 

Francis Lincoln settled early near the centre of 
the township, and owned a large amount of land. 
He moved from here to De.xter, Washtenaw Co., 
and is yet living somewhere in the State, at an 
advanced age. With him Mr. Dunn, the first settler 
at Plainfield, stayed while building his house at the 
latter place. 

The forests of this region abounded plentifully 
with wolves, whose chorus of yells resounded 
nightly, furnishing music, remarkable more for its 
volume and variety than for its sweetness and har- 
mony. Half a dozen wolves would emit such a 
mi.xture of yells, howls, whines, barks and scratches, 
that it would seem as though the woods were alive 
with them. They were perfect ventriloquists, too, 
and even if a mile away in one direction the listener 
was always willing to aver that he was closely sur- 
rounded by them. Clothes left hanging in door- 
yards were often torn in pieces by these disturbers 
of the night, and pig-pens were never considered 
entirely wolf-proof 

C. B. Westfall, a native of Phelps, Ontario Co., 
N. Y., came to Michigan in 1838, and located at 
Plymouth, Wayne Co., where he resided two 
years. His father, George Westfall, had come 
previously from the State of New- York, and pur- 
chased the farm in Unadilla upon which the son 
now lives. The elder Westfall never lived in this 
township; his death occurred at Plymouth. His 
three sons, Levi, C. B., and Reuben, all settled in 
Unadilla, — the first named in 1839 and the other 
two in 1840. Reuben was then unmarried, and 
lived with his brother, C. B. Westfall, nearly two 
years. He finally removed to the farm now oc- 
cupied by John Jackson, where he died. Levi, 
who lived three-fourtiis of a mile southwest of 



UNADILLA TOWNSHIP. 



311 



Plainficld, where his son, Aaron Westfall, now 
resides, moved finally to Stockbridge, Ingham 
Co., where he died. He built a tavern at that 
place, and kept it a number of years. C. B. West- 
fall and his younger brother, Albert,— the latter of 
Plainfield, — are the only representatives of their 
father's family now living in the township. Albert 
did not move from Plymouth until some years after 
the others had settled in Unadilla. 

John Shields, a native of Ireland, emigrated to 
New York in 1832, and in May, 1836, removed to 
Michigan from Watertown, Jefferson Co., in the 
first-named State. For two or three years he lived 
at Dearborn, west of Detroit, and in 1840 came to 
Unadilla, and settled north of the place he now 
occupies. His present farm, on section 14, was 
first settled and improved by a man named Chip- 
man, who sold out to Henry Hartsuff. Mr. Shields 
purcha.sed of the latter. 

Charles Bullis was one of the earlier settlers in 
the eastern part of town. His son, Charles E. 
Bullis, at present resides on section 13. 

John VVinans, from Albany Co., N. Y., removed 
with his family to Michigan in 1834, settling in the 
township of Scio, Washtenaw Co. In April or 
May, 1836, he came to Unadilla, and took up his 
residence on land previously owned by George 
Bennett.* Mr. Winans, who engaged exclusively 
in farming during his life in this town, resided on 
this farm until his death, which occurred late in the 
fall of 1843. In 1845 his widow and son, Edwin 
B. VVinans, moved into the township of Hamburg, 
and in the latter, on the south shore of Pleasant 
Lake, the son now lives. They located at Petteys- 
ville, where Mrs. Winans died in July, 1852. E. 
B. Winans worked four years in the carding-mill at 
the village, owned by S. A. Petteys. He has since 
become one of the foremost citizens of the county, 
as he long has been of the township in which he 
lives. In the fall of 1875 he was elected judge of 
probate for Livingston County, and entered upon 
the duties of the ofifice in January, 1876. 

So rapidly did settlers locate in this township 
that in 1837 it had a population of 642, and bore 
the appearance of a much older settled commu- 
nity. Its villages were flourishing, and its forests 
were rapidly giving place to cultivated farms. The 
smoke from the chimneys of the log cabins as-, 
cendcd from many localities over the territory then 
included in the township, which embraced what are 
now Unadilla and Iosco. Previous to the formation 
of the county, a part of Lyndon, WaslUenaw Co,, 
was also included. 



* The pl.ice was more recently owned liy William Wallace, anil 
is now the property of one of the Re.nsons. 



The following were 
prises the township of 

Ahbotl, Abram. 
AI)l)ott, Cyremis. 
Angel, V. R. T. 
Angel, Henry. 
Backus, O. J. 
B.ickus, Gordon. 
Birney, J.nnies. 
Birney, Timothy. 
Bird, William S. 
licale, Emery. 
Bullis, William. 
Bullis, Charles. 
Bullis, Robert H. 
Bennett, George. 
Bird, Uavid. 
Bullock, Rebecca. 
Bullock, Hezekiah. 
Cool, John. 
Cool, William S. 
Cool, C. G. 
Car|ienler, William. 
Clau'Sun, Levi. 
Chipman, l.uiher. 
Ch.ilker, Gideon. 
Cobb, William .S. 
Coy, John S. 
Craig, William. 
Craig, James. 
Chipman, .S.rmuel S. 
Chipman, Lemuel F. 
Crafis, lidward. 
Caison, William. 
Caskey, William S- 
Chipman, Charles. 
Cole, Alexander. 
Davis, George. 

Davis, William. 
Davis, Robert. 

Dunkin, Cliarles. 

Daniels, Gilbert. 

Denton, D.miel. 

Dutton, David. 

Danser, John. 

Dyre, Philip. 

Du Bois, William, 

Dunn, William IL 

Ewers, Tillison. 

Foster, J.ames S. 

Foster, Jonathan R. 

Filch, Sela B. 

Fay, James. 

Falk, William, 

Gregory, I'hilander. 

Goodrich, Joshua. 

Gieen, Esac, 

(iladon, Charles. 

Glenn, Robert. 

Glenn, Charles. 

Hase, Lawrence C. 

Hill, Dudley R. 

Howell, John. 

llaworih, Richard. 

Holmes, D.avid. 

l(o|)kins, rhilaniler. 

IJarlsulT, Henry. 

Isliam, Harry. 

Ives, Samuel G. 

|ves, Orrin. 



residents in what now com- 
Unadilla in the year 1844: 

Jackson, John. 
Kirtland, Joshua. 
Keenan, Patrick. 
Lincoln, Francis. 
Lyman, Clark. 
Lyman, Hollis F. 
Livermore, James. 
Lewis, Artemas. 
Montague, Alexander S. 
Morgan, Peter. 
Mead, William S. 
M.arshall, Archibald. 
Montague, Lucas. 
Marsh, Zenas. 
McConachie, John. 
McAlser, Sarah. 
Mclntyrc, James D. 
McCabe, Patrick. 
McCabe, Edward. 
Noble, Albert C. 
Noble, George. 
Noble, Sylvesler G. 
Pardee, Wheeler. 
Pyper, Alexander. 
Richmond, George W. 
Rodgers, Charles. 
Riggs, Clinton. 
Stevens, Henry. 
Sutton, Hiram. 
Schenck, William L. 
Shield, John. 
Sliles, Henry. 
Shear, Richard. 
Sutherland, Solomim. 
Sulherland, Samuel. 
.Sutherland, Edward. 
Sulherland, Thomas. 
SUicimore, Sarah. 
Sales, Stephen B. 
Sharp, Hallic C. 
Schoonover, James. 
Secoid, Lorenzo. 
Sprout, Rowley A. 
Townsend, Samuel. 
Thompson, Elijah C. 
Teiley, Betsey. 
Topping, Albert G. 
Top])ing, Alexander. 
T.aylor, Richard. 
T.aylor, Isaac. 
Taylor, John. 
Titus, Ebenezer. 
Van Dorn, John B., Esq. 
Vanatton, Jacob. 
Van .Sickle, Samuel F. 
Vanderjiool, William. 
Wasson, Samuel. 
Wasson, John. 
Wasson, Myron H. 
Westfall, Levi. 
Westfall, Cornelius B. 
Westfall, Reuben. 
Winans, Theron. 
Walson, John. 
Wood, .\bner B. 
Williams, William A. 
Williams, Amos. 



312 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



VILLAGE OF EAST UNADILLA. 



Field, Junius L. 
Montague, Luke. 
Cleveland, J. P. 
Dixon, D. R. 
Tultle, Chester J. 
Babcock, Moses(saw-mill). 



Taylor, George. 
Howell, Charles. 
Hartsufif, Joseph L. 
Kiithmd, Benjamin. 
Cornell, Stephen. 



Among other early settlers in the township, 
whose names appear on the records of the County 
Pioneer Society, were the following: Patrick Mc- 
Leer, native of Ireland, settled November, 1837; 
T. McLeer, native of Ireland, settled November, 
1838; John Wasson, from New York, settled June 
18, 1837; Dennis Shields, from Ireland, settled 
January, 1841 ; J. Cool, settled in 1836; J. Morgan, 
settled in 1837; J. L. Crosman, 1843; O. Bangs, 
1848; John Marshall, 1845; and others, of whom 
mention will be found in connection with the vil- 
lages at or near which they located. Many .who 
were temporary residents of the township, subse- 
quently seeking homes elsewhere, as the pioneer 
spirit prompted them, would be named here if 
aught could be ascertained of them definitely, but 
it is impossible to learn of all, as in many cases no 
sources of information exist. 

TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION— CIVIL LIST, ETC. 

Unadilla was formed, by act of the Legislative 
Council of the Territory of Michigan, March 26, 
1835, and, as mentioned, included what is now 
Iosco and a portion of Lyndon, Washtenaw Co. 
On the 6th of March, 1838, Iosco was set off, — 
the county having been previously oi'ganized, and 
the south part assigned to Lyndon, and Unadilla 
was left in its present shape, including township 
I north, in range 3 east. 

By provision of the act erecting this township, its 
first election was to be held at the house of Elna- 
than Noble, but it was adjourned to that of Baxter 
Collins, and the following-named officers were 
elected: Supervisor, John Drake; Township Clerk, 
Peter N. Hard; Justice of the Peace, Elnathan 
Noble;* Treasurer, James Mclntyre; Highway 
Commissioners, Selah B. Collins, Elnathan Noble, 
Francis Lincoln. 

The second annual township-meeting was held 
April 4, 1836, at the house of Elnathan Noble. 
At that time it was " Voted, that E. Noble, John 
Drake, and P. N. Hard be delegates to attend a 
county convention to nominate county officers." 

Jan. I, 1844, a license was granted to William 
S. Mead to keep a tavern in his dwelling-house at 
the village of Milan (now Unadilla). April 15th, 
in the same year, a license was granted to C. J. 
Tuttle " to keep a tavern and vend spirituous liquors 

* Appointed by Governor Mason. 



in the house he now occupies in the village of 
Milan," license to e.xpire on the last day of April, 
1845. June 18, 1869, it was decided — by a vote of 
104 to I — to raise the sum of ^20,000 in aid to the 
Michigan Air-Line Railway Company, who should 
extend their track across this township. The re- 
sult of this scheme is fully mentioned in other 
places in this work.f 

The following is a list of the officers of the 
township of Unadilla, from 1836 to 1879, inclusive, 
as compiled from the records : 

SUPERVISORS. 

1836-37, Elnathan Noble; 1838, Solomon Sutherland; 1839, 
Philander Gregory; 1840-43, John Cool; 1844-46, Heniy 
Angel; 1847, John C. Stedman ; 1848, Anson Denton ; 1849, 
John Cool; 1850, W. H. Dunn; 1851, S. B. Reynolds; 
1852-53, John C. Stedm.an; 1854, Orla J. Backus; 1855, 
Theron Winans; 1856, S. B. S.ales ; 1857, John C. Stedman; 
1858, William S. Bird; 1S59, Archib.-ild Marshall; 1S60, 
John Jackson; 1861-62, John C. Stedman; 1863-65, John 
Jackson; 1866, Stephen B. Sales; 1867, Jonathan B. Foster; 
l858, Samuel B. Reynolds; 1S69-72, Stephen B. Sales; 
1873, H.ilsled Gregory; 1874, WiUi.am W. Wood; 1875, 
John J. Watson; 1876-77, Jonathan B. Foster; 1878-79, 
Thomas Hovvlett. 

TOWNSHIP CLERKS. 

1836-37, Peter N. Hard;]; 1838, Emery Beal ; 1839, John Jack- 
son; 1840, H trace R. Northruj); 1 84 1-42, Philander Gregory ; 
1843-44, Albert G. Topping; 1845, George Taylor; 1846-47, 
Daniel R. Glenn; 1848, James W, Forshee ; 1849, S. S. 
Chi|iman ; J 1850, O. D. Chapman ; 1851, William Rounse- 
ville ; II 1852, Alexander Pyper ; 1853-54, William E. 
Gregory; 1855, Cyrenus .\bbott; 1856, J. H. Marvin; 
1857-58, R. C. Marvin; 1859, William W. Wood; i860, 
Seth B. Torrey; 1861-62, James Craig; 1863, C. J. Glenn ; 
1864-65, S. B. Torrey; 1866-74, James Craig; 1875, Morris 
Topping; 1876-77, James Craig; 1878-79, Sylvester G. 
Topping. 

ASSESSORS. 

1836, Jacob Dunn, Francis Lincoln, James D. Mclntyre; 1837, 
George C. Wood, Lemuel F. Chipman, John Drake; 1S38, 
John Sutherland, Samuel Townsend, David Bird; 1839, 
David Holmes, David D. Bird, Samuel Townsend; 1840, 
Samuel Tetley, S. Townsend, John Sutherland; 1841, S. 
Townsend, John Jackson, Robert Glenn; 1842, Joim J.ackson, 
J. L. HartsufT; 1843, Samuel Townsend, Philander Gregoiy; 
1844, S. Townsend, William H. Dunn; 1845, Henry Hart- 
suff, David Holmes; 1846, William H. Dunn, Moses Bab- 
cock; 1847, John Cool, S. B. Van Size; 1848, J. C. .Stedman, 
William S. Cool; 1849, J. C. Stedman, O. J. Backus; 1850, 
James Craig, David Holmes; 1851, D. Dutton, J. C. Sted- 
man; 1852, S. Townsend, Isaac Taylor; 1859, O. J. Backus, 
John Cool. 

COLLECTORS. 

1836, James D. Mclntyre; 1837, Samuel G. Ives; 1838, Levi 
Westfall; 1839, Samuel G.Ives; 1840-41, Van Rensselaer 
T. Angel. 

f See histories of Putn.am and Hamburg. 

J In the latter year Willi<am S. Martindale was elected in Hard's 
place, at a special meeting. 

J Removed from town, and John T. Smith appointed to fill 
vacancy. 

II Removed from State, and George Biirchard chosen in his 
place. 



HON. SAMUEL G. IVES. 



The subject of this sketch, who for over forty years was 
one of the most enterprising and prominent men of Liv- 
ingston Co., Mich., was born in Lansing, Tompkins Co., 
N. Y., Dec. 21, 1812. 

The years of his boyhood were spent in his native town. 
From early childhood he was entirely dependent upon his 
own efforts for a livelihood, with surroundings not calcu- 
lated to develop the latent forces within him, except, 
perhaps, to teach the lesson that if he was to accomplish 
anything in life it must be by his own exertions. The 
years of his majority found him with but the rudiments of 
a primary education, with worldly effects not exceeding in 
value one hundred dollars, and that invested in a running 
horse. And now, without doubt, the first step taken was 
the laying of the corner-stone of his future prosperity and 
success, and, although but dimly 
foreshadowed, was sufficiently 
prominent to stimulate mental ac- 
tivity and physical vigor in every 
effort. 

By dint of good fortune he 
exchanged his "racer" for eighty 
acres of land in the almost un- 
broken wilds of Michigan, situ- 
ated in township i north, of range 
3 east, now Unadilla, Livingston 
Co. March 17, 1835, with high 
hopes and youthful ambitions, he 
turned his face toward the setting 
sun, — on foot and alone he started 
for Michigan. 

The incidents of this journey 
and the events of the succeeding 
months are still referred to by 
him with animation and just 
pride. After experiencing con- 
siderable delay, traveling by va- 
rious means of locomotion, he 
finally reached Detroit. From 
here the journey was toilsome and 

laborious indeed ; however, the variations were quite suffi- 
cient to break the monotony. Following an Indian trail, 
going by "blazed" trees, crossing swollen streams, and, 
lastly, by the aid of a "land-looker," he was enabled for 
the first time in life to stand upon his own soil. 

The site selected for building was soon cleared, a log 
house sixteen by twenty-two feet rolled up, arrangements 
for clearing and putting out to wheat about four acres, and 
Mr. Ives returned to New York. 

This proved to be the nucleus to his future home, and to 
it he added, from time to time in after-years, as he was 
prospered, until he became the happy possessor of one of 
the finest and most productive stock and grain farms in 
Central Michigan, with pleasant and attractive rural build- 
ings overlooking the entire estate. 

August 30, 1835, Mr. Ives married Miss Maria Louisa, 
daughter of Hon. Josiah Hedden, of Lansing, N. Y., and 




.S.\MUEL G. IVES, 



on the sixth of October following they bade adieu to the 
scenes of their childhood, with all their hallowed influ- 
ences, for their home "out West." 

Here they were to live to see the tall, unbroken forests 
swept away, and in their places come waving fields of 
grain ; to see the long, winding trail of Lo and his fol- 
lowers tranformed into a broad highway, and traversed by 
commerce and thrift ; to see the ever-moving waters of the 
beautiful streams, which for ages had borne the rude canoe 
of the dusky fisherman, turning the wheels of industry, 
and aiding in the development of the country and its re- 
sources. Yes, this lone spot in the wilderness, possessing 
only the beauty and grace of nature, was to become to 
them the dearest spot on earth, — their home. Here, for 
nearly forty years, they toiled together, in sunlight and 
shadow, heart and hand, and 
under the smiles of a kind Provi- 
dence, whose overruling power 
they ever recognized, they were 
abundantly blessed "in basket 
and in store." 

As the fruit of their wedded 
lives eight children were born to 
them, seven of whom grew up to 
manhood and womanhood, five 
of whom are still living. All 
are married, pleasantly circum- 
stanced, following honorable pur- 
suits, and located within a circuit 
of a few hours' ride. 

Mr. Ives has always taken a 
lively interest in all matters per- 
taining to the growth, develop- 
ment, and prosperity of his adopted 
county, contributing freely and 
generously to every enterprise 
looking to the elevation and well- 
being of society. 

To-day, nearly a dozen churches, 
within a radius of as many miles 
from his old home (whose spires, pointing heavenward, are 
silent monitors for good), received from him in the course 
of their erection substantial aid and encouragement. To him 
is due, perhaps, more than any other, the credit for the 
erection of the Methodist Episcopal church at Williams- 
ville in 1S53, the second church edifice built in Livingston 
County. For nearly thirty years Mr. Ives has been a 
prominent and active member of this society. The mould- 
ing influence of his life upon his community, in favor of 
morality, temperance, and religion, will live and be felt 
long years after he has been laid beneath the beautiful 
granite shaft that now adorns the family plat at Williams- 
ville Cemetery. Here rests the companion of his youth, 
the mother of his children, who for nearly forty years was 
the sharer of his joys and sorrows alike, a helpmate in- 
deed, who departed this life Oct. 4, 1871. 

Hospitable and liberal, his house was for many years the 



home of the itinerant minister of the gospel ; and in the 
years agone, when the itinerancy meant sometliing more 
than it does in Central Michigan to-day, such men as 
Revs. Wni. E. Bigelow, J. M. Arnold, Samuel Clements, 
Dr. Fisk, T. C. Gardner, and scores of others — many of 
whom are gone to the mansions above — have found here a 
hearty welcome and a happy fireside. 

In this connection it might be well to mention tliat Mr. 
Ives is a brother of Rev. B. I. Ives, D.D., of Auburn, 
N. Y., for many years chaplain of the Auburn State-prison, 
a man of enviable reputation as an orator, and well known 
throughout the nation and the Christian world as the 
"great Methodist dedicator;" the man who has dedicated 
more churches and raised more money for clearing church 
debts than any other man on the continent, if not in the 
civilized world. 

In politics, Mr. Ives was an Old-Line Whig, and co- 
operated heartily with that party 
until the organization of the Re- ^ 

publican party, when he at once / 
adopted its creed, and has ever 
been a strong advocate of its 
principles. Mr. Ives has been 
called to fill many positions of 
public trust and confidence. He 
was for sixteen consecutive years 
justice of the peace, and had a 
happy faculty of settling by arbi- 
tration, and without costs to the 
belligerent parties, a large per- 
centage of the cases that came to 
him in his official capacity. 

In 1844 or 1845 he, with V. R. 
T. Angel and Freeman Webb, was 
instrumental in raising a company 
of cavalry under the then existing 
military laws. At its organization 
he was elected to a lieutenantcy, 
and, later, upon the resignation of 
Capt. Webb, was commissioned by 
Governor Epaphroditus Ransom as 
" Captain of Livingston Troops," 

which position he retained until the disbanding of the 
company. Mr. Ives was the first Republican representa- 
tive from Livingston County in the State Legislature. 
Elected in 1854; was re-elected in 1856, and also served 
at an extra session. 

Though not a public speaker, by his earnest, forcible 
manner of argument he became an effective and efficient 
legislator, an honor to his constituents, and enjoyed the 
confidence of his political opponents. In 1874 he was 
unanimously nominated State Senator for his district, but, 
owing to a complication of circumstances, he peremptorily 
tleclined the honor. 

During the late war Mr. Ives was instrumental in raising 
and forwarding to tlie front many soldiers for the Union 
armies, giving freely of his time, money, and influence. 
He was appointed by Prov.-Mar. McConnel, of I'ontiac, 
enrolling officer for his district, the perplexing and oft- 



\ 




MRS. SAMUEL G. IVES 



times unpleasant duties of which office he performed with 
fidelity, meeting the hearty approval of the department. 
He was particularly jirominent in raising men for the 26th 
Regiment of Michigan Infantry, in which command his 
son, Maj. L. H. Ives, of Mason, Mich., served with dis- 
tinction and honor. He was Presidential elector on the 
Republican State ticket in 1872. Commissioned by Gov- 
ernor Bagley a "commissioner for the additional asylum 
for the insane" at Pontiac, in 1874, he proved a very 
efficient member of the board during the erection of the 
buildings; this position he still retains. In 1875 lie was 
appointed by the Governor a trustee to the institution. 
His elections or appointments to positions of trust and 
honor were never augmented by having been connected 
with any organization or society calculated to give him 
political preferment, but were rather the public recognition 
of personal fitness, and, though his party in his township 
and county were oftenest in the 
^ minority, he never suffered a de- 

feat. He was for many years a 
stockholder and director in the 
projected plank-road from Dex- 
ter to Lansing, five miles only 
of which was ever completed. 
Strictly speaking, this enterprise 
was not a financial success. 

Farming and stock-growing has 
been his principal occupation, and 
in these he has demonstrated what 
may be wrought out by economy, 
industry, and frugality. At vari- 
ous times, however, Mr. Ives has 
owned a controlling interest in a 
saw-mill, flouring-mill, a country 
store, etc., but these have always 
been secondary. Few men enjoy 
a right fine team of horses better 
than Mr. Ives, and very few 
farmers in Michigan have owned 
more or better. 

In 1876, having practically re- 
tired from active farm life, and in 
order to better meet the iiublic demands upon his time, he 
turned over to his son, Frank E., — who, by the way, is 
one of the rising, clear-headed young agriculturists of his 
county, and destined to become one of her solid men, — 
the entire control of the old homestead of three hundred 
and forty acres of land, and removed to Chelsea, Wash- 
tenaw Co., where he still resides. Since living there he 
has been president of the village and a member of the 
Common Council. Although having lived out nearly his 
threescore years and ten, Mr. Ives still retains the full 
mental and physical vigor of his middle life, and bids fair 
to live yet many years to enjoy the mercies a bountiful 
Providence has so liberally bestowed upon him. His 
present wife, Mrs. Mary A. Duncan, is an estimable lady. 
Theirs is a happy home, and with an ample competence, 
surrounded by his children and grandchildren, and hosts of 
friends, he is enjoying the later years of an active life. 



UNADILLA TOWNSHIP. 



313 



TREASURERS. 
1839, Luke Montague; 1840-41, llezeki.ih IJvillock ; 1S42, David 
Holmes; 1843-45, V. R. T. Angel; 1846, Daniel Barton; 
1847-48, James Birney; 1849, John Jackson; 1850, Garry 
Briggs; 1851, W. Bullis; 1852, William S. Cool; 1853, 
Robert Brearley; 1854, James Craig; 1855, Robert Brearley; 
1856, John Fulmer; 1S57, L. Hopkins; 1S58, D. A. Dun- 
kin ; 1859, Jolm Shields; i860. Nelson A. Glenn ; 1861, C. 
G. Cool; 1862, Gurdon Ward; 1S63, W. S. Livermore; 

1864, G. S. May; 1865, J. B. Foster; 1866, Wm. J. May; 
1867, Isaac S. Davis; 1868, Wm. D. Hartsuflf; 1869, Wm. 
J. May; 1S70, Robert H. Bullis; 1871, Robert Brearley; 
1872, La Fayetle Peel ; 1873-74, Robert Brearley ; 1875-76, 
Joseph Kirtland; 1877-78, George Abbott; 1879, Samuel 
Placeway. 

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 
1836, E. Noble, J. Tetley, J. Dunn, Francis Lincoln; 1837, John 
Wood; 1838, David Holmes, Solomon Sutherland; 1839, 
Joseph L. Hartsuff; 1840, John B. Van Doren; 1841, John 
Sutherland, Samuel Tetley (the latter took the place of Elna- 
than Noble, deceased); 1842, Daniel Denton; 1843, J- L. 
Hartsuff, John Jackson; 1844. John B. Vandoren ; 1845, 
George Bcnneit; 1846, S.amuel G. Ives, Wm. S. Bird ; 1S47, 
Joseph L. Hartsuff; 1848, Samuel Townsend; 1849, George 
Bennett; 1850, S. G. Ives, Theron Winans; 1851, J. L. Field ; 
1852, G. W. Richmond; 1853, Theron Winans; 1854, S. 
Townsend, S. G. Ives; 1855, J. L. Field; 1856, S Town- 
send; 1857, S. P. Reynolds; 1858, D. S. Denlon ; 1859, J. 
L. F'ield; i860, Morris Topping; 1861, Daniel Wright; 
l862,S. G. Ives; 1863, O. H.Obert; 1864, Morris Topping; 

1865, Daniel Wright; 1866, Archibald Marshall; 1867, Ju- 
nius L. Field, Frederick Sharp; 1868, Royal Barnum, Wm. S. 
Biid, Jonathan B. Foster; 1869, Wm. S. Braley; 1870, Wm. 
S. Bird; 1871, Wm. J. May, Halsted Gregory; 1872, Jona- 
than B. Foster; 1873, Wm. S. Braley; 1874, Royal Barnum; 
1875, Zenas A. Hartsuff, Wm. A. Williams ; 1876, C. Nel>on 
Bullis; 1877, Wm. S. Braley; 1878, Wm. A. Williams, D. 
O. Dutlon ; 1879, Daniel Barton. 

SCHOOL INSPECTORS. 

1836, Peter N. Hard, John Drake, Jacob Dunn, EInathan Noble, 
James Tetley; 1837, J.ames Tetley, Gad C. Dibble, William 
Wright ;* 1838, James Tetley, Gad C. Dibble, David Holmes ; 
1839, J. L. Hartsuff, Guilson Morgan, John Winans; 1840, 
James Tetley, Abraham Abbott, Joseph L. Hartsuff; 1841- 
42, James Tetley, J. L. Hartsuff, Alexander Py|ier; 1843, 
J. L. Hartsuff, Alexander Pyper; 1844, J. L. Rice, A. Beal ; 
1845, Alexander Pyper; 1846, George W. Noble; 1847, 
Alexander Pyper; 1848, Joseph L. Hartsuff; 1849, O. 
D. Chapman; 1850, Alexander Pyper; 1851, W. W. Wood; 
1852, Joseph Hartsuff; 1853, T. McLeer ;f 1854, Joseph L. 
Ilarisuff; 1855, A. B. Wood; 1856, T. M. Joslin ; 1857, 
William W. Wood ; 185S, L. Hopkins ; 1859, Jonathan 
B. Foster; i860, James Shields; 1861, Thomas J. Hays; 
1862, Loren Hopkins; 1863, Halsted Gregory ; 1864, Oliver 
L.Smith; 1865, Halsted Gregory ; 1866, John O. Stedman ; 
1867, William D. Hartsuff; 1868, Ira C. Backus; 1869, Geo. 
Reynolds; 1870, William W. Wood; 1871, Jonathan B. 
Foster; 1872, Benjamin F. Chipman ; 1873, La Fayette Peet; 
1874, Thomas Howlett ; 1S75, Jonathan B. Foster; 1876, 
John O. Stedman; 1877, Albert II. Watson ; 1878, John O. 
Stedman ; 1879, William W. Wood. 

TOWNSHIP SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS. 

1875, Halsted Gregory; 1876-78, William F. Bird; 1876, Eli F. 
Carr. 

* Filch Chipman and John Wood chosen at special election, 
t Also spelled McLear. 
40 



EARLY ROADS. 

Tlie following were among the fir.st highways 
laid out in the township, and the routes of most of 
tiiem have since been changed. 

Dunn's road, "commencing at a stake on Tet- 
ley 's road, south 70 degrees east, 21 chains and 25 
links from quarter stake between sections 17 and 
18, and terminating at a stake on the north line, 
11.50 links from quarter stake between sections 5 
and 8, town i iiorti), of range 3 east." Surveyed 
loth of July, 1835, by John F. Farnsworth, Deputy 
District Surveyor. 

Tetley's road, " commencing at a stake on the 
town line, 12 chains and 50 links north of the 
quarter stake on section 12, town I north, of range 

2 east, and terminating at the quarter stake be- 
tween sections 20 and 21, in town I north, of range 

3 east." Surveyed July 9, 1835. 

Drake's road, "commencing at a stake on the 
Dexter road, south 76 degrees west, 28 chains 
from the quarter stake between sections 2 and 3, 
town I south, of range 3 east, and terminating on 
Peterson road, north 48 degrees east, 18 chains 
and 25 links from the quarter stake between 26 
and 27, in town i north, of range 3 east." Sur- 
veyed July 1 1, 1835. 

Saw-Mill road, " commencing at a stake on 
Drake's road, on the east side of the mill-yard, 
south 62 degrees east, 23 chains and 14 links from 
the quarter stake between sections 34 and 35, in 
town I north, range 3 east, and terininating on 
the De.\ter road, at a stake south 5 i degrees east, 
22 chains and 50 links from the quarter stake be- 
tween sections 33 and 34." Surveyed July 1 1, 1835. 

The foregoing were all the roads surveyed in 
the township in 1835. Among those laid in 1836 
were a continuation of Nathan Rose's road, altera- 
tion of Collins and Green's road. Palmer's road, 
Prospect Hill road, Centre road. Base Line road, 
Hard's road, Chipman's road, Sutherland's road, 
Broad Trail road, and Ives' road. The last four 
were surveyed by Richard Peterson, Jr., and the 
others by John F. Farnsworth. The latter person, 
who studied law with Judge Turner in Howell in 
1842-43, removed soon afterwards to Kane Co., 
111., and became one of its most prominent citizens. 
He was long a leading legal practitioner, and rep- 
resented that Republican district fourteen years in 
Congress. 

In 1840 what was called the " Beaver Dam 
Road," angled across the western portion of Una- 
dilla township, from a point half a mile south of 
the present school-house in District No. 12, to the 
farm now owned by John Jackson, thence on 
to Lansing, Ingham Co. The southeastern termi- 
nus of the road was at Dexter, in Washtenaw Co. 



314 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Its name came from the fact that after passing the 
Hne between Livingston and Ingham Counties, 
and in the latter, it crossed an ancient beaver-dam, 
at the outlet of an extensive marsh. 

Another early road angled more to the north, 
across what is now the C. B. Westfall place, finally 
terminating at Plainfield. From the fact that no 
underbrush was found in tlie forest, it was possible 
to see a long distance among the trees, and teams 
could be driven almost anywhere, e.xcept having 
occasionally to avoid large trees. 

VILL.'^GE OF WILLIAMSVILLE. 

Amos Williams, from the State of Connecticut, 
came to Michigan in 1833, with his brother-in-law, 
Eli Rug-ales, to visit relatives in Pontiac, and also 
called on Nathaniel Noble, an old acquaintance 
who was living at Dexter. Mr. Williams was a 
millwright, and at the instance of Mr. Noble came 
with the latter to examine the privilege the latter 
had discovered, at what is now Williamsville. The 
result was that Mr. Ruggles located the 40 acres 
already mentioned, and the men returned to Con- 
necticut. In the fall of the same year, Mr. Wil- 
liams came back, in company with his son, Samuel 
Williams, his son-in-law, Garry Briggs, and the 
latter's wife. These were the first settlers in the 
township, and Mrs. Briggs was the first woman 
who had set foot within its limits. For four weeks 
she lived in the wilderness, without seeing anotlier 
woman of her own color, although Indian squaws 
were numerous. During that winter the men built 
a saw-mill, and its operations commenced in the 
spring of 1834. During the latter year Amos Wil- 
liams went after his family, returning with them in 
the fall. Their nearest neighbor, when they first 
came, was Henry Warner, who lived ten miles 
southeast, in Washtenaw County. Stephen Ste- 
venson was, at the same time, building a log house 
on the shore of North Lake, also in the county 
named. Indian trails or lines of marked trees were 
the only highways. 

January 30, 1837, Darwin N. Edson and the 
heirs of Curtis Noble laid out a village, and called 
it Unadilla, the same which is now known as Wil- 
liamsville. Edson lived in Greene Co., N. Y. 
The work was done under authority of Elnathan 
Noble, who was attorney for Edson and the heirs 
of Curtis Noble. The survey* was made by John 
F. Farnsworth. The saw-mill stood on the river, 
south of the village plat. 

* By an act of the Legislature approved March 25, 1846, all 
that portion of the recorded plat of Unadilla lying on the east 
half of the east half of the southwest quarter of section 28 was 
vacated. No decree of court has been recorded to make this 
vacation legal, however. 



Mr. Noble presented a lot to Mrs. Briggs, in 
honor of her being the first white female inhab- 
itant of the township, and Mr. Williams built a 
house upon it for her, in which the Briggs family 
lived a number of years. Mr. Williams' son, Wil- 
liam A. Williams, now resides at the village, and a 
second son, Samuel Williams, is a resident of 
White Oak, Ingham Co. 

Large quantities of lumber have been sawed in 
the old Williams mill, the fiame of which is yet 
standing, although it has not been in operation 
for several years. The mill-privilege is said to be 
an excellent one for a small stream. 

In the summer of 1847 David Holmes built a 
store at the village, and filled it with goods the 
same fall. He and Anson Denton entered into 
partnership, and conducted business about two 
years. Mr. Holmes, who was a Baptist deacon, 
owned a fine farm, but was so unfortunate as to 
lose it in unprofitable mercantile pursuits. His 
place is now owned by his son, William S. Holmes. 
Mr. Denton, Holmes' partner, purchased the latter's 
interest and moved the merchandise into a room in 
William A. Williams' house, where he continued 
in trade for a time. James Jamieson afterwards kept 
a store about a year in the same place, and since 
then no efforts have been made in the mercantile 
line in the village. 

VILLAGE OF PLAINFIELD. 

Numerous Indian trails crossed each other at or 
near the site of Plainfield, and the locality seemed 
to be a favorite camping-ground among the red 
men. Cranberries abounded here, and this fact 
doubtless had its weight. The chief best known 
to the settlers of this region was " Toag," whose 
followers could not be kept in hand, and were gen- 
erally thieving and drunken. Instances are related 
of their entering houses when the men were away 
from home, and scaring the women into giving 
them food, and even clothing. 

Sometime in 1835, Jacob Dunn and Levi Claw- 
son started together for the W^est, from Newton, 
N.J. Mr. Clawson stopped in Ohio, while Dunn 
came to Michigan, purchased land and settled upon 
it, being the first to locate on the site of Plainfield. 
During the following winter Mr. Clawson came to 
the same place and purchased, and found Dunn 
living in a log house on the south of his (Dunn's) 
farm. He learned afterwards that the road was to 
be laid on the section line north of him, and 
moved his house to it. Dunn was the only man 
living at the place when Clawson entered his land. 
The latter returned to Ohio, and in May, 1837, re- 
moved with his family to his place at Plainfield, 
where he has since resided. 




Brtar^i trnf^Ui 



UNADILLA TOWNSHIP. 



315 



In the nienn time Fleet Van Sickel bought land 
at Plainfield, but soon sold to Philip Dyer, who 
became the second settler at the place. Dyer was 
also from New Jersej', and located here in 1836. 
He and Dunn both kept taverns. The place was 
originally known as Dyersburg, but upon the 
establishment of a post-office the name, Plainfield, 
was given by Mr. Dunn, after a town in New Jer- 
sey. John Cool and family came with Dyer and 
located west of the village, where two of his 
daughters are now living. Samuel Townsend set- 
tlcil in the fall of 1836 on the farm now occupied 
by John Van Sickel, who married one of his 
daughters. 

Philip Dyer's youngest son, John Dyer, occuj^ies 
his father's old farm. A daughter of Mr. Dyer is 
now the wife of A. L. Dutton, living on section 16. 

David Dutton, from Oneida Co., N. Y., came to 
Michigan in 1834, and after a short stop in Scio, 
Washtenaw Co., settled at Lima, in the same 
county. In May, 1837, he moveti to the farm, 
half a mile northwest of Plainfield, now occupied 
by his son, D. O. Dutton. He died May 29, 1867, 
and his widow makes her home most of the time 
with her children at Eaton Rapids, Eaton Co., 
although her sons, D. O. and A. L., in Unadilla, 
have her company at times. 

When Fleet Van Sickel sold his place at Plain- 
field to Mr. Dyer, he paid the money to his 
brother, Samuel F. Van Sickel, who purchased 
land southeast of the village, where his son, Edgar 
Van Sickel, now lives. S. F. Van Sickel came 
from New Jersey in company with Levi Clawson, 
and after a short stay in Ohio proceeded to Dex- 
ter, Washtenaw Co., Mich., finally locating in Una- 
dilla. One other of his sons, David, lives near 
Edgar, southeast of Plainfield. 

Samuel Wasson settled northeast of Plainfield 
in 1837. The old farm is divided between his two 
sons, Myron and John, who reside upon it. Mr. 
Wasson came from a locality about thirtj' miles 
from Buffalo, N. Y. 

The first physician in the neighborhood was 
Dr. Morgan, who came at an early day from Ohio, 
with his family, accompanied by Mr. Tuttle and 
family. This was previous to 1839. The doctor 
was much esteemed by his acquaintances, and 
ranked high as a physician. After the death of 
his wife he removed to Indiana. He was the only 
physician who ever lived here any length of time. 
He had an extensive ride, ranging into the town- 
ship of White Oak, Ingham Co. The vicinity of 
Plainfield was always noted for its hcalthfulness, 
and Dr. Morgan once remarked that " if it were not 
for White Oak he should starve to death!" Dr. D. 
M. Greene located here in the spring of 1879. 



Albert G. Topping, fiom Cleveland, Ohio, settled 
in Plainfield in November, 1839, living for a 
short time in a house on Philip Dyer's place, 
while building a log house for himself That 
structure occupied the ground upon which now 
stands the residence of his son, Morris Topping. 
When not busy on his own place, Mr. Topping 
was employed by Dyer. He died in 1844, from 
the effects of the amputation of his leg, rendered 
necessary by a white swelling. His son, Morris 
Topping, in the spring of 1 85 3 built the store he 
now occupies, and began business in October of 
the same year, having continued in the same place 
since that time. He is now the oldest merchant 
in the place; has also a large stave-factory and 
coopering establishment, manufacturing about 
20,000 barrels per annum. This business was 
started about 1864. 

Mr. Topping built his stave-factory first, subse- 
quently adding a saw-mill, and finally a grist-mill. 
All were burned about 1875, but the stave-factory 
and grist-mill have been rebuilt. Steam is the 
motive power used; the grist-mill has three runs of 
stone, antl does both custom and merchant work. 

E. T. Bush has a planing-mill and cider-mill, 
which have been in operation about ten years. 

The first store in the village was established by 
Rice A. Beal, since prominent in his connection 
with the State University at Ann Arbor. He first 
appeared as a peddler of clocks, etc., but finally 
built and stocked a store and managed it a number 
of years. He went afterwards to Howell, where 
he owned a fine establishment, and finally removed 
to Ann Arbor, where he now resides. His father, 
Emery Beal, settled at Plainfield about 1837. 

Plainfield post-office was established about 1837 
-38, with Emery Beal as postmaster, and was kept 
in the latter's house. Mail was brought from 
Milan (Unadilla post-office), the route extending 
from Ann Arbor, via Dexter, to Unadilla and re- 
turn. Some mail was afterwards brought in from 
Mason, Ingham Co. A tri-weekly mail is now re- 
ceived from Fowlerville, the route extending from 
Fowlerville to Unadilla. A man named Burnett, 
who lived east of Plainfield, held the office a short 
time, succeeding Beal. Rice A. Beal was subse- 
quently appointed. In 1853, when Morris Top- 
ping established himself in business, he received 
the appointment of postmaster, which position he 
has since retained. 

The present hotel at the village was built in 
1876 by Morris Topping, and its first landlord was 
William O.xtoby. The present proprietor is A. D. 
Spaulding, who has occupied it since the fall of 
1878. The building is a frame structure, and the 
first regular hotel in the place. 



3i6 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



VILLAGE OF UNADILLA. 

A village, called " East Unadilla,"* was platted 
April 14, 1837, the survey being made by Richard 
Peterson, Jr., but it was not recorded until April 
21, 1840. The proprietary names on the plat are 
Robert Glenn and Thomas G. Sill, — the latter the 
administrator of the estate of John Drake. The 
plat, as acknowledged, bears date April 16, 1840. 
The village was originally locally known as Milan; 
but when it became necessary to establish a post- 
office it was ascertained that another office of the 
same name existed in Monroe Co., and while the 
office was named Unadilla the village was recorded 
as East Unadilla, to distinguish it from the Una- 
dilla mentioned elsewhere. 

John Drake, the founder and one of the propri- 
etors of the village, built a dam across the Portage 
in 1835, and as soon as possible thereafter erected 
a saw-mill, the lumber used in its construction 
being sawed at Williams' mill at Williamsville. 
Robert Glenn had entered the land, and gave 
Drake 40 acres on which to build his mill and im- 
prove the water-power. Glenn built a grist-mill in 
1838, the same being a part of the mill now stand- 
ing. It had originally but one run of stones, but a 
second was afterwards added. Glenn subsequently 
sold a half-interest to Dr. Field. Others were 
proprietors at different times, and it finally passed 
into the hands of the present owner, George Hoy- 
land, who inserted a third run of stones. Dr. Field, 
Charles Duncan, and Seth A. Petteys all had shares 
in the mill at one time with Glenn. Petteys built 
the grist-mill for Glenn, and afterwards erected a 
carding-machine in his own interest, but finally 
abandoned it, owing to the supply of water being 
insufficient to run all the mills. The old wheel 
in the grist-mill was a heavy one of the overshot 
pattern. An improved turbine wheel is now in use. 
John Dunning, from the town of Byron, Genesee 
Co., N. Y., came to Unadilla in December, 1846, 
and entered the mercantile business, and has con- 
tinued in the same to the present. With the excep- 
tion of during the first eighteen months after his 
arrival, he has occupied the building in which he 
is now located. It is the first frame building 
erected in the village, and was built by John 
Drake for the purpose of a store and dwelling. 
The store — the first in the place — -was kept by 
Drake & Dibble, and necessarily contained but a 
small stock. Drake died within a year after the 
store was built, and its contents were purchased 
by Mr. Ward, of Ann Arbor, now deceased. Mr. 

*" Unadilla village" was laid out June 11, 1836, on the east 
part of section 33, l:)y Mary Winans and Alexander Pyper, the 
survey Iieing made by John Farnsworlh. This was abandoned, 
and the vilbge of East Unadilla is known at present as Unadilla. 



Drake first lived in a log house which stood near 
his saw-mill in the southwest part of the village, 
a few rods south of the Presbyterian church. 

W. S. Livermore, one of the firm of O. H. Obert 
& Co., at the village, came from Richfield, Tioga 
Co., N. Y., in 1844, with his uncle, John C. Sted- 
man, now living north of Unadilla. Since July, 
1864, he has been engaged in business with his 
brother in-law, Mr. Obert. The present brick 
store occupied by the firm was built in 1873. 

William Gilbert, from Cayuga Co., N. Y., located 
in Unadilla village in the spring of 1837, and estab- 
lished the first blacksmith-shop in the place, on the 
lot w])ere W. S. IJvermore now resides. The 
frame of the shop is yet standing on the north 
side of the creek, whence it was removed and 
since enlarged. Mr. Gilbert's mother and the 
wife of Luke Montague were sisters. 

Mr. Montague, also from Cayuga Co., N. Y., 
located land both in Unadilla and the township of 
Lyndon, Washtenaw Co. ; he also purchased some 
from Aaron Palmer (son of James Palmer, who had 
settled with his sons, Aaron and Benajah), who is 
now living in the village. Mr. Montague pur- 
chased in the fall of 1836, and returned to New 
York for his family. When they came back in 
the spring of 1837 Mr. Gilbert was one of the 
party. Montague settled first on the Palmer 
place, across the line in Lyndon, and lived there 
about a year, building a house on liis place in 
Unadilla in the mean while. In the latter Dr. 
F"ield lived for a time, afterwards moving into the 
village and building a house on the hill in the 
south part. The doctor afterwards moved to the 
present W. S. Livermore place, where he died. 

Mr. Montague sold the Palmer place to his son, 
Alexander Montague, when he moved to his place 
in Unadilla. 

One of the characters of this region at an early 
day was an old man familiarly known as " Deacon" 
Barnes. He lived to be about ninety years of age, 
and died a few years since in Ingham County. He 
lived at Williamsville, and was a blacksmith by 
trade. With much satisfaction he would relate his 
apprenticeship experiences, and his stories led his 
listeners to understand that he served his appren- 
ticeship before the Revolution. He was a bachelor, 
and possessed a remarkable memory, but no edu- 
cation. At one time he was employed in a shop 
at De.xter, Washtenaw Co. 

PHYSICIANS. 

Dr. Junius L. Field, the first physician in the 
township, was a very popular citizen and an excel- 
lent physician. For years he was the one sought 
after by the sick of the vicinity. He was very 



UNADILLA TOWNSHIP. 



■317 



careful in Iiis practice, and it has been said of him 
that his only fault lay in givin<j too large doses of 
medicine ; but however that may be, his practice of 
many years was attended by remarkable success. 

Dr. Foster, who settled about 1845-46, stayed a 
number of years, finally removing to Ypsilanti, 
where he died. He came here from Canada, and 
suffered much with the ague at first, and threatened 
to leave as soon as he was able. He was finally 
persuaded to remain, however, and brought in his 
family. He was also eminently successful in his 
practice. 

Several physicians have locatedat different times, 
but only remained a short time. Dr. Samuel Du 
Bois, now of the village, has resided and practiced 
here many years, and is the only physician in the 
township, except Dr. D. M. Green, a recent arrival 
at Plainfield. 

The only lawyer who ever lived in the village or 
practiced in the township was a man named Mar- 
tin. He came from Stockbridge, Ingham Co., and 
after a short stay and a failure in finding clients he 
went to California, where he rose to prominence. 

HOTELS. 

About 1838-39 a tavern was built by William 
S. Mead, on the ground previously occupied by 
Gilbert's blacksmith-shop, — the latter being moved 
off to give room to the hostelry. This was the 
same building Dr. Field lived in for a time (and 
died in), and the one now occupied by W. S. Liver- 
more. In the spring after this was built, a second 
one was erected by Moses Babcock, and is now 
standing south of the creek, occupied as a dwelling 
by George Hoyland. Neither this nor the one 
first described has been used as a tavern for many 
years. It was customary in the early days for 
taverns and stores to sell liquors, and it was quite 
as customary for each family to "keep a bottle of 
whisky in the house to drive off the ague." A 
temperance society (not the subsequent Good Tem- 
plars) was organized in 1838, the first lecture before 
it being delivered by Rev. Dr. James Pyper, a Bap- 
tist minister, who still resides in the village. Soon 
after the organization Mr. Gilbert, one of the mem- 
bers, went East and remained one year. Upon his 
return he met the president of the society, who had 
in his pocket a bottle of "Golden Seal" to keep off 
the ague, as he said. The vice- president was armed 
in the same manner and for the .same purpose, as 
were numerous others belonging to the society, 
and Mr. Gilbert soon arrived at the conclusion that, 
as he did not wish to fend off the ague in that way, 
his name had better be dropped from the roils. 

The hotel now known as the Unadilla Hou.se, 
and kept by James Craig, was built for a dwelling. 



either by Luke Montague, or his son Ale.vander. 
Henry Hartsuff, at a later date, had a store in it. 
It was finally purchased by P>. J. Smith, who con- 
verted it into a hotel and became its first landlord. 
Several additions to it had previously been built. 
Mr. Craig has been proprietor since March, 1861. 
Unadilla Post-Office was established in 1836, 
with Elnathan Noble, now deceased, as first post- 
master. The latter's son, Curtis G. Noble, now a 
resident of the village, was the first mail-carrier, 
bringing it on horseback from Dexter, and occa- 
sionally having no other receptacle for it than his 
pockets. No salary was paid the postmaster, nor 
any commission (it is said), but he was allowed to 
take whatever he could make out of the office. 
Letters from the East brought twenty-five cents 
each when delivered. The office was located at 
Mr. Noble's proposed village site, west of what is 
now Unadilla village. His son, George W. Noble, 
a hatter by trade, built a hat-shop at that place, 
and a blacksmith-shop was also built and carried 
on a short time. The frost of competition nipped 
Mr. Noble's project in the bud. A sub.sequent 
change in the location of the road, which had 
originally followed an Indian trail, left his log 
house some distance from the highway. His suc- 
cessor in office was William S Mead, who lived a 
mile north of the village of Unadilla. About 
1848 it is stated to have been taken to a locality 
northwest of the village, and kept for a short time 
by the Quaker politician, Stephen Cornell. It was 
finally permanently located at Unadilla, however, 
and since July 9, 1 86 1, the duties of the office 
have been performed by James Craig, the present 
incumbent. A tri-weekly mail is brought from 
Chelsea, Washtenaw Co. 

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

FIRST PRESUYTLRI.VN CHURCH L\' UN.\DH.L\.* 

This church was organized Feb. 4, 1837, by Rev. 
Charles G. Clarke, of Webster, Washtenaw County, 
with the members named in Mr. Craig's address. 
In March, 1838, Rev. Mr. Smith became the first 
pastor, and stayed one year. He was succeeded in 
1839 by Rev. D. R. Dixon, who remained several 
years. In the winter of 1843-44, Rev. Noah Cressy 
took charge and preached one year, being suc- 
ceeded by Rev. Mr. Hamilton, whose term of ser- 
vice lasted nearly two years. The ne.\t pastor was 
Rev. Josephus Morton, who was succeeded in the 
summer of 1849 by Rev. Benjamin Marvin. The 
latter stayed until 1858. Rev. S. Carey, of Stock- 
bridge, Ingham Co., preached here a short time, 
but was possibly never regularly installed as pastor. 

* Compiliil from ihe church record. 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



The church at Stockbridge was originally a branch 
of the one at Unadilla. Rev. Benjamin Franklin 
became the next pastor, in 1857. Rev. Mr. Alvord 
came in 1859, and Rev. Mr. Bissell in i860. In 
September, 1863, Rev. William J. Nutting was in- 
stalled as stated supply. Rev. Seward Osinga 
came in 1867, and remained nine years. He was 
succeeded by Rev. Theodore B. Williams, in De- 
cember, 1877, and the latter is the present pastor. 
The brick church now standing was built in 1S46, 
at a cost of ^1400. Meetings had been held pre- 
viously in the school-house. The membership, in 
the latter part of July, 1879, was about 55. A 
Union Sabbath-school is sustained by the Presby- 
terians and Methodists. Its superintendent is 
Alexander Marnock, of the Presbyterian Church. 

MEl'HODIST EPI.SCOPAL CHURCH, UNADILLA VIL- 
LAGE.* 

In 1836-37 a minister of the Methodist denom- 
ination by the name of George Breckenridge was 
on the circuit that then embraced this section of 
country. A little band in sympathy with the views 
of that church were in tiie habit of gathering to- 
gether at North Lake, and listening to services held 
by him when his ride brought him in this region. 
James Palmer and his wife and Mrs. M. B Palmer, 
living at East Unadilla, being interested in the 
cause, attended services at North Lake, at the 
house of John Glenn, where a class had been 
formed, of which Charles Glenn was leader. In 
April, 1837, Mrs. James Palmer and Mrs. B. M. 
Palmer joined this class, and on their way home 
the same day, while following the trail, became 
lost, and wandered for several hours before regain- 
ing it. At that time they persuaded Rev. George 
Breckenridge to visit the hamlet at East Unadilla 
and preach for the.m ; which he consented to do 
upon his next visit, which was in the fall of the 
same year. Services were held at the house of 
Mr. B. M. Palmer. But few families lived in the 
neighborhood. Notice was sent out, and the few that 
gathered together at that time were Luke Montague, 
John Bruyn, John Drake, and their wives, who, 
together with the Palmers, formed the first con- 
gregation. The success of tliat first meeting de- 
termined Mr. Breckenridge to hold this place in 
the meetings of the circuit. He' preached here 
several times before a class was organized. Some 
time in the year 1838, James Palmer, B. M. Pal- 
mer, Aaron Palmer, and Joseph Hartsuff, with their 
wives, were constituted a first class. Joseph Hart- 
suff was chosen leader, but he remained a short 
time only in that capacity. The class-meetings 
were held in the house of B. M. Palmer, which 

* Communicated. 



Stood where 'Squire G. Palmer's house now 
stands ; preaching was held in the evening. 

After Rev. Mr. Breckenridge had finished his 
term on this circuit he was succeeded by Rev. 
John Gillette, then a young man, this being his first 
circuit. He afterwards became one of the foremost 
men in the denomination in the State. Rev. John 
Sayre.t an old preacher who held services wherever 
he could find a congregation, came with Mr. Gil- 
lette the first time. The ministers all made Mr. 
Palmer's house their home. Rev. Henry Colclazer 
was the first presiding elder, and attended the first 
quarterly-meeting held in this place, at the school- 
house where Mrs. Anderson's house now stands. 
The ne.xt quarterly-meeting was held in the grove 
south of Mr. Obert's house, now the public square. 

The ministers who succeeded Mr. Gillette were 
Revs. Mr. Babcock, Adam Minnis (who was the 
first one to bring his wife with him), John Scotford, 

Samuel Berrie, Pengally, and others. Stephen 

B. Sayles was class-leader in 1843. In 1846 the 
class contained 67 members, with Benjamin Sayles 
as leader; Rev. Thomas Wakelin and J. W. Don- 
aldson were then on the circuit. About 185 i Revs. 
Brockwayand Borden were preaching on the circuit. 
Rev. L. W. Wells, a revivalist from the East, came 
through this region and visited this place, and a 
revival was held which resulted in the conversion 
of about 100 persons, most of whom remained 
faithful. Meetings were first held in the school- 
house, but as the interest increased it was found 
too small, and the Presbyterian church was used. 
As many of the congregation at this time lived 
near what was called Williamsville, it was deemed 
advisable to remove the class, which was accom- 
plished, and in 1853 a church was built at that 
place. In 1855 another class was organized at 
East Unadilla, and R. C. Barnum was chosen its 
first leader. They occupied the Presbyterian church 
every alternate Sabbath until 1870, when they 
changed their place of meeting to May's Hall, 
where they remained until Aug. 10, 1873, on which 
day they dedicated the house they now occupy. 

The present pastor of the church is Rev. Mr. 
Clack, who preaches also at Williamsville, and at 
North Lake, Washtenaw Co. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, WILLIAMSVILLE. 

The class which was organized here in 185 1, 
or transferred here from Unadilla, consisted of 
some 30 members, of whom many are since de- 

f Mr. Sayre lived in Pinckney. He was a hatler by trade, and 
at an early day worked at it in Dexter, Washtenaw Co. He went 
to California (luring the great gold excitement, and is said by some 
to have become reckless and dissipated, and finally died. It is 
also staled that he was murdered for his money. 



UNADILLA TOWNSHIP. 



319 



ceased. The first pastor was Rev. Ransom Good- 
ell, now also dead. This class, which has a present 
nicnibcrship of about 25, was the strongest one in 
the vicinity, until after the completion of the new 
church at Unadilla. 

li.M'TIST CHURCH, WHIIAMSYH-I.E. 

The ori;4inal record of this church is not to be 
found, and the exact date of its organization can- 
not be gi\cn, but according to the recollection of 
some of its older members it was not far from the 
year 1835. It therefore ranks among tlie oldest 
religious organizations in Livingston County, if it 
was not the very first. The original membership 
was 13, and the first pastor was Elder Brunson, 
well known to the pioneer Baptists of Michigan. 
Their present brick chuich was dedicated in 1852. 
Meetings are still continued, and the society has a 
respectable membership. The present pastor is 
Elder Putnam, of Howell. Elder James Pyper, 
now living in Unadilla village, preached at a very 
early day. 

THE PRESBVTERI.W CHURCH AT ri..\I\FIELD 

was organized June i, 1838, by Rev. C. G. Clark, 
of Webster, Washtenaw Co., at the house of Levi 
Clawson, the original members being Levi Claw- 
son and wife, Samuel Wasson and wife, William S. 
Caskey, and John B. Van Doren. The first pastor 
was Rev. H. L. -S. .Smith, and those since have 
been the same in charge of the Presbyterian 
Church at Unadilla. Their present neat frame 
house of worship was dedicated Dec. 8, 1869. 
The membership is in the neighborhood of 60. A 
Sabbath-school is sustained, with Robert Gardner 
as superintendent. 

METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH, PLAINl'lEIIX 

This society was organized at the Fulmer school- 
house, in April, 1852, but was transferred to Plain- 
field the same year, by order of the Quarterly Con- 
ference. The original members were G. J. Daniels, 
wife, and mother, and Benjamin Dutcher and wife. 
The first pastor was Rev. M. L. Perrington. The 
present frame house of worship at Piainfield was 
dedicated Sept. 26, 1878. The membership on the 
30th of July, 1879, was about 140, and the pastor, 
Rev. Samuel Riley, who came in 1876. Cla.sses 
also exist at the Livermore school-house in Una- 
dilla, and at the Wilson school-house in Iosco, at 
both of which places Mr. Riley holds .service, as 
he does at Parker's, in Iosco township. Sunday- 
schools are sustained at the various places of meet- 
ing. The value of the church property at Plain- 
field, including the parsonage, is ^7500, and at 
Parker's, S500. Many of the members of this so- 



ciety are natives of England. Its pastor in 1871 
was Rev. R. T. Kellogg, and the church had at 
that time a membership of 102. Nearly all who 
formed the original class in April, 1852, are still 
living. 

SCHOOLS. 

The first school in the township was probably 
taught in a shop belonging to Stephen Cornell, 
by Alonzo Wood, about 1835. About 1836 a log 
school-house was built, half a mile west of the site 
of the present brick building in District No. 1 1, on 
the farm of Hiram Case. The first teacher therein 
was Royal C. Barnum. By the time the log house 
was ready for use the number of children of school 
age in the neighborhood was considerable. It was 
several years before the log school-building fell 
into disuse and a second and more suitable struc- 
ture was erected. The house now in use is built 
of brick. 

At Unadilla village a carpenter, named Murray, 
had started to build a plank school-house in 1837, 
but he died before it was finished, and it was not 
until the spring of the next year that the building 
was completed, — the work being done by another 
carpenter, named James Wright. The death of 
Murray was the first one which occurred in the 
neighborhood. The school-house stood on the 
west side of the street, on the hill in the south part 
of the village, the lot having been given by Robert 
Glenn. He afterwards gave the district a new- 
deed for the lot where the school-house now 
stands. The first teacher was a Miss Chipman ; 
Miss Samantha Joslin also taught here early. 

The body of a log school-house was built at 
Piainfield, in 1837, on ground given by Philip 
Dyer, being the .same lot on which the present 
frame school-house stands. The first school was 
taught in it in 1838 by Lois Bissell, daughter of 
Mrs. Townsend. She had, in the summer of 1837, 
taught the first school in the neighborhood in the 
log house of her stepfather, .Mr. Townsend. 

The following statement of the condition of the 
schools of Unadilla for the year ending Sept. 2, 
1878, is from the report of the township school 
inspectors of that date: 

Niiuiher of whole districts 7 

" fractional districts 2 

" children of school age 322 

Attendance for year 291 

Number of school-houses (brick, 4; frame, 5) 9 

Value of property S3050 

Number of mile te.ichers 7 

" female tcicliers 11 

Total paid male teachers S635.50 

" " female teachers S667 

Total receipts for year $2042.70 

Amount on hand Sept. 2, 1878 264.81 

Total expenditures, less amount on hand 51777.89 



320 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



CEMETERIES. 

The cemetery at Unadilla village is located on 
the county line, partly in Washtenaw County. 
The land was given for use as a public burial- 
ground by Luke Montague and Royal C. Barnum. 
The first burial in it was that of the English 
carpenter, Murray, who, as stated, died in 1837, 
while eneasred in buildingr the first school-house at 
that place. 

A piece of land included in the village plat at 
Williamsville was purchased by Leonard Backus 
about 1850, and laid out by him into a ceme- 
tery. He sold a number of lots, but finally gave 
the property to the Methodist Episcopal society. 
The first burial in it was that of the body of James 
Schoonover. Burial-grounds on the Williams and 
Bullock farms had previously been used, but were 
private property. The first death in this part of 
the township was that of S. Dutcher, and the sec- 
ond that of the wife of Hilliard Dunn, the two 
occurring not far apart, at a very early date after 
the first settlement. 

The ceni,etery at Plainfield was taken from the 
Dyer property about 1838-39. The first death in 
that vicinity was that of a man named Welsh, from 
the State of New York. His grave was begun on 
the south side of the road, but before it was com- 
pleted Mr. Dyer offered to give half an acre of 
ground from his farm for a cemetery. The grave 
was accordingly dug on the site given, and Welsh 
was the first person there interred. The cemetery 
is now filled with graves, and marble headstones 
are reared over the remains of many of the early 
and prominent settlcis of the county. 

STATISTICAL. 
From the Michigan State census of 1874 are 
made the following extracts to show the condition 
of the township forty-one years after its first settle- 
ment : 

Population (5J5 m.ile*, 531 females) 1,066 

Niiniliei of acres of taxaMe land in township 21,627 

" " land owned by individuals and com- 
panies 21,639 

" " improved land 12,626 

" " lanil exempt from taxation 12 

Value of same, with improvements 814,200 

Number of acres in school-house sites 4 

*' " church and parsonage sites 4 

** •' butying-grounds. 4 

" " of wheat raised in 1S74 2,875 

1873 2,738 

" " of corn " '• 1,148 

" Inisliels of wheat raised in 1873 32,560 

<:o™ " " 57. '95 

" " all other grain raised in 1873 25,399 

** " potatoes raised in 1873 4.737 

" tons of liay cut in 1873 3,084 

" pounds wool sheared in 1873 46, '73 

" " i>ork marketed in 1873 56,127 

'* ** butler made in 1873 33,825 

" " fruit dried for market in 1873 30,014 

" barrels cider made in 1873 364 

" acies in orchards 495 



Number of bushels apples raised in 1872 21,567 

>fi73 23,760 

" " other fruit raised in 1872 146 

1873 u6 

Value of fruit and garden vegetables, 1872 $4,669 

1873 S5,o55 

Number of horses one year old and over in 1874 462 

" mules, 1874 2 

" work oxen, 1874 12 

" milch cows in township, 1874 427 

'* neat catlle one year old and over, other than 

oxen and cows, 1874 555 

" sheep over six mouths old, 1874 9, 180 

" " sheared in 1S73 9,330 

Number of flou ring-mi lis i 

Persons employed in same 2 

Capital invested $6,000 

Number of barrels fiour made 800 

Value of products $4,800 

Number of sawmills i 

Persons employed 2 

Capital invested $4,000 

Feet of lumber sawed 350,000 

Value of pioducts $3,500 

Number of planing- and turning mills I 

Persons employed 6 

Capital invested $2,500 

Value of products $3,500 

Stave-, heading-, and bairel-faclory I 

Persons employed 12 

Capit.il invested $8,000 

Value of products $15,000 

Among the many in this township who have 
furnished information to the historian, and to all of 
whom are returned his sincerest thanks for their 
kindness, are the following : John C. Stedman, 
Mrs. Joseph L. Hartsuff, W. S. Livermore, John 
Dunning, William Gilbert, James Craig, John Wat- 
son, Halsted Gregory, Sylvester G. Noble, David 
S. Denton, William A. Williams, A. L. Dutton 
and his mother, Christopher Taylor, Robert Brear- 
ley, Mrs. Gordon Backus, C. B. Westfall, Levi 
Clawson, Morris Topping, John Shields, and Hon. 
Edwin B. Winans, of Hamburg. Pastors and mem- 
bers of the various churches have contributed to 
the work, and a generous fund of information, 
deemed reliable, is herewith presented to the reader. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



PHILANDER GREGORY 

was born in Danbury, Conn., March 31, 1807. His 
father, Joseph Gregory, served with distinction as 
a fiist lieutenant in Captain Dunlap's battery in the 
war of 18 1 2. The battery was raised in Schenec- 
tady. Lieutenant Gregory was with his command 
in several engagements, and at Plattsburg was in 
command of the battery, which did effective ser- 
vice in the engagement. After the close of the 
war Lieutenant Gregory removed to Albany, N. Y., 
and for several years followed his business, — that 
of tanner and currier, — and was very successful. 
He engaged afterwards in the same business in 
Schenectady for four years, but, meeting with re- 



UNADILLA TOWNSHIP. 



321 



verses and being well along in years, lie sold out 
and joined his son Philander, in Rochester, N. Y., 
with whom he resided until iiis son's removal to 
Michigan. He remained in Rochester until his 
death in 1841. 

Philander received a common-school education 
and learned his father's trade. His start in life was 
made in Rochester, in the glove and mitten busi- 
ness, at which he has worked more or less until 
the past year. In 1836 his brother purchased for 
him, of the government, the west half of the south- 
east quarter of section 21, in Unadilla. On the i6th 
day of July of the same year he was married to 
Miss Martha Halsted, a daughter of Jacob and Re- 
becca (Marsh) Halsted, of Johnstown, N. Y., and 
in August of the following year he, with his wife 
and infant child, came to the wilderness home. It 
was then entirely new, as was the most of the town- 
ship. There were then but few neighbors save the 
Indians, and no roads. Deer and other game were 
plenty, the deer often going through their door- 
yard. A frame house was soon built, and the day 
that saw his family settled in it was the happiest of 
his life, as vouched for by Mr. Gregory himself 
For several years after their advent in the woods 
Mr. Gregory kept the wolf from the door by making 
gloves and mittens, which found a ready sale among 
the new settlers. In this work he was assisted by 
his wife, who made the mittens while he tanned the 
leather. The little frame house has been replaced 
with a handsome stone structure, while to the 
eighty acres first bought he has added until he 
now owns a splendid farm of two hundred and 
forty acres under good improvement. The forest 
which surrounded him then has given place to fine 
farms and luxurious homes. Mr. Gregory, sur- 
rounded by all the comforts of life, and held in high 
esteem by his neighbors and friends, — having passed 
the time of life allotted to man, — is quietly and 
peacefully passing the evening of his life. 



MORRIS TOPPING. 

Among the early settlers of Unadilla township 
there are none who have done more to advance 
the best interests of the town than Morris Top- 
ping. He was born in Turin, Lewis Co., N. Y., 
Jan. 20, 1827. His father, Albert G. Topping, 
married Miss Maria Walters. He was an extensive 
farmer, and resided in New York until 1837, when 
he moved to Parma, Ohio. In 1839 he moved 
into Unadilla, and settled near what is now Plain- 
field village, where he died, in 1844. Morris re- 
mained with his father until he was nineteen, 
working on the farm and attending school. After 
the death of his father he taught school three 
41 



winters, and then assumed the management of the 
farm. In 1853 he opened a store in Plainfield, 
which may be called the first one there. In i860 
he added to his business the manufacture of staves 
and barrels, which he still carries on quite exten- 
sively, and which gives employment to a large 
force of men. The wants of the community in- 
duced him, in 1867, to erect a saw-mill, which was 
followed, in 1873, by the erection of a grist-mill. 
Two years after, both mills were destroyed by fire, 
and with them a large quantity of wheat. There 
was no insurance, and b)' this misfortune Mr. Top- 
ping lost heavily ; but, nothing daunted, he soon 
replaced the mills with new and more commodious 
buildings. The grist-mill contains three run of 
stones, and is doing both a custom and merchant 
business. He has also erected a hotel, blacksmith- 
and wagon-shop, and is now building a large store. 
To both of the fine churches in the village Mr. 
Topping has been a liberal subscriber. There is 
also in the village a planing-mill, cider-mill, three 
stores, two blacksmith-shops, and other places of 
business. It is an enterprising village, much of 
whose prosperity is due to the energy of Mr. 
Topping, who owns two-thirds of the village, — 
at least of its valuation. In politics Mr. Topping 
is and ever has been a Democrat. He has been 
postmaster of the village twenty-five years, also 
justice of the peace and town clerk. Dec. 25, 
1847, he was married to Miss Ellen Richmond, 
who was boin March 28, 1826, and is a daughter 
of Geo. W. and Laura (Madison) Topping. Their 
union has been blessed with three children, as 
follows: Sylvester G., born Oct. 28, 1848; George 
W., born Sept. 2, 1850, died Nov. 22, 1851 ; and 
Jennie M. D., born June 23, 1869. 



DAVIU D. BIRD 



was born in the town of Mansfield, Warren Co., 
N. J., March 4, 1813. His fjither, Furman Bird, 
who was born in New Jersey, had a family of ten 
children, of whom David D. was the sixth. About 
the year 1833, the elder Bird with his family emi- 
grated to Michigan, and located on eighty acres of 
land near Ann Arbor, then but a small village. 
On this farm he resided until his death, which oc- 
curred in 1840. David D. was twenty years old 
when his. father came to Michigan. He worked 
on his father's farm summers and attended the dis- 
trict schools winters, after he was large enough to 
do so, as did most farmer-boys of that day. In 
October, 1835, he came to Unadilla township and 
bought of the government one hundred and forty 
acres, a part of section 30. A log house was soon 
built, and he at once commenced to clear and im- 



322 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



prove his land. At that time Unadilla was an 
almost unbroken forest. In the vicinity of Mr. 
Bird's farm there were no roads or bridges, and in 
going to or coming from it, streams had to be 
forded, persons often getting mired, and enduring 
hardships that would appal the average young men 
of to-day. In 1839, Mr. Bird married, and brought 
his young wife to the new home. Up to this time 
he had either hired a family to keep house for him 
or had kept bachelor's hall. He commenced life 
without a dollar, and at the time his land was \ 
bought he had only enough to pay for a portion of 
it ; yet the young couple never despaired of ulti- 
mate success, and toiled on. Yet they experienced 
in those times some of the happiest days of their 
lives. White neighbors were few and widely scat- 
tered, while the Indians still roamed over the coun- 
try. Mr. Bird has lived to see the wild land he then 
bought, change into a finely-cultivated farm, now 
embracing over three hundred acres, mostly the 
work of his own hands ; and the township which 
was then so new and wild, he has seen grow into 
a thickly-settled and prosperous town. In politics 
Mr. Bird was in an early day a Democrat, but sub- 
sequently became an Abolitionist, and later a Re- 



publican. He has been a member of the church 
over forty years, and is now connected with the 
Baptist denomination. He has done much to ad- 
vance the cause of religion in his township, and 
now lives in the hope of a better world beyond 
this. On the 6th day of March, 1839, he was 
joined in marriage to Miss Agnes Pyper, daughter 
of William and Agnes (Dodge) Pyper. She was 
born in Scotland, Sept. 12, 1816. Her parents were 
natives of Scotland. In 1833 they emigrated to 
America, and for three years lived in Connecticut. 
In 1836 they came to Michigan and settled on 
eighty acres of land in Unadilla, where they re- 
sided until their death. There have been born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Bird six children, as follows: William 
F., born Aug. 24, 1840; Agnes D., born April 14, 
1843, deceased ; Mary E., born March 26, 1845; 
Almira R., born Jan. 25, 1848; Chambers D., born 
Aug. 24, 1850; and Justin V., born July i, 1853. 

Mr. Bird has retired from active business, and 
leaves the management of his farm to his son. In 
possession of more than a competency, surrounded 
by his family and friends, respected and esteemed 
by all, he is passing his days, and looks back upon 
a life well spent with scarce a regret. 



GREEN OAK TOWNSHIP. 



The township of Green Oak is entitled to dis- 
tinguished mention among the townships of the 
county of Livingston not only from the period of 
its settlement, which, with one exception, ante- 
dates that of any other township in the county, but 
from the influential position it has maintained in 
its political and social relations. This is mainly 
owing to the character of its inhabitants, whose 
broad and fertile acres are evidence of their in- 
dustry, as their attractive houses are indicative of 
taste and intelligence. Green Oak was one of the 
first three townships organized, having been erected 
by act of the Territorial Legislature, March 17, 
1835, and included at that time townships Nos i 
and 2, north of range 6, east of the principal 
meridian, and embracing the territory now known 
as Green Oak and Brighton, the first meeting of 
the townships for the election of officers being 
held at the house of Isaac Smith. 

The first settler in the township was Stephen 
Lee, who came from Western New York to Mich- 



igan, September, 1830, and entered 80 acres on 
section 20. With him came his wife and childi'en, 
two sons of whom, Charles S. and Solomon, occupy 
the paternal acres, while another son, Hannibal 
Lee, resides near by on the same section. Mr. 
Lee and his sons, on their arrival, immediately 
turned their attention to the erection of a log 
house, which was the first in the township, and 
then devoted themselves to breaking up and im- 
proving the land, upon which a crop of wheat was 
sown that afiforded them the means of subsistence 
the following year. 

In the month of June of the following year 
Moses Gleason entered 80 acres on section 19 
with a view to settling, but soon after, the Black 
Hawk war cast its terrors over the neighborhood, 
and Mr. Gleason regarded the presence of Indians 
a-i not altogether conducive to safety or happiness. 
He never resided upon his land, but found a home 
in Washtenaw County, which was more thickly 
populated and less frequented by red men. Mr. 



GREEN OAK TOWNSHIP. 



323 



Gleason was the first clergyman who held service 
in the township. He was a local jjreacher of the 
Mctliotlist l'45iscopal Church, and the first month 
of his arrival, June, 1831, conducted a religious 
service at the house of Stephen Lee, the family of 
Benjamin Curtis, together with Mr. Lee's house- 
hold, being his only hearers. 

Daniel Appleton entered at the same date with 
Mr. Gleason 160 acres on the same section, but, 
apparently influenced by a like dread of Indians, 
he took up his residence in Northficld. This land 
came subsequently into the possession of Isaac 
Appleton by the payment of ;^50 to a young man 
who was a ward of his father's, and resided in his 
family. Asahel Hubbard finally became the pur- 
chaser of half of this tract, while the remaining 80 
acres was purchased by Hannibal Lee, and now 
forms a portion of his estate. 

Benjamm Curtis came but a few days later than 
Mr. Lee, and entered, Oct. 6, 1830, 67 acres on sec- 
tion 20, just across the road from Mr. Lee's. He 
was a mechanic, and soon after his arrival built a 
log house and improved the land, which he resided 
upon until his death. 

Isaac Appleton entered, Oct. ::6, 1830, just 
twenty days after Stephen Lee's arrival, 127 acres 
on section 17. He was e.Kceedinglj' fond of sport, 
and the following spring built upon the banks of 
the Huron River a cabin for the purpose of shoot- 
ing ducks as they congregated on the shores of 
the river. It was so arranged that, by concealfng 
himself within the inclosure, he was able to secure 
them in large numbers as they were decoyed 
within rang^. With the game which he shot and 
the bread which Mrs. Lee baked for him, he was 
able to spread an epicurean repast before the 
friends who visited his bachelor quarters. 

One of the restless, energetic spirits of the early 
days of Green Oak, who also early broke the soil 
of Brighton, was Sherman D. Di.x, who entered, 
May 14, 1832, 82 acres of laiui on section 17, and 
boarded with the family of Mr. Lee. Hannibal 
Lee aided him in breaking up 40 acres, but dis- 
covering in Brighton a wider scope for his powers, 
at the expiration of a year he removed thither, 
having sold his land, with its improvements, to 
Thomas Sargent. Dix was a Bostonian, and when 
a boy was sent to a school in the suburbs of the 
city. But his restive spirit would not brook the 
restraints of a school-room, and his active brain, 
always fertile in resources, readily devised some 
scheme whereby he might extricate himself from 
its confined surroundings. He took a chicken 
from the master's coop, cut off its head, and al- 
lowed the blood to run into a vial he had prepared. 
He then repaired to his room and, feigning illness, 



sent for his father. On the arrival of his parent 
he immediately had a paroxysm of coughing, ac- 
companied by very dangerous symptoms and ap- 
parent hemorrhage. He was inmiediately released 
from study and taken home. Fresh air and active 
exercise was recommended, and a farm was pur- 
chased in Michigan. The school-boy was trans- 
formed into a pioneer. The paternal Di.x was a 
large boot- and shoe-manufacturer, and among 
the chattels which young Dix brought with him 
was a bo.x of those necessary articles, which he 
disposed of to the neighbors. It was his especial 
delight to visit the bachelor quarters of Mr. Ap- 
pleton on foraging expeditions. This gentleman 
before departing for the fields would prepare his 
frugal noonday meal, which consisted of a bowl of 
bread and milk, the crusts meanwhile becoming 
thoroughly soaked. Dix would help himself to 
what was to be found, and then quietly enjoy his 
friend's discomfiture. 

Nathaniel Potter, a Quaker, entered 40 acres 
adjoining that of Sherman D. Di.x, in May, 1832. 
Dix broke up 10 acres for him, and received in re- 
turn a yoke of o.xen. He did not build a house or 
take up his residence upon the farm, and finally 
sold the land. 

J. B. Hammond entered, in May, 1831, 160 acres 
on section 35, and 80 acres on section 34. A year 
and a half later he removed from Livingston Co., 
N. Y., with his brother, to his Western home, and 
immediately erected a shanty, in which they found 
a comfortable abode. Their nearest neighbors at 
this time were Charles Place, on the southerly side 
in Northfield, and Stephen Lee and his sons, who 
were located five miles northwest. A school-house 
was earl)' built in this vicinity, which stood just 
across the township line in Northfield. 

As nearly as can be ascertained the first school- 
house was built in the centre of section 10, in the 
year 1834. The building, like all others of that 
early period, was constructed of logs, and the 
ground upon which it stood was afterwards pur- 
chased by John Yerinton. Another early school 
was that taught by Miss Mary Olds in a log 
school-house on section 3, near the Brighton 
township line. One hundred and twenty acres 
was purchased by George Gready, who came from 
Bristol, England, in 1832, and first settled in Oak- 
land County. Later he removed across the road 
into Brighton, his nearest neighbor at the time 
being Thomas Dunlap, ofthe former county. Mr. 
Gready still resides upon this farm, which he has 
improved and greatly increased in value. 

Robert Warden left Greenock, Scotland, in Au- 
gust of the year 1832, for the United States, and 
after sojourning for a brief time in Onondaga 



324 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



County, purchased, in May, 1S33, in connection 
with the late Governor Kinsley S. Bingham, 
the west half of section 12, embracing 320 
acres, and entered by Jay Ohnsted. Soon after 
they entered additional land from the govern- 
ment. Upon their arrival they were domiciled 
with Joseph Loree, until a log house in process 
of erection was completed, when they established 
themselves in it, Mr. Warden living with Mr. and 
Mrs. Bingham until 1849. They came to their land 
by way of Whitinore Lake, Mr. Bingham driving 
the oxen, while Mr. Warden looked after the 
horses. A coat belonging to one of them contain- 
ing $500 was carelessly thrown on the wagon and 
lost on the way. After much search it was dis- 
covered by a settler, who, being into.xicated, was 
not aware of its contents. Few men who were in 
public life a quarter of a century since have left 
more honored memories than Governor Bingham. 
He was a practical farmer, and remarkably success- 
ful in agricultural pursuits ; skilled in public affairs, 
and happy in his power of harmonizing his con- 
victions with the strong current of popular feeling. 
Beginning with the minor office of postmaster of 
his township, he rose steadily, being elected first 
judge of probate of the county, then representa- 
tive in the State Legislature, to which position he 
was four times chosen, and thrice elected speaker 
of the House; in 1S46 elected to Congress, re- 
elected the following term, and in 1854 and 1856 
elected Governor. 

In 1859 he was elected United States Senatoi-, 
and served but two years, being attacked with 
apoplexy, which occasioned his death, October, 
1 861, in Green Oak. He was a man of strong 
convictions, and in his various public offices dis- 
played a soundness of judgment well calculated to 
promote the best interests of the State. In the 
contest on the slavery question, which followed his 
re-election to Congress in 1848, he offered strenuous 
opposition to the extension of slavery into the 
Territories, and in this he stood alone among the 
representatives from his own State. His record 
during this term confirmed him in the popular 
regard, and made him the people's choice for Gov- 
ernor. His death was a source of universal and 
profound sorrow. 

A. W. Olds arrived in the Territory in 1832, and 
came to the township in 1833. He at first pur- 
chased 80 acres of land that had been previously 
entered by David Meach. and later added to it 
until his farm embraced an area of 440 acres. On 
this land he built a saw-mill the year of his arrival, 
which was the second one erected in the county. 
Mr. Olds, upon being requested to recall some 
reminiscences regarding his early settlement, could 



think of nothing of consequence, except that he 
on one occasion chased three bears on horseback. 
This, however, he regarded as a trivial circum- 
stance, in which the writer agreed, since no blood 
was shed on cither side. 

Few of the pioneers of Michigan attained so 
venerable an age as did William Lemon, who died 
in January of the present year, aged ninety-eight 
years He left Livingston Co., N. Y., in 1831, and 
arriving in the State entered 293 acres on section 
31 in May of that year, and was the third settler 
in the township. He reached Green Oak via 
Detroit and Ann Arbor, which latter place was at 
that date little more than a hamlet, having but one 
store and a bakery, which Mr. Lemon, finding 
empty, rented for two weeks for his family, while 
he went in search of land with Harris Seymour, 
whom he met bound upon the same errand. 
Having made his location, he moved his family 
temporarily into a shanty on the east side of Whit- 
more Lake, in Washtenaw County, while a shanty 
was being built for their permanent abode. In 
the winter, when more leisure was afforded him, 
he prepared timber for the erection of a spacious 
log house. At the raising of this house, on four 
successive days people came from Ann Arbor and 
the adjacent country, who rendered valuable assist- 
ance. Soon after the Black Hawk war was in- 
augurated, and the settlers becoming alarmed at 
the presence of Indians, who, in the event of a 
successful campaign, might prove dangerous, the 
whites repaired to Ann Arbor for safety, the 
formers meanwhile burying their farming imple- 
ments to prevent their destruction. Mr. Lemon's 
oldest son was drafted for this war, which draft 
happily terminated with no fatal result. When 
the family started they provided themselves with 
a year's provisions, and had also a yoke of oxen 
and two cows. The latter proved a source of 
much tribulation to them, having disappeared soon 
after their arrival. A diligent search was insti- 
tuted, but the wandering bovines were not discov- 
ered until the following October, when they were 
found staying very contentedly in Ann Arbor. 
Mr. Lemon shot forty deer in one winter, which 
were hung from the beams in the house until dis- 
posed of otherwise. 

George Galloway came in 1833, and located on 
what is now known as the Fields farm, but later 
moved to Hamburg, on the border of Pleasant 
Lake. At this period, for three successive years 
the wheat crop failed, and rye bread was the uni- 
versal diet, which, however wholesome, was not 
altogether palatable for constant use, and the year 
that again brought abundant wheat-harvests was 
remembered with blessings by the settlers. 



GREEN OAK TOWNSHIP. 



325 



The first social event of distinction that occurred 
ill the township was the marriage, in 1834, of Mr. 
Hannibal Lee to Miss Mary Hubbard, both of 
Northfield, which at that time embraced the terri- 
tory of Green Oak. This was the occasion of a 
double wedding, Mrs. Lee's sister being united at 
the same time to Mr. Lee's brother, and Stephen 
Lee's house being the scene of the festivities. 

The first male child born was George Ham- 
mond, the date of that event being Sept. 17, 1823. 
The same year occurred the birth of Miss Ann 
Appleton, but the exact day when the young lady 
made her t/iiwi it is not possible to state. 

The year which witnessed the happy bridal 
gathering in the household of Mr. Lee was pre- 
ceded by an event which for months cast its dark 
shadow over the family circle. In March. 1833, 
death entered their happy abode, and Eliza, daugh- 
ter of Stephen Lee, was laid in the first grave that 
was made within the bounds of the township. 

The earliest instruction given to the youth of 
the township was not preceded by tiie erection of 
a school-house. A log house was early built by 
George H. Emmons, on the banks of the Huron, 
on section 17, and in this structure Miss Hannah 
Lee assembled the children of the neighborhood, 
and laid for them the foundation of knowledge. 
The good work was later continued by Miss Char- 
lotte Farnsworth, now Mrs. J. M. H olden, who 
lived at the house of Mr. Hannibal Lee. 

Isaac Penoyer purchased 80 acres entered by 
Moses Gleason, and in 1834 added to it 80 acres 
on section 19. An earlier settler than he, and a 
most eccentric character, was James Love, who 
located, December, 1832, upon 71 acres on section 
20, now occupied by Carl Woods. George H. 
Emmons entered 40 acres of land, now embraced 
in the farm of Giles Lee, on section 20. The far- 
mers of the township were made happy in 1834 by 
the arrival of a blacksmitii in tiieir midst, in the 
person of John A. Van Camp, who shod their 
horses and sharpened the plow-irons, which had 
been previously carried to Ann Arbor or Dexter 
for the purpose. 

Linus Clark came from Madison Co., N. Y., in 
1833, and located upon 140 acres that had been 
previously purchased by his father, Norman Clark, 
of David Meach, who made the entry from gov- 
ernment. It was in the southwest portion of sec- 
tion 26, and was entirely unimproved. Mr. Clark, 
however, began immediately the work of clearing 
the land and making a home for himself, residing 
in the mean time with Isaac W. Olds. 

Ambrose Alexander entered, in December, 1833, 
80 acres on section 8; in June, 1834, 80 acres on 
section 6 ; and the same month and year, 40 acres 



on section 29. He rode from Orleans Co., N. Y., 
on horseback, and arrived on the fifteenth day upon 
section 8, where he built a log house, improved 
the land, and resided there until his removal to 
Barry County, his present residence. 

Cornelius Corson came from Canandaigua, N. Y., 
with his son, in 1834, and entered 80 acres on sec- 
tion 14. Arriving at Detroit from the East, they 
hired a wagon in the city, which conveyed them 
safely to their destination. Mr. Corson had $100 
on his arrival, with which he purchased land, and 
nothing was left with which to tran-;port his family. 
They possessed, however, the stuff of which the 
true pioneer is made, and sold a sufficient amount 
of their household goods to pay their way. Pack- 
ing the remainder, they started for Michigan, and 
began the life of toil and deprivation which ulti- 
mately led to prosperity. The son, W. D. Corson, 
now occupies the homestead, and has added to his 
acres until they number 320. Arnold Hays came 
also in 1834. and entered 160 acres adjoining Mr. 
Corson. His sons, Whitacre and -Schuyler, now 
occupy the farm. 

Jonathan Burnett c.ime in June, 1834, and en- 
tered 80 acres on section 19. Mr. Burnett is a 
Connecticut man by birth, though Tompkins Co., 
N. Y., was his home before emigrating to Michi- 
gan. He came with his family 7'ia Detroit, and 
having two brothers in Hamburg, remained with 
them until he had completed a log house on the 
land upon which he has since resided. 

Miss Clough, a sister of Mrs. Burnett, was one 
of the earliest teachers, having taken charge of the 
school in Mr. Stephen Lee's neighborhood soon 
after its commencement. 

Caleb Sawyer and E. W. Biockway each entered 
66 acres on section 30, the latter having made his 
purchase in November, 1833, and the former in 
May, 1834. Tiiey both erected log houses, and 
began the process of preparing their land for the 
abundant harvests which afterwards rewarded tiieir 
labors. 

In April, 1833, William C. Ruiiisey entered 120 
acres on section 5, and 40 acres on section 6. In 
that and the following year Royal C. Rumsey 
entered 80 acres on section 5, and 80 on .section 
10. After a life of industry, which gained him a 
competence, he retired to the village of Brighton, 
where he now resides. 

In 1835 occurred the famous Toledo war, involv- 
ing a question of boundary, which considerably 
agitated the people of Green Oak township. A 
militia company had been organized, and from this 
six men were drafted, and prepared themselves for 
the fray. No blood was shed, however. 

John Hooper left Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1835, 



326 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



and subsequently entered 80 acres on section 25. 
The first year he broke up 10 acres and made 
other improvements. Later he added to his estate 
until it now embraces 200 acres, a portion of it 
being on section 6, upon which he resides. 

At the annual township election in 1836 the 
Territorial and State parties came into conflict on 
the question of jurisdiction. The Territorial law 
required a year's residence in the county and the 
payment of a tax before voting, and the State law 
required but six months' residence. The majority 
of the Board were Territorial men, and a man 
who lacked but a month of being a year in 
the county was deprived of the franchise. The 
Supervisor withdrew from the Board, and issued 
a proclamation in accordance with the State law, 
and organizing a Board proceeded to a barn 
and opened the polls (the election being held at 
the house of John W. I'eavy), the State party, or 
" barn party" as it was called by some, casting 
two tliirds of the township votes. In consequence 
of this, the township was provided with two sets of 
officers, both striving to do their duty, making 
out two sets of assessment rolls and other papers 
necessary for the proper execution of the law. 

At the special election, held September 12th, to 
elect delegates to the convention to meet at Ann 
Arbor to accept or reject the terms of Congress 
for the admission of Michigan into the Union, 
Green Oak held elections in two places and sent up 
two canvassers and two poll-lists. William C. Rum- 
sey represented the State party, and Isaac C. Smith 
the Territorial. As county officers elected under 
the Territorial law could not legally canvass votes 
for State officers, their returns were rejected. A 
suit in replevin for the books and papers belonging 
to the town had been previously brought and ad- 
journed for three months, the extent of the law. 
The trial was to occur the next day. Meanwhile 
an amicable arrangement was effected ; the contest 
was abandoned, all parties shaking hands, believ- 
ing that each had acted in good faith. A harmo- 
nious general election occurred in the township in 
the following November. 

In the year 1826, Jarvis Gage came to the Terri- 
tory, and in 1837 settled on 120 acres in Green 
Oak, which he had entered in 1833. Mr. Gage 
relates many interesting experiences in connection 
with his early life in the county. He had much to 
do with the Indians, who were very numerous at 
the time of his settlement here, and he frequently 
accompanied them on their hunting expeditions. 
He found them generous, kind-hearted, and peace- 
able when not fired by liquor, which the white 
traders would, in defiance of law, smuggle into 
their camps. The first winter of Mr. Gage's ar- 



rival they tanned for him twenty-five deer-skins, 
the charge for which was two quarts of corn for 
each skin. These were converted into clothing, 
it being not only less expensive but much more 
durable than cloth. Mr. Gage still lives upon the 
ground he entered from government, and by in- 
dustry has brought it to a high state of cultivation. 

In July of 1836 there arrived a pioneer from 
Livingston Co., N. Y., who materially influenced 
the destinies of the township of Green Oak by the 
enterprise and perseverance he manifested on his 
arrival, and, in fact, during the whole of his busi- 
ness career. This settler was William W. Dean, 
who now resides upon 200 acres on section 26. 
He originally entered 80 acres on section 22, and 
40 on section 23. Mr. Dean was formerly engaged 
in mercantile pursuits in New York State, at an 
early day when the means of transportation for 
packages of value were not easily obtained as at 
present. The insurance on his stock having ex- 
pired, he had set apart funds for a renewal of the 
policy, and was awaiting the call of a neighbor who 
was to convey it to its destination. He forgot the 
errand, and that night a fire occurred which left 
not a trace of his former possessions. Immediately 
after this disaster, Mr. Dean set out for the West, 
entered his land in Green Oak, and broke up 30 
acres. Readily discovering a field for trade in his 
neighborhood, he purchased, in connection with 
James Hanchett, a stock of goods, and opened what 
was known as the Green Oak store on section 21, 
embracing a general assortment of goods for the 
country trade. Soon after, he built a saw-mill 
which supplied the wants of the country within a 
radius of many miles, and in one year sawed 
1,500,000 feet of lumber. After building the saw- 
mill, Mr. Dean found himself in debt to the amount 
of $1500, but with the indomitable energy which 
is peculiar to him, he soon liquidated this, and 
placed the balance on the favorable side of the 
ledger. In 1840 he began the erection of a grist- 
mill, which still does a flourishing business under 
the management of the Messrs. Weatherhead. 

John Farnsworth entered 67 acres of land in July, 
1836, and removed to it with his family, among 
whom was his son John, who afterwards achieved 
distinction in the field of politics, and became a 
member of Congress. Mr. Farnsworth later dis- 
posed of his farm to J. M. Holden, and removed 
to one of the Western States. 

Jesse Truesdell came in 1842, and purchased 
160 acres of William Kernan, on sections 29 and 
30. With him came two sons, Zelotes and Ger- 
shom, the latter of whom still occupies the farm, 
which is mainly devoted to the raising of fruit. 

Peter and David Galatian, who occupy a farm 



GREEN OAK TOWNSHIP. 



r~7 



on section 20, arrived in the county with their 
fatlier. He at first rented a farm of Bishop Samuel 
McCoskry, who entered much hind in the neigh- 
borhood. Philip Roper left England, iiis native 
land, in 1850, and four years later purchased 
100 acres on section 28. Though occupied, at a 
late period the land was still unimproved. Mr. 
Roper built a log house, and in 1874 erected his 
present substantial home. 

Among others who entered land in the township 
at an early date were John W. Peavy, who pur- 
chased 88 acres on section 2, in May, 1833; John 
S. Beach, Joseph Cole, and Elihu Russel, who en- 
tered land on the same section in 1835 ; Joseph L. 
Briggs, Wm. Russel, Samuel Cole, and Ansel 
Clark, who entered land on section 3, and became 
residents ; and J. Harrison Coe, who entered 80 
acres on the same section and one adjoining, and 
later removed to Brighton, where he introduced 
the combined thresher and separator now in gen- 
eral use among farmers throughout the county. 

Horace Cutter entered 80 acres on section 7 in 
1834, and Orlando Fuller 147 acres on the same 
section the following year. Ira Jennings entered 
land on sections 8 and 9 in 1836, and Isaac Smith 
on the same sections four years earlier. Terence 
Roe entered 80 acres on section 9 in 1836, and 
Jason Clark 200 acres on the same section in 1835. 

Warren Parker, Thomas Hanmer, Enos Cole, 
and Gilbert Bedell were pioneers on section 11; 
Patrick McManus, Michael Casey, and Patrick 
Brady came to the county in 1834, and located on 
section 15. George H. Elmmons and George Bur- 
nett purchased on section 20; and Oliver Carpen- 
ter, in 1832, entered 40 acres on section 21 ; Rich- 
ard Torrey and William Hagadorn bought each 40 
acres on section 24 ; Leroy H. Burt entered 40 
acres on section 28 in 1836; Edward F. Olds, 120 
on the same section in 1833 ; Gilbert C. Bedell, on 
the same section, 80 acres in 1836; and Henry 
Stansell, 40 acres the same year. Levi Knight 
bought 80 acres on section 29 in October, 1836. 
Jason De Wolf entered, in October, 1834, 40 acres 
on section 30. 

Thomas Tuthill purchased 80 acres on section 
31 in 1833; George Galloway, 80 acres the same 
year; and Caleb S. Field, 40 acres, in 1836, on the 
same section. 

John Garrison entered 120 acres on section 32 
in 1837 ; and E. S. Field, Isaac Ela, and J. L. Tut- 
hill land on the same section. Manly Smith en- 
tered, in November, 1831, 80 acres on section 35 ; 
and Thomas Malone, 120 acres on section 36 in 
1836. These gentlemen all settled and resided 
upon their lands. Much land was taken up by 
other parties for purposes of speculation. 



The following is an 
dent tax-payers in th 
the year 1844: 

Alexander, Ambrose. 
Alltel, Alii.ih. 
Alderm.nn, Hcirace. 
B.irher, J.imes. 
Bunnell, Jonath.in. 
lic.nch, John S. 
Beacli, Leiinanl. 
Bingham & Warden. 
Bedell, Gilbert C. 
Brady, Matthew. 
Brady, M. McCabe. 
Brady, Garnet E. 
Brady, Tliomas, 
Brady, Patrick. 
Bennett, Joseph. 
Bennett, Isaac. 
Brown, James M. 
Borden, Ambrose W. 
Borden, Giles. 
Borden, Charles. 
Burns, Uennis. 
Bennett, Cornelius H. 
Butterfield, Aliel K. 
Brockw-iy, Elisha \V. 
Cutler, Horace. 
Clement, Jolin P. 
Cole, Enos. 
Cl.ark, Ansel. 
Coe, H;irrison. 
Clark, Jason. 
Clark, .\ndrew. 
Corigan, Thomas. 
Cary, Dan. 
Casey, Thomas. 
Corigan, Patrick. 
Corigan, Michael. 
Cor>on, Cornelius. 
Clark, Linus. 
Clark, Leonard. 
Curtis, Lorenzo. 
Carter, John C. 
Curley, Michael. 
Chubb, Ira. 
Chubb, Lorenzo. 
Carlton, Dexter. 
Doane, Erastus. 
Dunning, Jchiel. 
Dean, William W. 
Emmons, Oliver. 
Emmons, Mrs. 
Fish, William. 
Fish & Quackenbush. 
Farnsworth, James P. 
Field, Eldad S. 
Galloway, Thomas. 
Gage, Jarvis. 
Garret, Edward. 
Glover, Mrs. 
Gonsally, Benjamin. 
Grady, George. 
Gage, Wright. 
Holden, Joseph M. 
Ilaight, Jabez. 
Ilammel, Thomas. 
Hedican, Roger. 
Hanmer, Thomas. 



alphabetical list of the resi- 
c township of Green Oak in 



Hays, Arnold. 
Hammond, John B. 
Hammond, Josiah. 
Hammel, James. 
Hooper, Peter B. 
Hulibard, Asahel. 
Ilotaling, Garnett. 
Holaling, William C. 
Hooper, John. 
Hagadorn, John. 
Haga<U)rn, George. 
Hagadorn, Stephen. 
Heme, William. 
Johnson, Edward. 
Jamieson, I\ol>ert. 
Jennings, Ira 
Jennings, Joseph F. 
Knight, Levi. 
Leddie, Philip. 
Loree, John. 
Lee, Stephen. 
Lee, Solomon. 
Lee, IIannil>al. 
Lumbard, Benjamin. 
Leland, Nathan. 
Loomis, Squire. 
Loomis, Tliomas. 
Lennnon, .-Xaron. 
Lemnion, Hiram. 
Lennnon, George. 
Morgan, Collins. 
Murray, Frederick. 
Malone, William. 
Monahan, John. 
Mason, Nelson. 
Malone, Edwaid. 
Marble, Kussell. 
Mahby, Aaron. 
McNamee, Patrick. 
McDaniel, Kayne. 
McCal)e, Patrick. 
McCabe, Michael. 
McCabe, Thomas. 
McCoskry, Samuel A. 
Owen, Harmon. 
O^l)orn, William. 
Olds, Alonzo W. 
Parker, Warren. 
Pettibone, Elijah. 
Perry, Sylvester. 
Perry, Arthur B. 
Rumsey, Royal C. 
Russell, William S. 
Roach, Michael. 
Roe, Patrick. 
Roe, Michael. 
Robinson, Daniel. 
Rune, John. 
Sawyer, Caleb. 
Stuart, Hiram C. 
Sheffield, Samuel. 
Stans.all, Henry. 
Snell, Anson. 
Snell, Joseph. 
Stansall, Nicholas. 
Smith, Manley. 



328 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Smitli, Isaac. 
Smith, Harry P. 
Stuart, Auburn. 
Spencer, James S. 
Thomas, Ebenezer. 
Tuthill, Thomas. 
Truesdell, Jesse. 
Tuttle, John L. 



Towsley, Malthew P. 
Todd, John. 
Vogt, Godfrey. 
Wilson, Everett. 
Woodruff, Benjamin. 
Yerington, John. 
Yerington, John, Jr. 



The Green Oak post-office is located on section 
26, where there is located a grist-mill and saw-mill 
owned by William W. Weatherhead, who is the 
postmaster. 

The soil of the township of Green Oak is a 
mixture of clay and gravel, clay predominating in 
the southwest portion. There is comparatively 
little timbered land that can be made available, 
though much of the ground is covered by what 
may be termed a second growth. The surface is 
undulating, though to a less extent than is apparent 
in some of the adjoining townships, and is dotted 
with many small lakes, chief among which are 
Silver Lake, Island Lake, Whitmore Like (the 
northern portion of which lies in Green Oak), 
Maltby Lake, Thomas Lake, Mud Lake, half of 
Fonda Lake, and Crooked Lake. The Huron 
River enters the northeast corner of the township, 
flows in a southwest direction, and leaves it from 
the west side at section 26. The south branch of 
the Huron enters the southeast corner of the town- 
ship, and joins the main waters at the northwest 
corner of section 21. 

The Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad 
enters the township at the southeast corner of sec- 
tion 13. runs diagonally across, and leaves it at 
section 5. The station is named Green Oak Sta- 
tion, and is located on section II. At this point 
are the depot, freight-house, and a small store, and 
all trains stop upon signal. 

The following-named persons were the original 
purchasers of land embraced within the township 
limits : 

Acres. 

Joel Red w.ay, October, 1832 87. 02 

Ruth Alexander and heirs, January, 1833 80 

Georye W. Glover, May, 1833 242.48 

Guy N. Roberts, May, 1S34 So 

J. P. Clement, May, 1834 80 

Gay N. Roberts, May, 1S35 40 

A. G. Melvin, October, 1S35 40 

Joel Redvvay, October, 1832 88.92 

John W. Peavy, May, 1833 88. 72 

James Gage, October, 1833 120 

John S. Beach, August, 1835 40 

William S. Russel, October, 1835 40 

Jose|)h Cule, October, 1835 80 

Ehhu Russel, November, 1S35 40 

J. L. Briggs, May, 1833 168.75 

W. S. Russel, May, 1833 168.95 

S.imnel Cole, May, 1835 160 

Aionzo Bennett, May, 1835 40 

Ansel Clark, July, 1835 40 

Ansel Clark, July, 1835 40 

Harrison Coe, May. 1S36 40 

John Dally, April,' 1833 160 

John C. Mundy, July, 1833 44 40 

Harrison Coe, May, 1836 40 



Acres. 

Phcebe Burnett, July, 1836 4440 

Ira Jennings, December, 1S36 So 

C. W. Penny, February, 1S37 167.17 

T. B. Edmonds, Feliruary, 1S37 40 

T. B. Edmonds, March, 1837 40 

John Soule, December, 1S54 40 

E. B. Cornish, July, 1832 166.36 

E. li. Cornish, August, 1832 43-62 

Wm. C. Rumsey, April, 1S33 120 

R. C. Rumsey, November, 1S34 So 

C. M. Eaton, December, 1834 80 

.Augustus Coltnn, May, 1835 40 

Royal C. Rumsey, June, 1831 80 

Harry Meech, April, 1837 67 

John Chailes, December, 1836 57-40 

Horace Cutter, October, 1836 57-41 

W. C. Rumsey, April, 1833 40 

Amlirose Alexander, June, 1834 80 

David Kingsbury, October, 1834 40 

F. A. Hiiuse, November, 1834 80 

W. H. Hopkins, December, 183; 82. Q2 

David Kingsbury, .September, 1835. 40 

Stephen Curtis, June, 1836 40 

Ira Jennings, June, 1836 40 

Ebenezer Thi>mas, June, 1836 67 

John Farnsworth, July, 1S36 67 

Horace Cutler, October, 1S34 80 

Mary Fuller, June, 1835 80 

O. A. Fuller, June, 1835 I47-40 

James Hai wick, April. 1836 80 

j. J. M. Newcomb. July, 1836 40 

Harry Meech, April, 1837 107.40 

Ephraim Meech, April, 1S37 40 

William Case, May, 1840 67.12 

Samuel McCoskry, January, 1845 40 

H. S. Thomas, June, 1847 67.12 

Isaac -Smith, jr., December, 1832 40 

Samuel Hubbard, June, 1833 40 

Elon Farnsworth, Novemlier, 1833 80 

N. O. Sargent, December, 1833 160 

A. Alexander, December, 1833 80 

Ira Jennings, June, 1836 80 

H. Hawkins and V. R. Hawkins, July, 1836 160 

Isaac Smith, December, 1832 40 

A. Hubbard, M.ay, 1834 40 

Ja>on Clark, June, 1835 160 

Jason Clark, November, 1S35 40 

Katharine Smith, February, 1836 40 

Ira Jennings, June, 1S36 40 

Ira Jennings, June, iS'>6 80 

Malhew Brady, July, 1S36 80 

Bridget Craighan, August, 1836 40 

Terence Roe, October, 1836 80 

Terence Roe, October, 1836 80 

Patrick Roe, June, 1S32 160 

Michael Roche, .\ugust, 1S32 80 

R. C. Rumsey, November, 1834 40 

Charles Steward, November, 1S34 80 

Richard Tonciay, Decemlier, 1S34 40 

Ansel Clark, July, 1835 , 40 

J. A. Van Camp, September, 1835 40 

R. C. Rimisey, January, 1S36 40 

Patrick McNamee, August, 1836 40 

Warien Parker, June, 1832 120 

Thomas Hanmer, June, 1832 160 

Alanson Glazier, June, 1832 80 

Michael Corrigan, May, 1S34 40 

Enos Cole, November, £835 40 

G. C. Bedell, November, 1835 40 

G. C. Bedell, January, 1836 40 

Oliver Carpenter, May, 1S36 80 

Erastus Slude, July, 1S36 40 

Jay Olmsted, June, 1832 320 

I'eleg Cory, June, 1832 160 

Joseph Loree, June, 1S32 160 

John Gales, August, 1836 40 

Elihu Gunnison, June, 1832 120 

Sylvester Scott, November, 1832 80 

Nalhan Seland, May, 1833 40 

John H.agadorn, May, 1834 80 

Asa Bly, Jr , June, 1834 80 

Joseph Loree, October, 1835 40 

Robeit Wordeu, October, 18^35 40 

King^ley S. Bingham, October, 1835 40 

John Herrington, Jr., November, 1835 80 

Terence Roe, No\'ember, 1S33 So 







^■^■*^ 




LINUS CLAKK. 



Photo, by Jeiistfii, Howell. 



.MK.S. LINUS CLAKK. 



LINUS CLARK. 



Among the pioneers of Green Oak none deserve 
more prominent mention than the gentleman whose 
name heads this sketcli. He was born in the town 
of Lenox, Madison Co., N. Y., Feb. 26, 18 13. 
His parents, Norman and Catherine (Moot) Clark, 
were farmers, and had a family of nine children, 
— six boys and three girls. The elder Clark was 
a self-made man, successful in business, and of 
more than ordinary energy and determination. 
Benevolence was a prominent trait in his char- 
acter, and in the Presbyterian Church, of which 
he was an honored member, he held a conspicu- 
ous position. His wife was one of those prudent 
and thrifty housewives, the acme of her ambition 
being to provide for her household, and to rear 
her children in such a way that they would be- 
come useful and honorable members.of society. 

Linus lived with his father until he attained his 
majority, alternating his summer's work on the 
farm with the usual term at the district school in 
winter. In 1833 he came to Green Oak, and set- 
tled upon a tract of land of one hundred and 
forty acres, which his father had previously pur- 
chased. This land is a portion of his present 
farm, a view of which we present on another 
page. 

In 1835, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Phoebe, 
daughter of Henry Stansell, one of the early set- 
tlers of Plynioutii, Wayne Co., Mich. After their 
marriage they moved into a log house, and com- 
menced the improvement of their farm. Mrs. 
Clark, like her husband, was prudent and indus- 



trious, and success attended their efforts. Work- 
ing together, they acquired a competency. 

In their religious belief Mr. and Mrs. Clark were 
Free-Will Baptists. In 1844 he, with seventeen 
others, founded the Baptist Church of Green Oak; 
and of the original eighteen Mr. and Mrs. Deacon 
Loomis and himself are the only ones now living. 
Mr. Clark has always manifested a deep interest 
in educational matters, and has been a liberal sup- 
porter of educational interests. He was one of the 
founders of Hillsdale College, to which he has made 
generous donations. In his political affiliations he 
was formerly a Whig, and identified himself with 
the Republican party upon its formation. He was 
a strong anti-slavery man. One of the salient 
points in the character of Mr. Clark is his un- 
compromising hostility to everything he believes 
to be wrong. His opinions are formed with 
deliberation, and when reached are held with 
tenacity. 

As a business man he is possessed of quick per- 
ception, an intuitive knowledge of men and things, 
and consequently has been successful in his oper- 
ations. This, however, has not been confined to 
the accumulation of property ; he has established 
an enviable reputation for integrity and those 
qualities which alone can render the position he 
holds among his fellow-men attainable. 

Mr. Clark has had two children by adoption, — 
Richard A. Stansell, who lost his life in the de- 
fense of his country at the battle of Chickamauga, 
and Delia, now Mrs. David Page. 




RESIDENCE 5?^- LINUS CLA 



\ 






.,,,,..,1.... "•>. 



. ;* 








^•#*r «#vi^'af:^.-';vv''j' 




3REEN OAK , MIGHlCiAN 



GREEN OAK TOWNSHIP. 



329 



Acres. 

Isaac Carmer, March, 1834 40 

Cornelius Corson, March, 1834 80 

Ainol.l H.iys, May, i8;4 80 

ArnoM I lavs, June, 1834. 80 

Asa Bly. Jr, July, 1834 80 

Michael Corn^an, December, 1835 40 

Benjamin Rogers, June, 1836 80 

K. S. Uingham and Robert Warden, Jr., Novem- 
ber, 1835 80 

K. .S. ISinyham and Robert Warden, Jr., August, 

1S36 40 

Amnion lilain, August, 1832 40 

Thomas Casey, September, 1832 80 

Roger Iladican, .September, 1S32 80 

John Shearlin, September, 1832 40 

John Aiken. July, 1833 40 

F.li/.il>eth Aiken, July, 1833 80 

Patrick McNaniee, May, 1834 80 

Mich.iel Casey, May, 1834 40 

Patrick lirady, Ociober, 1834 80 

K. S. liingham and Robert Warden, December, 

'835 40 

James Henimel, Julv, 1S42 40 

N. F. McCabc, October, 1842 80 

John Hannon, July, 1843 40 

Thomas Anderson, November, 1845 40 

R. Heilicnn, July, 1847 4° 

Daniel Cary, July, 1847 40 

Thomas Andcr-on, January, 1848 40 

N. McCabe, July, 1848 40 

James .\ndrews, September, 1848 40 

J.J. Ryan, December, 1849 40 

Patrick McCabe, May, 1852 40 

1'. Andrews, June, 1853 4° 

II. .M. McCabe, April. 1848 40 

Mary Kelley, April, 1855 80 

Horace Barnum, September, 1836 40 

Isaac .\ppleion, October, 1830 127.24 

Henry D. Uirls, June, 1S31 77.54 

Sherman D. Dix, May, 1832 82.76 

Nathaniel Potter, Jr., August, 1832 40 

Benjamin Dix, July, '833 78.80 

Robert Calder, jr ,May, 1834 9&75 

Harvey P. Smith, July, 1834 40 

C. C. Trowbridge, June, 1836 

B. B. Kercheval, November, 1835 

N. O. Sargent, December, 1833 238.59 

N. O. Sargent, December, 1S33 186.96 

Robert Calder, Jr., May, 1S34 '53-'5 

C. C. Trowbridge, June, 1S36 67.46 

William B. Hopkins, July, 1836 67.96 

Moses Glcason, June, 1831 80 

Daniel Applelon, June, 1831 160 

Jonathan Burneit, .M.av, 1834 80 

J. G. De Wolf, June,i834 66.98 

Thomas Sargent, September, 1834 •jS'^ 

Isaac Penoyer, Novenil)er, 1834 40 

Isaac Penoyer, March, 1835 40 

Phiebe Buriiett, July, 1S35 So 

Nancy Penoyer, Kel)iuary, 1837 66.98 

Stephen Lee, October, 1830 79-78 

Benjamin Curtis, October, 1830 67.25 

Heniy D. Harts, June, 1831 14.16 

James Love, Decemler, 1832 7'.I5 

Cieo. H. Emmons, July, 1833 40 

George Burneit, T^'ie, 1836 80 

Clarissa .Sears, June, 1836 80 

George Butler, June, 1836 40 

Phoebe Burnett, July, 1836 80 

Paul Sears, June, 1836 80 

Nathan Golt, October, 1831 80 

John D. Borden, February, 1832 80 

Oliver Carpenter, September, 1832 40 

ArnoUl Pain, November, 1832 40 

Epenelus Howe, June, 1S35 160 

Betsey Orton, Ociober, 1835 40 

Timothy Lyon, March, 1836 200 

Nathaniel GreeUj August, 1832 40 

A. Blain, June, 1833 40 

Moses Thomson, June, 1833 80 

Sally Ann Biwen, October, 1835 80 

Lucy Blain, November, 1835 40 

Wm. W. Dean, July, 1836 80 

James P. Clements, September, 1836 40 

J. E. Schwartz, September, 1836 40 

James P. Clements, March, 1837 40 

42 



Acres. 

(leorge Menzie, June, 1837 80 

Alonzo W. Olds, June, 1849.. .. 40 

Stephen Tinker, November, 1855 40 

Moses Thomson, June, 1833 80 

Ives Smith, July, 1833 160 

Moses Thom-on, July, 1833 200 

J. M. Brown, April, 1836 40 

Ives Smith, May, 1S36 80 

Wm. W. Dean, July, 1836 40 

Wdliam llannan, Xovendier, 1S36 40 

William Slyfield, May, 1838 4° 

Alex.ander Duncan, January, 1834 40 

Nathan Leiand, July, 1834 40 

Orange Scars, January, 1835 ~ 40 

Maiy Brown, June, 1835 40 

Richaid Toirey, June, 1836 - 40 

Joseph Beiiy, June, 1836 80 

11. H. Bingham, August, 1S36 40 

Charles Borden, Ni>vember, 1836 40 

William Hagadorne, Januaiy, 1837 40 

Mary Lcl.ind, January, 1837 40 

William Slyfield, July, 1837 40 

William L. Webb, Januaiy, 1855 80 

John Sayres, lauuary, 1S53 40 

Allen W. Daiiey. Ociober, 1833 ^ 

James Gready, November, 1833 40 

Robert R. Thompson, December, 1833 40 

Ambrose W. Boiden, May, 1835 So 

John Hooper, July, 1835 80 

John Hooper, .Vugust, 1835 40 

James De Forrest, November, 1835 40 

j. Marterstock, December, 1836 40 

J. Marlei-.tock, Januaiy, 1837 40 

William W. Dean, January, 1837 40 

James Hanchett, January, 1837 _ 40 

William Slyfield, January, 1837 40 

George Gready, November, 1854 40 

David Meech, June, 1831 320 

David Meech, July, 1831 80 

John Cuminings, June, t833 80 

Ives Smith, July, 1833 4° 

Seyuiour Goodale, May, 1834 80 

Alonzo W. Olds, May, 1840 40 

Ariel Y. Olds, August, 1833 40 

Alonzo W. Olds, December, 1833 40 

Harry Meech, February, 1834 40 

Webster Tomer, June, 1835 40 

George Meech, October, 1S35 40 

John S. Bennett, June, 1836 40 

Ezra Robinson, June, 1836 40 

Nelson H. Wing", July, 1836 IfcO 

Patrick Hannon, November, 1836 40 

Warren Clark, Ajiril, 1853 4° 

Stephen Tinker, Jr., January, 1854 40 

Jared Haines, iVpiil, 1831 160 

Nathaniel Gott, . Vugust, 1833 40 

Ed F. Olds, August, 1833 120 

Ariel V. Olds, .August, 1S33 40 

Fred Smiih, December, 1836 40 

G. G. Bedell, January, 1836 80 

Henry Stansell, July, 1836 40 

James Hanchett, .September, 1S36 ^ 80 

Leroy H. Burt, .September, 1S36 40 

William l.cman, September, 1831 293 

George W. Dexter, .August, 1831 80 

Cornelius W. Miller, Ociober, 1831 66.50 

Thomas Tuthill, May, 1833 40 

Thoma-s Tuthill, May, 1833 66.50 

George Galloway, Ociober, 1833 80 

Thoma-S Tuthill, Ociober, 1833 40 

William Leaman, January, 1836 40 

Eldad S. Field, November, 1836 40 

Thomas T. Pettis, September, 1835 80 

John L. Tuthill, August, 1832 80 

Thomas Dosset, May, 1833 40 

Isaac Ela, May, 1834 40 

James Tompkins, June, 1S34 40 

A. B. Perry, December, 1835 40 

Eldad S. Field, November, 1836 40 

J, N. Robinson, January, 1S37 40 

John Garrison. January, 1837 I20 

G. S. Wheeler, June, 1862 40 

John .McGoiren, August, 1838 40 

Emery Beal, October, 1S39 40 

Steplien Lee, .September, 1830 80 

S. R. Perry, August, 1833 40 



330 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Acres. 

John Bogle, November, 1833 240 

Jas. McMahon, Novemlicr, 1S33 40 

Dennis Burns, May, 1S34 40 

Patrick Gilligan, August, 1834 4° 

James Hanchelt, Se|itember, 1S36 40 

James Coulon, September, 1S47 4^ 

John E. Hammond, M.iy, 1831 80 

A. S. Ames, May, 1833 80 

James Hynes, Seplemlier, 1833 80 

John S. Bennett, December, 1833 160 

Timolhy McCarihy, April, 1834 240 

John B. Hammond, May, 1831 160 

M. Willits, June, 1S31 80 

Henry Hayward, Jnne, 1831 80 

Manley Sniitji, November. 1831 80 

Ephraim Meech, June, 1832 160 

John Starkweather, Novenil)er, 1832 80 

Benjamin Wei cli, June, 1831 80 

John H. Cailton, June, 1832 80 

Luzen Touzey, June, 1832 80 

Elias Dean, August, 1S32 40 

A. S. Ames, May, 1833 80 

Henry Meech, June, 1833 80 

Alonzo W. Olds, July, 1S33 40 

Thomas Malone, October, 1836 120 

Adam J. Coons, June, 1839 40 

William Kernan, April, 1832 240 

Ambrose Ale.xander, June, 1834 40 

James Tompkins, Jime, 1834 120 

Parley Gardner, June, 1836, 40 

William H. Moore, August, 1836 40 

James Hanchett, September, 1836 40 

Levi Knight, October, 1836 80 

William Kernan, April, 1832 80 

Jonathan Haight, October, 1833 80 

Elisha W. Brockaway, November, 1833 66.60 

Caleb Sawyer, May, 1834 66.80 

J. G. De Wolf, October, 1834 4° 

Isaac Pennoyer, March, 1835 40 

Stephen Draper, May, 1836 66.80 

James Burnett, June, 1836 106.60 

George Burnell, June, 1836 40 

Parley Gardner, Tune, 1836 40 

Michael Carberry, October, 1836 So 

Zelotes Truesdell, December, 1S54 40 

The following is a list of township officers elected 
in Green Oak since its organization : 

1835. — Isaac .Smith, Supervisor; George W. Glover, Township 
Clerk ; Alonzo W. Olds, John McConnell, George W. 
Glover, Assessors ; Ephraim Meach, Collector ; Frederick 
Smith, George W. Glover, Directors of the Poor; Gardner 
Bird, A. W. Olds, Evert Woodruff, Highway Commis- 
sioners; Melzer Bird, Isaac Smith, Sherman Di-\, School 
Commissioners; James A. Sterling, William C. Rumsey, 
Warren Parker, School Inspectors. 

1836. — Kinsley S. Bingham, Supervisor; William C. Rumsey, 
Township Clerk; John W. Peavy, John Hooper, John 
Andrews, Elisha W. Brockway, Justices of the Peace ; 
Frederick W. Goodenoe, Thomas Tuthill, Horace Ton- 
cray, Assessors; John Henry, Richard Toncray, Direc- 
tors of the Poor ; Joseph Lorn, Collector. 

1837. — Elisha Biockway, Supervisor; Robert Warden, Jr., Town- 
ship Clerk ; Job Cranston, Augustus Cotton, Thomas 
Tuthill, Assessors; Kinsley .S. Bingham, Robert War- 
den, Jr., Warren Parker, School Inspectors ; Orlando 
Rodgers, Collector. 

1838. — Robert Warden, Jr., Supervisor; James Hanchett, Town- 
ship Clerk; Jotin Hooper, Jonathan Burnett, Augustus 
Cotton, Assessors; Chandler Carter, Warren Parker. 
Isaac Smith, Justices of the Peace; Solomon S. 
Saunders, Collector. 

1839. — Robert Warden, Jr., Supervisor; J.imes Hanchelt, Town- 
ship Clerk ; John Farnsworth, Treasurer; Joseph Lorn, 
John Farnsworth, James McMahon, Assessors; James 
Coe, Collector; K. S. Bingham, Robert Warden, Jr., 
James Hanchett, School Inspectors; John Hooper, Jus- 
tice of the Peace. 



1840. — John Hooper, Supervisor ; John L. Tultle, Township Clerk ; 
John Yerinton, Treasurer; James McMahon, Assessor; 
John Hooper, Justice of the Peace ; James Coe, Collector ; 
John L. Tuttle, Robert Warden, Jr., School Inspectors. 

1841. — William W. Dean, Supervisor; John L. Tuttle, Township 
Clerk ; John Hooper, Orlando Rodgers, Assessors ; 
Enoch H. Marble, Treasurer; John Yerinton, Jr., Col- 
lector; Kinsley S. Bingham, Robert Warden, School 
Inspectors; Robert W^arden, Jr., Justice of the Peace. 

1842. — John Hooper, Supervisor; John L, Tuttle, Township 
Clerk ; Is.aac Penoyer, Justice of the Peace ; John 
Yerinton, Jr., John Farnsworth, Assessors; A. Hubbard, 
K. S. Bingham, Robert Warden, School Ins|iectors. 

1843. — Robert Warden, Supervisor; John L. Tuttle, Township 
Clerk ; A. Hubbard, Treasurer ; Alonzo W. Olds, Justice 
of the Peace; Lorenzo Chubb. Robert Warden, Jr., Ira 
Jennings, Assessors; A. W. Olds, Robert Warden, Jr., 
School Inspectors. 

1S44. — Ira Jennings, Supervisor; John L. Tultle, Township Clerk; 
A. llulibard. Treasurer; James S. .Spencer, A. S. Butter- 
field, Justices of the Peace; Robert Waiden, Warren 
Parker, School Inspectors. 

1845. — I™ Jennings, Supervisor; Gilbert Bedell, Township Clerk ; 
Robert Warden, John L. Tuttle, Justices of the Peace ; 
Abijah Angell, Treasurer; Samuel L. Whiting, School 
Inspector. 

1846. — Ira Jennings, Supervisor; William C. Bedell, Township 
Clerk ; Royal C. Rumsey, Justice of the Peace; Roger 
Hedican, Treasurer; Moses Green, Warren Parker, 
School Inspectors. 

1847. — Ira Jennings, Supervisor; Abel S. Butterfiekl, Township 
Clerk; Alonzo W. Olds, Justice of the Peace; Roger 
Hedican, Treasurer; Jonathan Burnett, School In- 
spector. 

1S48. — Alonzo W. Olds, Supervisor; Abel F. Butterfiekl, Town- 
ship Clerk; John L. Tuttle, John Hooper, Justices of 
the Peace; Hannibal Lee, Treasurer; Alinon Maltby, 
Moses B. Green, School Inspectors. 

1849. — Ira Jennings, Supervisor; Asahel Hubbard, Township 
Clerk ; Robert Warden, Jr., John Hooper, Justices of 
the Peace; Hannibal Lee, Treasurer ; Jonathan Burnett, 
School Inspector. 

1850. — John Hooper, Supervisor; A. F. Bntterfield, Townsliip 
Clerk; S. M. Winans, Treasurer ; Evereit Wilson, Jus- 
tice of the Peace; Robert Warden, Jr., .School Commis- 
sioner; Jonathan Burnett, School Inspector. 

1851. — Ira Jennings, Supervisor; A. F. Butterfiekl, Township 
Clerk; S. M. Winans, Treasurer ; Warren Barker, Isaac 
Smith, Justices of the Peace; Jonathan Burneit, School 
Inspector. 

J852. — Robert Warden, Supervisor; Niel O'Heara, Township 
Clerk ; John Hooper, Trea.surer ; A. F. Butterfiekl, Jesse 
Truesdell, Justices of the Peace; Zelotes Trnesdell, 
School Inspector. 

1853. — Ira Jennings, Supervisor ; George W. Cropsey, Township 
Clerk; James Hammill, Treasurer; F. L. Clements, 
Charles Holister, School Inspectors; John Hooper, Jus- 
tice of the Peace. 

1854. — Ira Jennings, Supervisor ; A. S. Warner, Township Clerk ; 
James Hammill, Treasurer; Ferris L. Clements, Robert 
Warden, R. C. Rtmisey, Justices of tlie Peace. 

1855. — Robert Warden, Supervisor; A. .S. Holister, Township 
Clerk; Peter P. Galatian, Treasurer; Charles Hokster, 
School Inspector; A. W. Olds, Isaac H. Smith, Justices 
of the Peace. 

1856. — Robert Warden, Supervisor; Byron A. Lumbard, Tosvn- 
ship Clerk; Peter P. Gallatian, Treasurer; A. Nelson 
Clark, School Inspector; John L. Tuttle, Almon Maltby, 
Jesse Truesdell, Justices of the Peace. 

1857. — Robert Warden, Supervisor; Byron A. Lumbard, Town- 



GREEN OAK TOWNSHIP. 



331 



ship Clerk; P. P. G.iUalian, Treasurer; Roliert Warden, 
Justice of the Peace; Ferris L. Clements, Scliool In- 
spector. 

1858. — Royal C. Rumsey, Supervisor; B. A. Lumljard, Townsliip 
Clerk; Henry S. Dean, Justice of the Peace; Andrew 
Barher, Treasurer; A. N. Clark, School Inspector. 

1859. — Royal C. Rumsey, Supervisor; B. A. Lunib.Trd, Township 
Clerk; P. P. Gallatian, Treasurer; Almon Mallhy, Jus- 
tice of the Peace ; Richard Stanscll, School Inspector. 

i860. — George S. Wheeler, .Supervisor; B. A. Lnmbard, Town- 
ship Clerk; Isaac Smith, Treasurer; John L. Tuttle, 
Almon Maltby, Justices of the Peace; A. N. Clark, 
R. A. Stansell, School Inspectors. 

1861. — George S. Wheeler, Supervi.sor ; B. A. Lumhnrd, Town- 
ship Clerk; Milton G. Field, Treasurer; Ferris L. Clem- 
ents, Justice of the Peace; Ferris L. Clements, .School 
Inspector. 

1862. — Franklin Case, Supervisor; B. A. Lumhnrd, Township 
Clerk; E. L. Burt, Treasurer; Hannibal Lee, Robert 
Warden, Justices of the Peace ; F. L. Clements, School 
Inspector. 

1863. — Franklin Case, Supervisor; B. A. Lnmbard, Township 
Clerk; E. L. Burt, Treasurer; Hannibal Lee, Robert 
Warden, F. L. Clements, School Inspectors. 

1864. — Franklin Case, Supervisor; Giles Lee, Township Clerk ; 
Isaac Smith, Treasurer; John L. Tutlle, Robert War- 
den, Almon Maltby, Justices of the Pe.ice. 

1865. — Robert Warden, Supervisor; Giles Lee, Township Clerk; 
Ansel N. Clark, School Inspector; Ferris .S. Clements, 
John N. Clark, Jonathan Burnett, Justices of the Peace. 

1866. — Almon M.aUby, Supervisor ; Giles Lee, Township Clerk ; 
William D. Corson, Treasurer; Linus Clark, Caleb 
Sawyer, Justices of the Pe.ice; Daniel B. Stark, School 
Inspector. 

1867. — Giles Lee, Supervisor; Robert Warden, Township Clerk ; 
Ansel N. Clark, Treasurer; Almon Maltby, Daniel B. 
Stark, Caleb O. Willis, Justices of the Peace ; Ferris L. 
Clements, School Inspector. 

1868. — Giles Lee, Supervisor; Robert Warden, Town-hi|) Clerk; 
Ansel N. Clark, Treasurer; Erastus A. Pratt, Justice of 
the Peace; Daniel B. Stark, School Inspector. 

1869. — Giles Lee, Supervisor; Robert Warden, Township Clerk; 
Samuel Barber, Treasurer; F. L. Clements, Justice of 
the Peace; Clinton J. Burnett, School Inspector. 

1870. — Giles Lee, Supervisor; Daniel Caldwell, Township Clerk ; 
Daniel B. Stark, Justice of the Peace ; D. B. Clark, 
School Inspector. 

1871. — Giles Lee, Supervisor; D. M. Caldwell, Township Clerk; 
William A. Weatherhead, Treasurer; Almon Maltby, 
Horatio A. Barker, Justices of the Peace; Ansel N. 
Clark, School Inspector. 

1872. — Giles Lee, Supervisor; D. M. Caldwell, Township Clerk ; 
Wm. A. Weatherhead, Tre.asurer; Erastus A. Pratt, 
Justice of the Peace; Marshall Borden, School In- 
spector. 

1873.— Giles Lee, Supervisor; Daniel M. Caldwell, Township 
Clerk; George W. Dean, Treasurer; Ferris L. Clem- 
ents, Justice of the Peace; Edward Reid, School In- 
spector. 

1874. — Giles Lee, Supervisor; Albert G. Burnett, Township 
Clerk; George W. Dean, Treasurer ; Horatio A. Barker, 
Justice of the Peace; Wm. W. Dean, Drain Commis- 
sioner; John Marshall, School Inspector. 

1875. — Oiles Lee, Supervisor; Albert G. Burnett, Township 
Clerk; George W. Dean, Treasurer; Almon Maltby, 
Justice of the Peace; John Marshall, Superintendent of 
.Schools; James D. Stark, School Inspector; Lewis 
Scott, Drain Commissioner. 

1876.— Giles Lee, Supervisor; Albert G. Burnett, Township 
Clerk; George W. Dean, Treasurer; James W. Edgar, 



Justice of the Peace ; John Marshall, Superintendent of 
Schools; James D. Stark, School Inspector; Lewis 
Scott, Drain Commissioner. 

1877. — Giles Lee, Supervisor; A. G. Burnett, Township Clerk; 
Charles T. Dewey, Treasurer; Robert Warden, James 
D. .Stark, Justices of the Peace ; John Marshall, Super- 
intendent of Schools ; James D. Stark, .School In- 
spector. 

1878. — Giles Lee, .Supervisor; Albert G. Burnett, Township 
Clerk; George M. Field, Tre.asurer ; James D. Staik, 
Justice of the Peace; John Marshall, Superintendent of 
Schools; Job H. Scott, School Inspector; Lewis Scott, 
Drain Commissioner. 

1879. — Giles Lee, Supervisor; Leslie J. Stiles, Township Clerk ; 
George M. Field, Treasurer; Joseph M. Holden, Jus- 
tice of the Pe.ice; Job H. Scott, Superintendent of 
Schools; Hugh T. Smith, School Inspector. 



RF.LIGIOUS. 
FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH. 

The only chufch edifice in the town of Green 
Oak is located near the southern boundary line, on 
section 35, and the society that it represents is of 
the Baptist denomination. It was organized March 
22, 1845, by Elders S. S. Lanning and J. Tyler, 
the first deacon being M. Thomson. The number 
of members that formed the first church organiza- 
tion was 17, which number during the years that 
followed was greatly augmented, until the total 
number from its beginning reached 124. In 1850 
the necessity for building a house of worship be- 
came apparent, and ground was purchased for the 
purpose. With the degree of interest manifested 
in the new enterprise it required but little time to 
complete the edifice, which was built in a plafn but 
substantial manner, and soon after dedicated. It 
has been used since that time, but the growing 
congregation, finding its capacity limited for their 
wants, have arranged to remodel and enlarge it, 
and under the supervision of Mr. Linus Clark 
work will soon be begun. 

In 1848, Rev. William R. Norton was installed 
as pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. James Big- 
nail, who remained in charge of the church until 
1859, when Rev. S. A. Currier became his succes- 
sor, and two years later Rev. D. Winton filled the 
pastoral relation. Rev. H. A. Barker was next 
called to minister to the people, and later Rev. E. 
G. Chaddock became pastor. Rev. E. J. Howes 
was ne.xt installed, and remained until Rev. L. J. 
Whitcomb filled his place. Rev. A. W. Ensign 
was the pastor after this until, in 1870, Rev. II. A. 
Barker was called for a second time to fill the pul- 
pit, which he did with much acceptance for seven 
years, when the present pastor. Rev. J. Rodgers, 
was installetl. The deacons are Squire Loomis, 
Isaac Burhaus, and Linus Clark. 



\ 



33: 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



HON. KINSLEY S. BINGHAM 

was born in Camillus, N. Y., in December, 1808. 
His father was a farmer, and his own early life was 
devoted to agricultural pursuits. He received an 
academical education, and studied law with Gen. 
James R. Lawrence, at Syracuse, N. Y. In 1833 
he married an estimable lady of Scotch parent- 
age, and soon thereafter emigrated to Michigan, 
settling on and clearing a farm in the town of 
Green Oak. 

He early embarked in local politics, bein-g first 
chosen to the office of justice of the peace; was 
then appointed postmaster; was the first judge of 
probate of his county, and in 1836 was chosen a 
member of the Legislature, and served four terms. 
He was speaker of the House of Representatives 
of 1838 and 18 ig. 

In 1846 he was chosen, as a Democrat, to Con- 
gress, and was the only practical farmer in that 
body. In 1848 he was re-elected to Congress, 
where he strongly opposed the extension of slavery 
into the Territories and voted for the Wilmot pro- 
viso. He was also a member of the Committee 
on Commerce. His Congressional service con- 
tinued until 185 1. In 1854, in consequence of 
his anti-slavery course in Congress, Mr. Bingham 
was given the first distinctively Republican nomi- 
nation for Governor, and was re-elected in 1856. 
He was known as the " farmer-governor of Mich- 
igan." He was a highly popular chief magistrate, 
and was genial and affable in his disposition. He 
was instrumental in establishing the Agricultural 
College. 

He was chosen to the United States Senate in 
1859, and in i860 took an active part in that 
memorable campaign in behalf of the election of 
Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency. He wit- 
nessed the conimencement of the civil war during 
his brief Senatorial career, and actively espoused 
the cause of the Union, dying of apoplexy at his 
residence in Green Oak, Oct. 5, 1861, much la- 
mented, in the fifty-third year of his age. 



HANNIB.\L LEE. 



The progenitor of the present Lee family was 
Stephen Lee, who was born in Rensselaer Co., 
N. Y., and married Lydia Emmons, aunt of the 
late Judge Emmons, of Detroit. To them were 
born the following children: Eliza, Hannibal, Sol- 
omon, Sarah, Hannah, Catharine, Lucy, Charles, 
and Elizabeth. 



Mr. Lee, with his wife and children, emigrated to 
Michigan in September, 1835, and chose the town- 
ship of Green Oak, in Livingston County, as his 
abode. Here he broke the first soil in the town- 
ship, and encouraged by his generous aid and hos- 
pitality the efforts of later pioneers. 

His son, Hannibal Lee, was born in Half-Moon, 
Saratoga Co., N. Y., in 1812, and accompanied his 
father in 1830 to Green Oak, assisting him in the 
improvement of his possessions until he was twenty- 
one. Being ambitious to secure a home of his own, 
he purchased the farm adjacent to the lands of his 
father, and upon which he still resides. He was 
married, Feb. 19, 1834, to Miss Mary Hubbard, the 
occasion being a memorable one from the double 
wedding that occurred, Mr. Lee's sister also mar- 
rying a brother of Miss Hubbard. 

Mr. Lee enjoys the distinction of being one of 
the first anti-slavery voters in the township, and 
although actively interested in politics was never 
an office-seeker. He is a man of strong religious 
convictions, uncompromising in his defense of the 
right, and possessing the courage to maintain his 
opinions. 

He is a prominent member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and has for years been one of 
its leading officers. 

His son, Giles, was born at the home of his 
father, Feb. 23, 1837. He acquired an academical 
education, but having a decided taste for farming 
pursuits, he joined his father in the cultivation of 
his estate. He was married, March 9, 1859, to 
Lucy W. Briggs, and some years later erected 
opposite the paternal abode a spacious residence, 
which he now occupies. 

He manifests a keen interest in public affairs, is 
regarded as possessing sound judgment, and has 
been honored by his constituents as their favored 
candidate for supervisor, to which office he has 
been elected for a period of thirteen successive 
years. 



CORNELIUS CORSON 

was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born about 
twenty miles from Philadelphia, in the year 1793. 
When a young man he went to Canandaigua, N. Y., 
where he married Sarah Whittaker, a woman of 
much energy, and possessed of many excellent 
qualities. Here he remained .several years, work- 
ing at his trade, — that of a shoemaker. In 1834 
the family emigrated to Michigan, and settled 
upon the farm now owned by his son, William D., 
which originally consisted of eighty acres, and 
upon which he resided until his death, which oc- 





ALMON MALTBY. 



MRS. ALMON MALTBY. 



ALMON MALTBY, 



.son of Grove and Cynthia (Inglesby) Maltby, was 
born in the town of Henrietta, Monroe Co., N. Y., [ 
Dec. 27, 1 8 14. Up to the age of eighteen years 
his life, like that of most farmers' boys, was one 
of unceasing toil in summer, with a respite of a 
few months at the district school in winter. At 
the age ot eighteen he was apprenticed to the 
trade of carpenter and joiner, which occupation 
he followed until he came to Michigan. 

In the spring of 1832, in company with his 
brother Maynard, he came to Livingston County, 
and settled in what is now Brighton. The next 
summer they cleared and fenced six acres, which 
they sowed to wheat, and in the fall of that year 
returned to New York. During the winter they 
taught school. The following spring they re- 
turned, and since that time Mr. Maltby has been 
prominently identified with Brighton and Green 



Oak. In 1835 he purchased sixty acres of land in 
Genoa, which was the first purchase in that town. 
He, however, lived with his brother Maynard until 
1837, when he was married to Miss Eliza J. Haw- 
ley, of Geneva, N. Y. Shortly after his marriage 
he removed to the farm he now occupies, which 
originally consisted of one hundred and eight 
acres. 

Mr. Maltby's life has been devoted to agri- 
cultural pursuits, in which he has been eminently 
successful. He now owns a beautiful farm of four 
hundred and fifty-three acres, under a high state of 
cultivation. He has been married twice. His 
first wife died in 1842, and he was again married, 
in 1843, to Esther Moore. Mrs. Maltby, as well 
as her husband, occupies a prominent position 
among the pioneers, having emigrated with her 
father's family in 1833. 




JOHN HOOPER. 



.MRS. JOHN HOOPER. 



JOHN HOOPER, 



son of Clement and Catherine (V'oorhies) Hooper, 
was born in tlie town of Woodbridge, Middle- 
sex Co., N J., Dec. 20, 1799. He is descended 
from Revolutionary stock, his grandfather, James 
Hooper, having served as a cavalry officer in the 
struggle for independence. The parents of Mr. 
Hooper were farmers, and in 1817 removed to the 
town of Cato, Cayuga Co., N. Y., where the elder 
Hooper resided until his death, which occurred in 
1837. He reared a family of ten children, eight 
boys and two girls. He was a man of steady 
habits, and led a quiet and uneventful life. Being 
in limited circumstances, his children received 
slight advantages, and their education was ob- 
tained from the bitter school of experience rather 
than from books. 

John lived at home until his eighteenth year, 
when he started in life as a farm laborer. In April, 
1827, he was married, in the town of Lee, Oneida 
Co., to Miss Electa VVashburne. She was born 
Dec. 28, 1805. Her parents, Martin and Martha 
Washburne, were natives of Massachusetts, and 
emigrated to Oneida County in an earl_\' day, 
where Mrs. Hooper was born. 

After their marriage they engaged in farming 
for several years. ^Michigan was at this time con- 
sidered to be the Eldorado of the West, and Mr. 
Hooper, foreseeing the advantages of cheap land 
and a fertile soil, resolved to come West and make 
a home and a fortune. Accordingly, in June, 



1835, he started for Michigan, in company with 
four other families. Arriving in Detroit, they 
made a selection of land on Bean Creek, Lenawee 
Co., six miles west of Adrian. The location, how- 
ever, was an unfortunate one for Mr. Hooper. The 
land being heavily timbered, and his health failing 
him after a short residence, he decided to better 
himself by the purchase of land more easily im- 
proved. He accordingly purchased from the 
government one hundred and twenty acres of 
land, on section 35, in the town of Green Oak, 
much against the wishes of his friends, who were 
greatly averse to the loss of a valuable neighbor 
and friend. Here he has since resided, and to his 
original purchase he has added eighty acres. 

I\Ir. Hooper has been quite prominently identi- 
fied with Green Oak. He has held various posi- 
tions of trust and influence, the duties of which 
he has performed with credit to himself and to the 
satisfaction of his fellow-townsmen. He was one 
of the early justices, and for a number of terms rep- 
resented the town upon the Board of Supervisors. 

Politically he is a Democrat of the Jacksonian 
type, and has remained true to his early political 
convictions. He has led an active life, antl in his 
chosen calling has acquired a competency, the 
result of industry and thrift coupled with good 
business ability. Mr. and Mrs. Hooper have been 
blessed with six children, four of whom are living, 
two sons and two daughters. 



GREEN OAK TOWNSHIP. 



333 



curred in 1859. Tlic elder Corson was an ambi- 
tious, hard-working man, and liiglily esteemed by 
all who knew him. He was a successful farmer 
and a worthy citizen. William D. Corson was 
born in Canandaigua, N. Y., Feb. 9, 1828. Upon 



the death of his father he succeeded to the estate, 
to which he has added two hundred and forty 
acres. In 1856 he was married to Miss Cynthia 
Borden, of Gieen Oak, by whom he has had eight 
children. 





GEORGE GREADY. 

GEORGE GREADY, 
one of the early settlers of Green Oak, was born in 
Bristol, England, June 7, 181 1. His father, Thomas 
Gready, was a market gardener, an industrious and 
successful man, who reared a family of seven chil- 
dren (four sons and three daughters), George being 
the fourth child. On attaining his majority he de- 
cided to emigrate to America. Accordingly, in 
July, 1832, he, in company with his brother J.imes, 
sailed for the United States. In September follow- 
ing they settled on the county-line between Lyon 
and Green Oak. Their land was purchased from 
government, and Mr. Gready has in his possession 
the original deed, bearing the signature of Andrew 
Jackson. His land was a mile and a half from the 
road, and he was obliged to cut his way to it. For 
the first few years he endured many hardships and 
privations. Wolves were numerous, and they 
howled about his dwelling, making night hideous; 
bears were also frequent visitors. They lived in a 
very primitive way, the log house being supplied 
with a floor made of split logs, and the furniture 
(if it could be dignified by that name), made by 
himself, was of the rudest kind. One of the great- 
est discomforts they had to contend with was the 
mosquitoes, which were so numerous and aggres- 
sive that life was almost unendurable; in fact, they 



MRS. GEORGE GREADY. 

were a greater pest than the rattlesnakes, which 
would frequently crawl into the house and secrete 
themselves underneath the beds, revealing their 
location by their odor and rattle. Gradually, as 
the country became cleared, they were relieved of 
these pests. In about three years they began to 
raise crops, and life became much more endurable. 
Oct. 2, 1837, Mr. Gready was married to Miss 
Sophia, daughter of Wright and Mary G.ige, of 
Green Oak. She was born in Ontario township, 
Wayne Co., N. Y., March 26, 1 820, and came with 
her parents to this State in 1834, settling in the 
town of Lyon, Oakland Co. Mr. and Mrs. Gready 
are fast approaching the evening of their lives ; 
they have witnessed the transition of a wilderness 
into a highly productive region, and have in a 
measure been compensated for the hardships and 
trials of their early life. Industrious, thrifty, and 
economical, they have .secured a competency, and 
are surrounded by the comforts and conveniences 
which they have so well earned. They have been 
blessed with ten children, seven of whom are living. 
The life of Mr. Gready has been devoted to the 
cares of his farm and family. For integrity, indus- 
try, and honorable dealing he has acquired an 
enviable reputation, and is regarded as a thrifty 
farmer and a valuable citizen. 



CONWAY TOWNSHIP. 



This township, which was formed as lena by an 
act of the State Legislature, approved March 6, 
1838, is situated in the northwest corner of Living- 
ston County. Adjoining township organizations 
are Antrim, in Shiawassee Co., on the north, Locke, 
in Ingham Co., on the west, and Cohoctah and 
Handy respectively, in Livingston, on the east and 
south. 

The surface may be described in general terms 
as of an undulating character, the rolling and more 
elevated portions being found on the eastern border. 
The major portion of the township, or perhaps 
three-fourths of it, was covered originally with a 
heavy growth of hard wood timber, termed by the 
early settlers " timbered openings." 

The soil is of a rich loam, very productive, and 
the people are uniformly successful in tiie cultiva- 
tion of wheat, corn, fruits, and other field products. 

The streams are unimportant. Cedar River cuts 
the extreme southwest corner, while one or two 
small tributaries of the Shiawassee cross its northern 
and eastern borders. 

The people are chiefly agriculturists. Well-im- 
proved farms and tasteful farm-buildings abound in 
every portion, and the present population is esti- 
mated at about 1200. 

FIRST AND OTHER EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

It seems to be an unsettled question to whom 
can be ascribed the honor of making the first settle- 
ment in this township, priority being claimed for 
those men who composed the Parsons Company, 
and Robert Colborn. Without undertaking to settle 
this unimportant matter, we give both statements 
as received; though from the fact that Mr. Colborn's 
name does not appear as a resident tax-payer upon 
the assessment roll of Howell for the year 1837, we 
venture the opinion that the Messrs. Parsons, Wait, 
Strong, and Fay were the first to take up their 
permanent residence. 

In the month of May, 1831, the brothers Fred- 
erick B. and Cecil D. Parsons — the former accom- 
panied by his wife — left their homes in Franklin 
Co., Mass., and journeyed by stage to Troy, 
N. Y. From the latter city a passage was secured 
on board a canal-boat to Buffalo, thence by lake 
steamer to Detroit, where they continued their 
journc)' by stage to Ann Arbor. They at last 
334 



reached Webster, Washtenaw Co., Mich., on foot, 
where they joined their sister, Mrs. Israel Arms, 
who, with her husband, had settled in Michigan 
in 1826. The brothers purchased land in Web- 
ster, and continued their residence there without 
thought of changing, until early in the summer of 
1836, when, during the great rush of emigration to 
the new State, they were joined by their father, 
Levi Parsons, their brothers, Julius F. and Samuel 
F., their mother and two sisters. Waterman B. 
Fay, son-in-law of Levi Parson-;, Timothy Wait, 
father-in-law of Julius F. Parsons, and Lorenzo K. 
Strong. Messrs. Wait and Strong were from North- 
ampton, Hampshire Co., Mass. All the remainder 
from Franklin County, of the same State. These 
people all came to Michigan with the purpose of 
making the Peninsular State their permanent home. 
As they wished to purchase quite a large tract of 
government land, situated where all could settle in 
the same neighborhood, and as no such opportu- 
nity presented itself in Washtenaw County, in June, 
1836, Frederick B. Parsons, Cecil D. Parsons, Ju- 
lius F. Parsons, Waterman B. Fay, Timothy Wait, 
and Lorenzo K. Strong started out on foot for the 
purpose of locating land in Livingston County. 
Arriving at Livingston Centre, they learned that 
desirable lands — not yet entered — were lying in 
township 4 north, of range 3 east, and that Charles 
P. Bush, who was then with Calvin Handy in town- 
ship 3 north, of range 3 east, would act as their 
guide while exploring the woods. 

They finally arrived at Mr. Handy's house, found 
Mr. Bush, and engaged his services for the next 
day. Mr. Handy had but just occupied his new 
dwelling, — a small log house, — and in consequence 
household articles were in some confusion. But 
Mrs. Handy, who, like other wives of the pioneers, 
was equal to the emergency, prepared lodgings for 
her visitors by spreading upon the ground, in the 
centre of the cabin, a bed ; upon it these six stal- 
wart men reclined their heads and shoulders, while 
their extremities swung around the circle, taking 
care of themselves. The next morning two or 
three other land-lookers came up, who wished to 
accompany the first party in their operations, but 
Mr, Bush would not permit them without the con- 
sent of those who first engaged him. As there 
was much sharp practice in play in "those days 













-.!¥«:= 




Residence OF Wm. P. STOW, Conway, Michigan, 




'jy Wm. D.CORSON, UriLiN Oak , Mich. 



CONWAY TOWNSHIP. 



335 



among land-lookers and land-buyers, it will be 
readily infcneti tliat usually the second party were 
politely requested to stay behind. 

As a result of this first visit to the territory now 
known as Conway, the Messrs. Parsons and their 
friends concluded to purchase the lands situated 
upon sections 1 1, 13, and 14, which are more fully 
described in an accompanying list of original land- 
entries. Upon the 20th of June, 1836, their pur- 
chases, consisting of 840 acres, were entered upon 
the book in the land-office at Detroit. 

Later, during the same summer, the six men be- 
fore mentioned again started out for the purpose of 
opening a road through from Livingston Centre to 
their new possessions, also to erect a house wherein 
some of them proposed to pass the winter. They 
brought with them an ox-team and wagon, pro- 
visions for a few days, and boards necessary for 
use in building, which were obtained at Place's 
mill, in Webster, Washtenaw Co. 

Soon after leaving the Centre — now Howell — 
their labor began ; and at night they had progressed 
as far as John B. La Rowe's place of settlement on 
section 6, Howell township. The next day they 
gained two miles, cut out a road, bridged the 
creek, and encamped for the night near Sabin's 
Lake. On the third day they arrived at their des- 
tination, the northeast quarter of section 14, on 
land owned by Julius F. Parsons. Here, within 
six days, they completed what is claimed to have 
been the first dwelling erected in the township. 
This house was 18 by 24 feet in dimensions, cov- 
ered with oak shingles, which were shaved upon 
the spot, and the floor laid with the boards brought 
from Washtenaw County. This house soon after 
became noted as the place of birth of the first 
child born in the township, — son of J. F. Parsons, 
born January, 1837. Within its walls was held 
the first religious meeting, and here the people 
assembled to hold their first township-meeting in 
April, 1838. 

Our pioneers, having exhausted their stock of 
provisions, were compelled to return to Washte- 
naw County immediately after completing their 
house. 

During the fall of 1836, Julius F. Parsons, his 
father, Levi Parsons, and their families, accompa- 
nied by Timothy Wait, Lorenzo K. Strong, and 
Waterman B. Fay, came on from Webster, Wash- 
tenaw Co., fully prepared to take up their residence 
here in the woods. Land was cleared upon the 
southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of sec- 
tion 14, and wheat sown the same season. 

Messrs. Wait and Strong were carpenters by 
trade ; during the period last mentioned they 
hauled lumber from Farmington, Oakland Co., and 



built, each for him.self, small framed houses, which 
were completed in the spring of 1837. The one 
built by Mr. Strong burned ilovvn several years ago. 
The other, after having withstood the ravages of 
time for forty years, finally succumbed to the same 
element, and disappeared 'mid fire and smoke in 
May, 1877. It was then owned and occupied by 
William Copeland, who received in payment for 
his loss the sum of $i,0 from the Livingston 
County Fire Insurance Company. 

Robert Colborn, from Wayne Co., Mich., pur- 
chased 90 acres on the northwest part of the north- 
west fractional quarter of section 5, July 5, 1836. 
His son is authority for the statement that Mr. 
Colborn, Sr., and his family moved in and took up 
their residence on the county line in November of 
the same year; that the route followed by them 
was along what was then known as the Grand 
River road up into Shiawassee County, from whence 
they bore south, cutting out their own road, until 
reaching the place of their settlement ; and that 
they were the first settlers in the township. As a 
distance of more than four and one-half miles on 
an air-line separated those in the Parsons settle- 
ment from the locality chosen by Mr. Colborn, the 
whole covered by dense forests, swamps, and tan- 
gled morasses, it is very possible that the latter 
should be in error in supposing himself the first 
settler, and that weeks should elapse ere he was 
aware of others being in the township. Mr. Colborn 
was a most worthy citizen. He raised up a large 
family, several of whom reside in the township at 
the present time. 

Late in the fall of 1836, Frederick B. Parsons, 
the eldest son of Levi, came on and built a com- 
fortable log dwelling upon his land, it being the 
northwest quarter of section 14. In March follow- 
ing, having sold out his possessions in Washtenaw 
County, he removed here, bringing in his family 
and household effects upon sleighs. 

Ledyard S. Adams, from Genesee Co., N. Y., 
purchased the north half of section 36, May 10, 
1836, but did not settle until April i, 1837. He 
died in the spring of 1841, while holding the office 
of assessor. 

Martin W. Randall, from Livingston Co., N. Y., 
whose journey to Michigan is fully described by 
Hon. Ralph P'owler, in historical sketches referring 
to the early settlement of Handy township, settled 
upon the we.st half of the southwest quarter of sec- 
tion 27, also, early in the spring of 1837. 

Mr. Randall was a prominent citizen, and closely 
identified with the early history of Conway. He 
died in 1856, while serving as township treasurer. 

The following statement, compiled from the 
assessment roll of the township of Howell, — which 



336 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



assessment was made in May, 1S37, — shows the 
number and names of the resident tax-pa\'ers in 
township 4 north, of range 3 east, at that period ; 
also a description of their lands and their valu- 
ation : 

Acres. Valuation. 

Ledyard S. Adams, northeast quarter and nnrlh- 

west quarter of section 36 .'.. 320 3960 

Waterman H. Fay, west half of norihwest quarter 

of section 13 80 240 

Julius F. P.irsons, southwest quarter of southeast 
qnarier of section II, and northeast quarter of 
section 14 200 600 

Frederick B. Parsons, norihwest quarter of sec- 
tion 14 160 4S0 

Martin \V. Randall, west half of southwest quarter 

of section 27 80 240 

Lorenzo K. Strong, southeast quarter of section 14 160 480 

Timothy Wait, ea-t half of northwest quarter of 

section 13 80 240 

John Coughran, from Genesee Co., N. Y., the 

first supervisor of lena, settled upon the southeast 

' quarter of section 25, May 31, 1837. He is still 

a resident of the township, honored and respected 

by all his fellow-townsmen. 

Cecil D. Parsons joined his brothers and friends 
in the new settlement Aug. 21, 1837, and soon after 
began to fell the trees and make an improvement 
upon the beautiful farm where heat present resides. 
His house was completed and occupied December 
nth of the same year. 

Timothy Wait and Lorenzo K. Strong, after but 
a short residence here, removed to Lapeer County. 
Later still Julius F. Parsonsalso removed to thesame 
county. Levi Parsons returned to the East, and 
finally died in the State of New York. Of those 
six men who came and erected the first house in 
the township, D. Parsons is the only resident 
survivor. 

Prior to the first township-meeting, which was 
held at the house of Levi Parsons, April 2, 1838, 
H. Hoyt and William N. Hojt had settled upon 
section 29; Stephen Daile)-, upon section 25; Lee 
Nutt, upon sections 35 and 36; Joseph Alexander, 
upon section 20; and John Bush upon 35. 

It is stated that seventeen voters were present 
at the first township-meeting, which probably in- 
cluded all the legal voters then residing in the 
township. A few additional names appeared as 
resident tax-payers upon lena's first assessment 
roll, dated May 9, 1838, which will be found upon 
a succeeding page. The first marriage was cele- 
brated Aug. 19, 1838, and the following copy of 
the marriage license explains itself: 

" This m.-iy certify that Amos Colborn, of lena, hath applied to 
me for a marriage license, and that marriage is intended between 
the said Amos, and Hannah .Alexander, of the same place ; and after 
a careful examination of the said Amos, .as to the legality of the in- 
tended marriage, and finding it to be lawful, I do by these presents 
grant him this license. 

" Given under my hand this 17th day of August, 1838. 

"Liivi Parsons, 

" Toivn Ckrk. 



"Married by me, Aug 19, 1838, Mr. Amos Colborn to Miss 
Hannah Alexander, both of the town of lena, Livingston Co., 
Mich. 

" Levi Parsons, 
" Juslice of the Peace:' 

In December, 1838, Warren G. Grant applied for 
and received a license " to keep a public-house, and 
to sell spirituous liquors at his house on the Trail 
road, for one year from and after the 31st of De- 
cember, 1S38." Lee Nutt was also an early tav- 
ern-keeper, and was first granted a license by the 
township board Feb. 6, 1841. This was renewed 
during the years to 1844, inclusive. The usual fee 
paid for tavern license was S'-S pc year. 

Among other settlers who were here during the 
year 1838, and not already mentioned, were John 
Martin, Tiiomas Martin, Retiben Wood, Warren 
G. Grant, Chauncey Yaples, Marcus Munn, and 
Samuel Ball. The following account of the settle- 
ment of Warren G. Grant and his family, furnished 
by his son, Hon. Elisha W. Grant, affords a fair 
illustration of the way and the difficulties attendant 
upon pioneer life in this region at that period. 

" E.uly in February, 1838, Warren G. Grant exchanged his farm, 
in the township of Livonia, Wayne Co., Mich., — where he had re- 
siiled for eight years, coming from Massachusetts in 1830, — for 
lands situated'in Livingston County. Soon after the exchange — 
which w"as made with Rufus Beach — he made a journey to Con- 
way, or, as it was then called, Howell. He traveled to Livingston 
Centre by stage, whicli was then operated by Allen C. Weston. 
As the Centre was the terminus of the stage-route, he procee<led 
on foot to John B. Fowler's residence, in Handy, who went with 
him and .showed him his land. On the next day Ralph and John 
B. Fowler, H.arvey Metcalf, Lee Nutt, Elijah Gaston, Johu Bush, 
and Calvin Handy, with an ox-team and sled, on which was placed 
some marsh hay, and provisions for the men, went up to Mr. 
Grant's new location to prepare another home for a new settler. 
All went to wuiU with a will, and before night set in, the logs 
were cut and hauled, and the wooden walls of a shanty, 16 by 20 
feet, were ready for the roof, which Elij.ih G.aston agreed to put 
in place for a few dollars of wildcat money. This roof w.is made 
of basswood logs, split in halves, then hollowed out with an axe 
the entire length. The first tier w.as laid close together, with the 
bark side down. The second covered the joints of the first, by 
being placed with the bark side up, thus dispensing entirely 
with beams, rafters, roof-boards, shingles or nails, and making a 
water-proof roof. .'Vccording to the contract with Mr. Gaston, 
about ihree feet of one end was left open for the chimney, — yet 
to be built, — and for the p.ass<age of smoke until that time. 

" Having accomplished this much, Mr. Gr.ant returned to Wayne 
County and made due preparations for the removal of his family 
to their new home. He purchased a pair of half-broken steers, 
four years old, a light cart, into which was loaded a sugar-kettle, 
grindstone, and a few smaller articles. With two-horse teams and 
wagons to carry ihe family, household goods, provisions, etc., they 
started about the second week in April, 1838, for Livingston 
County. Arriving at Elijah Gaston's, the party stayed all night. 
The next morning the teamsters were paid, and then started on 
their return to Wayne County. During the same morning the 
steers were .again hiiched to the cart, a few articles were placed 
therein, and driving besides them two cows, the male members of 
the family went forward to their new shanty, then distant four 
miles. 

" It w.as found without doors, floors, windows, or chinking. 



CONWAY TOWNSHIP. 



337 



Their cattle were driven to the pasture, a small swamp some thirty 
rods west of the shanty, where the wild grass had already grown 
to the height of some six or seven inches. 

" 'I'lie house was soon made in a Iiahitalile condition. The crev- 
ices were cliinked, split slabs of ha^swootl laid fortloors, and a door 
and a cupboard made from one of the packing-boxes. The door 
was hung on wooden hinges, had a wooden latch, and scarcely 
more than a dozen nails were used in its construction. An open- 
ing was made for a six lighted window, which, with the opening 
in the roof, affordeil the necessary light. 

"The tall oaks towered directly over this cabin, and their 
branches could be seen swaying back and forth through the open- 
ing <luring the (list night of its occupation. (_)n the succeeding day 
trees thai stooil in dangerous proximity were felled, a yard was 
built of poles in which to keep their slock, the floor was completed, 
an*i some stones gathered for the construction t)f a chimney, which 
w.as not finished until the logs forming the walls of the house were 
burned nearly through by the fires used in cooking." 

Thi.s cabin was situated on the " Trail road," 
near the centre of the east half of tlie nortliwest 
quarter of section 33, and afforded accommoda- 
tions for the first tavern and the first post-office 
kept in the township, Warren G. Grant being 
mine host and postmaster. The Cedar post-office 
was establislicd about 1840. 

Tlie "Trail road" was the first highway openetl 
in the township, and followed an Indian trail run- 
ning along the north bank of the Cedar River. It 
was opened sufficiently for the passage of teams 
and wagons as early as the spring of 1837, by 
Ivrastus Ingersoll, of Farmington, who was then 
engaged in forming a settlement at a point called 
" Grand River City," — now Delta, — some seven 
miles below the present city of Lansing. 

At the time of Warren G. Grant's settlement on 
section 33, his nearest neighbor on the east was 
Elijah Gaston, who lived four miles distant. To 
Pine Lake, where lived their nearest neighbors on 
the west side, it was twenty-one miles. Howell, 
thirteen miles away, was the nearest post-office. 

Mr. Elisha W. Grant relates that the first school 
attended by him was taught by Michael Handy, in 
the winter of 1839 and '40, in a stiiall log shanty, 
situated upon the northeast corner of section 11, 
in the township of Handy, and distant more than 
four miles from his home, three miles of which 
lay through the woods, where his only guide was 
blazed trees. He was obliged to leave home at 
daylight in the morning, returning after dark at 
night. He continued this attendance until the 
school was closed on account of the illness of the 
teacher. 

Among later pioneers, who settled prior to 1842, 
were Benjamin W. Lawrence, Ilirani Wetherell, 
Charles Thompson, Ezekiel H. Sabin, Bentley Sa- 
bin, Graham N. Barker, Levi H. Bigelow, Gaius C. 
Fuller, Hiram Rust, Eli Balch, Daniel C. House, 
William Wilkins, Henry Snyder, Joseph A. Ball, 
Ruel Randall, William Hinman,John Hill, Delsey 
4.^ 



Benjamin, Earl Camp, Losson Gordon, Edgar Pur- 
dy, Derastus Ilinmnn.and Phineas Silsby, a black- 
smith and soldier of 181 2. The names of many 
other early residents will be found among the lists 
of land-entries, township officers, etc., to which the 
reader is referred. 

Those reported as resident tax-payers of lena, 
May 9, 1838. were as follows: 

Section. Acres. Vjlu.Ttion of 
Re.il E.slatc. 

Frederick I{. Parsons 14 158 S632 

Julius F. I'arsons 14, 11 197 7S8 

Lorenzo K. Strong 14 ^S^yi 634 

Cecil D Par-ons IJ 156 620 

Waterman B. Fay 13 yi)}4 317 

Tiniotliy Wail 13 82;^ 329 

Joseph Alexander 20 160 640 

John Martin 7 120 4S0 

Thom.is M.ulin 7, 18 I20 480 

Robert Colliorn 5 89 356 

Henry 11. Iloyl 29 80 320 

William N. H lyl 29 100 400 

John Coughian 25 160 640 

Ledyard S. .\danis 36 240 960 

Reuben Wood 36 So 320 

Warren (J. Gr.inl 33 160 640 

Chauncey Vaples 36 40 160 

M ircus Munn 23 80 320 

Samuel li.ill 23 160 640 

John IJush 35 20 So 

Stephen D.iiley 25 160 634 

I.ee N'utt 35, 36 100 394 

The assessed valuation of the real and personal 
estate of the township for this period was ^78,950. 
The ta.ves levied amounted to the sum of ^616.27, 
of which 5214.96 were for State and county pur- 
poses. 

The resident tax-payers of the township, as 
shown by the assessment rolls of 1844, were the 
following, viz. : 

Sec. Sec. 

Benjamin P. .Sherman 1,2 Earl Camp 34 

(;. C. Fuller.... I, 2 Warren G. Grant ^i 

Lsaac Seyninur 13, 18 Morgan M. Randall ^^ 

Amasa G. House 10 Martin W. Randall 27 

John Leddy lo Eli:is Converse 25 

Hosea Rool 14 Hiram Welhcreil 25 

Charles Thomp-on 5 Hiram Rust 24 

John f, lirown 20 Losson Gordim 24 

William N. Hoyt 29 Philetus S. Gordon 24 

S.iniuel V'oung (colored) 30 Henry Thomas 25 

Oirin Morse 20 Levi H. liigebiw 23 

Hiram Parsons 4 Henry Snyder 22 

Cyrus Marker 3^ Henry Dixon ^ 

Tluirston Simmons 34 lienlley Sabin 23,22 

David IJnsh 35 Delsey Benjamin 22,23 

Morris Richmond 2;} Thom.as Dailey 4 

Orrin Rhodes ^3 Eri Wetherell 35 

IN 1845. 

Sec. Sec. 

John R. M.ison 35 George Hayner Personal 

Nathan Stage 28 Elijah Root Personal 

Josiah IS. Taylor 22 Dennis Mehan 25 

Stephen Jackson 27 William B. Converse.. Personal 

Eleazer Silocum 25 Levi Parsons Personal 

EdgarPurdy 13 A. B. Bogert 22 



LN 1S46. ^ 

Sec. Sec. 

Jacob C. Brown 27 Humphrey S'ocum 25 

William Sabin 22 Jnhn G. Grant ^i 

Samuel F. Parsons 14 Lucius Randall a 

Joseph Whitaker 13 John H. Morse 20 

Marshall Slocum 25 Benjamin D. Morse 21 

.Mien .Slocum 25 William II. Kennedy 29 



338 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Sec. 

Huntington Kennedy 29 

Eail Miner 35 

Thomas Newton 33 

Darius Grace Personal 

Patrick Donahoe 10 

John Powell Personal 



Jacob Sherman 10 

Amos Colborn 4 

Porter Carpenter 9 

Eli S. Balch n 

M. Hawkins Personal 



IN 1847. 



Sec. 

Graham N. Barker Pergonal 

Albion Blown 29 

Joseph A. Ball Personal 

Henry M. Case 26 

George Camp 33 

Charles Chase 35 

Martin Carpenter 9 

James Colborn Peisonal 

Elisha W. Grant 33 

Derastus Hinmnn 4 

IN 

Sec. 

David .Stage 29 

Michael Miller 34 

Daniel Simmons 34 

William Miner 35 

William R. Phillips.. ..Personal 
Lyman Jackson Personal 



Sec. 

Ezra A. Miner 35 

Gilford Randall 33 

E. H. Sabin 24 

William Slocum 25 

Daniel Sherwood 27 

Phineas Silsi>y 33 

Moses .Saylcs 13 

Sylvester Tanner 34 

Homer Watkins 26 



1848. 

Sec. 

Thomas L. Hancock 17 

Lansing Knickerbocker 17 

Stephen Mills 19 

William Spinks 22 

Thomas Dailey 4 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIRST TOWNSHIP- 
MEETING. 

At a meeting of the electors of the township of 
Jena, held at the house of Levi Parsons, on the 2d 
day of April, 1838, an organization was effected by 
choosing Levi Parsons moderator, and Lorenzo K. 
Strong clerk. It was then voted — 

'* 1st. That a committee of five be chosen to make out a nomi- 
nation for township officers. 

"2d. That Stephen Dailey, Ledyard S. .\dams, Timothy Wait, 
Joseph Alexander, and Robert Colborn be said committee. 

** 3<\. To adjourn the meeting one hour. 

*' 4th. That the following-named persons be declared the town- 
ship officers for the ensuing year: John Coughran, Supervisor; 
Levi Parsons, Township Clerk ; Henry H. Hoyt, Frederick B. 
Parsons, Stephen Dailey, Assessors ; Ledyard S. Adams, Timothy 
Wait, Amos Colborn, School Inspectors ; Cecil D. Parsons, Amos 
Colborn, Ledyard S. Adams, Highway Commissioners ; Lee Nutl, 
IVederick B. Parsons, Directors of the Poor ; Joseph Alexander, 
John Coughran, Levi Parsons, Timothy Wait, Justices of the 
Peace ; Lorenzo K. Strong, Constable and Collector. 

" 5th. That the road commissioners divide the town into districts 
and appoint the pathmaslers. 

" 6th. That four dollars bounty be paid on each wolf killed in 
this town for one year. 

" 7th. That the next township-meeting be held at the house of 
Levi Parsons." 

LAND-ENTRIES. 

A complete list of those who purchased of the 
general government lands situated in this town- 
ship. Those marked with a star (*) became actual 
settlers. 

SECTION I. 
Benj. P. Sherman,* Washten.aw Co., Mich., May 31, 1836. 
Francis Mittleberger, Oakland Co., Mich., June 11, 1836. 
James Haddan, Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 8, 1834. 
Alvin D. Shaw, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 3, 1836. 

B. B. Kercheval, Wayne Co., Mich., Feb. 15, 1837. 
Gaius Fuller,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 16, 1836. 

C. Unbiham, Livingston Co., Mich., Jan. 24, 1855. 
C. W. Butler, Ingham Co., Mich., June I, 1854. 



SECTION 2. 
Francis Mittleberger, Michigan, June II, 1836. 
Samuel .Streeter, Wayne Co., Mich., July 9, 1836. 
James Hadd.Tn, Michigan, July g, 1836. 
Samuel .Streeter, Wayne Co., Mich., July 8, 1836. 
Mortimer B. Martin, Wayne Co., Mich., Aug. 2, 1836. 
Benj. P. Sherman,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., June I, 1837. 
Gaius Fuller,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 16, 1836. 
Benj. P. Sherman,* Livingston Co., Mich., Aug. 25, 1854. 
C. W. Butler, Ingham Co., Mich , Dec. 23, 1853. 

SECTION 3. 
Mortimer B. Martin, Wayne Co., Mich., Aug. 2, 1836. 
William Bickland, New York City, Sept. 21, 1836. 
William A. Clark, New York City, Sept. 21, 1836. 
Cato Alexander, New York City, Sept. 24, 1836. 
Jeremiah Kennedy, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Sept. 17, 1838. 

SECTION 4. 
Miles A. Hinman, Genesee Co., N. Y., July i, 1836. 
William Gr.aham, Wayne Co., Mich., Aug. 2, 1836. 
N.Tncy A. Beausean, New York City, Sept. 21, 1836. 
William A. Clark, New York City, Sept. 24, 1836. 
Thomas Dailey,* Genesee Co., N. Y., May 30, 1838. 

SECTION 5. 

Miles A. Hinman, Genesee Co., N. Y., July 2, 1836. 
Ralph Lester, Ontario Co., N. Y., July 5, 1836. 
Robert Colburn,* Wayne Co., Mich., July 5, 1836. 
Samuel CoUister, Madison Co., N. Y., Aug. 2, 1836. 
Nancy A. Beausean, New York City, Sept. 21, 1836. 
Isaac N. Barker, Oakland Co., Mich., Dec. 29, 1836. 

SECTION 6. 

Reuben Robie, Steuben Co., N. Y., Aug. 2, 1836. 

Thomas Blackmer and Leman Gibbs, Livingston Co., N. Y., 

Sept. 21, 1836 
William Griswold, Chenango Co., N. Y., Sept. 21, 1836. 
Dennis Caliill, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Sept. 11, 1838. 
Edward M. Bishop,* Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 15, 1854. 

SECTION 7. 

Reuben Robie, Steuben Co., N. Y., .\Hg. 2, 1836. 
Thomas Dudley, Yates Co., N. Y., Aug. 2, 1836. 
Andrew N. Dewitt, Genesee Co., N. Y., Sept. 21, 1836. 
John Martin,* Monroe Co., Mich., Sept. 22, 1836. 
Thomas Maitin,* Monroe Co., Mich., Sept. 22, 1836. 
Andrew N. Dewitt, Genesee Co., N. Y., Oct. 22, 1841. 

SECTION 8. 

Samuel Jessup, New York City, Sept. 21, 1836. 
Shellick Wateibury, New York City, Sept. 21, 1836. 
John Bishop,* Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 15, 1854. 
A. P. Cook, Jackson Co., Mich., Feb. 10, 1855. 

SECTION 9. 

William A. Clark, New York City, Sept. 21, 1836. 
Harriet Nettledon, New York City, Sept. 24, 1836. 
Charles Elliott, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Sept. 24, 1836. 
Michael Harris, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Aug. 20, 1838. 
John Brennan, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 27, 1838. 
John Halpin, Wayne Co., Mich., Nov. 14, 1838. 

SECTION 10. 

Robert Knight, New York City, Sept. 24, 1836. 
Horace A. Noyes, Wayne Co., Mich., Jan. 9, 1837. 
Rice Tyler, Livingston Co., Mich., Feb. 15, 1839. 
C. W. Butler, Ingham Co., Mich., April 18, 1854. 



CONWAY TOWNSHIP. 



339 



SECTION II. 

Jiiliu> V. P.irsons,* Franklin Co., Mass., June 20, 1836. 
Dan. Uariies, Monroe Co., N. Y., June 22, 1S36. 
Lathrop A. G. 15. Grant, Orleans Co., N. Y., June 3, 1854. 
C. W. Butler, Ingham Co., Midi., Dec. 15, 1S53. 

SECTION 12. 

Rutli Winterton, New York City, Sept. 21, 1S36. 
U. B. Kercheval, Wayne Co., Midi., Fd). 15, 1837. 
Eilgar Piirdy,* Livingston Co., Mich., Dee. 27, 1853. 

SECTION 13. 

Cecil D. Parsons,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 20, 1836. 
Ruth M. Fay,* Franklin Co., Mass., June 20, 1836. 
Timothy Wait,* Hampshire Co., Mass., June 20, 1836. 
William Ball, New York Cily, Sept. 21, 1836. 
Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Co., Mich., Sept. 20, 1836. 
James Grant, Oakland Co., Mich., June 21, 1836. 

SECTION 14. 

Lorenzo K. Strong,* Hampshire Co., Mass., June 20, 1836. 
Freil'k 15. Parsons,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 20, 1836. 
Julius F. Parsons,* Franklin Co., Mass., June 20, 1836. 
Dan. Barnes, Monroe Co., N. Y., June 23, 1S36. 

SECTION 15. 

Simuel H. Dodge, Seneca Co., N. Y., Nov. 16, 1836. 
William Merrill, Wayne Co., Mich., Nov. 16, 1836. 
George Parkin, Nov. 25, 1836. 

Win. II. Johnson, Washtenaw Co., Mich., March 11, 1837. 
John Warlnirton, Wa-shtenaw Co., Mich., April 10, 1S37. 

SECTION 16. 

Benjamin Hodge, March 7, 1870. 
Henry Ramer,* March 7, 1870. 
Thomas Stanfield,* March 21, 1854. 
Balch & .Spinks,* Nov. 26, 1853. 
George Harger,* Aug. 12, 1854. 
G. Daley,* Jan. 19, 1854. 
George Morse,* Feb. 8, i86f. 
Jacob Sherman,* Nov. 22, 1853. 
Frederick Weltz, Oct. 8, 1856. 
E. B. Barker,* March 9, 1854. 
G. Daley,* Jan. 19, 1854. 
Jacob Sherman,* April 15, 1854. 
John Wilder,* Sept. 13, 1854. 

SECTION 17. 

Thomas Hensett, New York City, Sept. 21, 1836. 
William Irwin, New York City, Feb. 14, 1837. 

SECTION 18. 

Thomas Martin,* Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept. 22, 1856. 

Thom.as Kirk, Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept. 22, 1836. 

John Laffin and Patrick McKaig, Washtenaw Co., Mich., 

Nov. 22, 1837. 
Chauncey Gaylord, Onondaga Co., N. Y., June 21, 1838. 

SECTION 19. 

Samuel Winterton, New York City, Sept. 21, 1836. 
John McQuillen, Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept. 21, 1836. 
John Kelly, Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept. 21, 1831. 
Patrick McQuillen, Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept. 21, 1836. 
John Taffe, Monroe Co., N. Y , Sept. 21, 1836. 
Patrick Kirk, Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept. 21, 1836. 
Patrick McKaig, Washtenaw Co., Mich,, Nov. 22, 1837. 
John Clark, Ontario Co., N. Y., Feb. 27, 1S38. 



SECTION 20. 
William A. Clark, New York City, Sept. 21, 1836. 

SECTION 21. 
George Ilenlet, New York City, Sept. 2, 1836. 
Justus Boyd, Livingston Co., Mich., Feb. 22, 1838. 
Augustus I). Doirance, Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 16, 1851. 
Henry Snyder,* Niagara Co., N. Y., Dec. 23, 1851. 
Charles P. Bush, Inghan) Co., Mich., June 27, 1854, and 
Nov. 17, 1854. 

A. P. Cook, Jackson Co., Mich., Feb. 12, 1855. 

SECTION 22. 
Isaac L. Ostiom,* Orleans Co., N. Y., May 25, 1836. 
Moses D. .Shaw, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 26, 1836. 
Eph. Ticknor, Tompkins Co., N. Y., May 26, 1836. 
Norman Goodale, Ontario Co., N. Y., Nov. 25, 1836. 
Phoebe Burnett, Ontario Co., N. Y., Nov. 25, 1836. 
Justus Boyd, Livingston Co., Mich., Feb. 22, 1838. 

SECTION 23. 

Philip Eckler, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 20, 1836. 
Delsey Benjamin,* Oakland Co., Mich., May 26, 1836. 
Justus Pond, Wayne Co., N. Y., June I, 1836. 
Henry M. Moore, (Jenesee Co., N. Y., Aug. 5, 1836. 

SECTION 24. 
Morris Tucker, Wayne Co., N. Y., June I, 1836. 
Betsey Tucker, Wayne Co., N. Y., June i, 1836. 
Ruth Pond, Wayne Co., N. Y., June i, 1836. 
William B. Cogshill, Wayne Co., N. Y., June I, 1836. 

B. B. Kercheval, Wayne Co., Mich., Nov. 18, 1836. 

SECTION 25. 
John Coughran,* Genesee Co., N. Y., May, 1836. 
Justus N. Pond, Wayne Co., N. Y., June, 1836. 
Jason Swift, W.ayne Co., Mich., July, 1836. 
Alvin Whedon, Onondaga Co., N. Y. 

SECTION 26. 
Isaac L. Ostrom,* Orleans Co., N. Y., May 25, 1838. 
Heniy Nelson, W.ayne Co., N. Y., May 25, 1836. 
William Farley, Ontario Co., N. Y., May 25, 1836. 
Augustus M. Sherwood, Tompkins Co., N. Y., May 26, 1836. 
Henry Sherwood, Tompkins Co., N. Y., May 26, 1836. 
Marshall Chapin and John Owen, Wayne Co., Mich., July 
14, 1836. 

SECTION 27. 
Martin W. Randall,* Livingston Co., N. Y., April 18, 1836. 
John Westfall, Jr., Cayuga Co., N. Y., May 11, 1836. 
Smith W. Nelson, Orleans Co., N. Y., May 25, 1836. 
Enoch Vankirk, Tompkins Co., N. Y., May 26, 1836. 
Henry Sherwood, Tompkins Co., N. Y., May 26, 1836. 
Delsey Benjamin,* Livingston Co., N. Y., May I, 1850. 

SECTION 28. 
John R. Winterton, New York City, Sept. 21, 1836. 
Charles A. Williamson, Ontario Co., N. Y., Nov. 2, 1836. 
William Merrill, Wayne Co., Mich., Jan. 12, 1S37. 
Andrew J. Wright, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 15, 1854. 

C. P. Bush, Ingham Co., Mich., July 6, 1854. 
A. P. Cook, Jackson Co., Mich., Feb. 6, 1S55. 

SECTION 29. 
William Clark, city of New York, Sept. 21, 1836. 

SECTION 30. 
S.amuel Winterton, New York City, Sept. 21, 1S36. 
Patrick Taffe, Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept. 22, 1836. 
Conr.ad Woll, Wayne Co., Mich., M.iy 25, 1S37. 



340 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Reuben B.Wood, Livingstim Co., Mich., May 25, 1837. 
Tiuman Johnson, Genewe Co., N. Y., Oct. 27, 1837. 
Benjamin D. Lefevre, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Felj. 4, 1839. 

SECTION 31. 
Charles Butler, New Yorl< Cily, April 21, 1836. 

SECTION 32. 
Charles Butler, New York City, April 2i, 1836. 



SECTION 3i. 
John B. Fowler, Livingston Co., N. Y., April 
Philip Coon, Wayne Co., Mich., July 7, 1S37. 



8, 1836. 



SECTION 34. 
Homer T. Smith, Huron Co., Ohio, May 26, 1S36. 
Lorenzo Clark, Wayne Co., N. Y., June i, 1836. 
Oliver Reed, Wayne Co., N. Y., June I, 1S36. 
Hiram .\danis, Livingston Co., N. Y., Jime 4, 1836. 
Samuel Bibbins, Wayne Co., Mich., July 14, 1836. 
Heni7 Ellsworth, New York Cily, Sept. 2r, 1836. 

SECTION 35. 

Alvin Hanmer, Wayne Co., Mich., May 20, l83'>. 
Homer T. Smith, Huron Co., Ohio, May 26, 1836. 
Benjamin M. AUiger, Ulster Co., N. Y., June 7, 1836. 
John Bush,* Tompkins Co., N. Y., June 9, 1836. 
Henry Ellsworth, New York City, Sept. 2i, 1836. 

SECTION 36. 
James Jones, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 1, 1836. 
Elijah Clongh, Onondaga Co., N. Y., May i, 1836. 
Ledyard S. Adams,* Genesee Co., N. Y., May 10, 1836. 
Alvin Hanmer, Wayne Co., Mich., May 20, 1836. 
RicharH P. Bush, Tompkins Co., N. Y., June 9, 1836. 

CIVIL AND POLITICAL. 

By an act of the State Legislature, approved 
March 6, 1838, this township was formed from 
Howell. Section 3, of an act to organize certain 
townships, reads as follows : 

" All that portion of the county of Livingston designated by the 
United Stales survey as township number four north, of range num- 
ber three east, be, and the same is hereby set ofTand organized into 
a separ.ate township, by the name of lena, and the first township- 
meeting therein shall be held at the house of Levi Parsons, in said 
township." 

The inhabitants became dissatisfied with this 
name, because of its similarity to Ionia, and for 
other reasons, and by a special act, approved March 
20, 1 84 1, it was changed to Conway. 

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. 

The following is a nearly complete list of town- 
ship officers elected during the years from 1838 to 
1879, inclusive : 

SUPERVISORS. 
1838-40, John Coughran ; 1841, Benjamin W. Lawrence; 1842, 
Hiram Wetherell ; 1843, Charles Thompson; 1844-46, Hiram 
Wetherell; 1847-49, Ezekiel H. Sabin ; 1850-51, John Bush ; 
1852, Hiram Wetherell; 1853-55, David Bush; 1856-57, 
Benjamin P. Sherman; 1858-60, Elisha W. Grant;* 1861- 

* Resigned to accept office of county clerk. Graham N. Barker 
appointed to fill vacancy Nov. 24, i860. 



62, Benjamin P. Sherman; 1863, Elisha W. Grant; 1864, 
Erasrau? D. Smith; 1865, Elisha W. Grant; 1866, Nelson 
B. Green ;f 1867, Elisha W. Grant ; 1868-69, Thomas Cope- 
land; 1870-72, Horace Halbert ; 1873, William P. .Stow; 
1S74, David Bush; 1875-77, Elisha W. Grant; 1878-79, 
Joel A. Chapman. J 

TOWNSHIP CLERKS. 

1S3S-40, Levi Parsons; 1S41, Derastus Hinman ; 1842-46, Sam- 
tiel Ball; 1847-49, Henry M. Case; 1850-52, David Bush; 
"853-57, Elisha W. Grant; 185S, Seih W. Miner; 1859-62, 
Frederick B. Parsons; 1863, Chailes Benjamin; 1864, Dela- 
mer .Sabin ; 1865-66, Thomas Copeland ; 1S67, Charles L. 
Gordoi! ; 1868-69, Eugene A. Bush; 1870-71, Elisha W. 
Grant ; 1S72-73, Joel A. Chapman ; 1874, Eugene A. Bush ; 
'875-77, Juel A. Chapman; 187S-79, William P. Stow. 

TREASURERS. 

1839, William N. Hoyt ; 1840, Frederick B. Parsons ; 1S41-42, 
John Coughran ; 1843-44, Ruel Randall ; 1845, Henry H. 
Hoyt; 1847-49, John Bush; 1850, Martin W.Randall; 1S51, 
Graham N. Barker; 1852-56, Martin W. Randall ;| 1857- 
60, Hiram Wetherell ; 1861-63, George E. Adams; 1S64-76, 
William R. Miller; 1S77-78, Andrew J. Wickman ; 1879, 
Truman Randall. 

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 

Joseph Alexander, John Coughran, Levi Parsons, Timothy Wait, 
1838 ; Warren G. Grant, Levi Parsons, 1839 ; John Coughran, 
1840; Benjamin W. Lawrence, John Coughran, 1841 ; Ben- 
jamin W. Lawrence, Derastus Hinman, 1S42; Chas. Thomp- 
son, Sam'l Ball, Martin W. Randall, 1843 5 Hiram Wetherell, 
1844; Benjamin P. Sherman, 1845; Frederick B. Parsons, 
Maitin W. Randall, 1846; Samuel Ball, Bentley Sabin, 
1847; Charles Thompson, Graham N. Barker, 1848; Ezekiel 
H. Sabin, Henry H. Hoyt, Henry Snyder, 1849; Martin W. 
Randall, William N. Hoyt, 1850; Samuel Ball, Phineas 
Silsby, Amos Colborn, 1851 ; Henry H. Hoyt, 1852; Hiram 
Wetherell, 1853 ; Henry M. Stephens, Henry M. Case, 1854; 
.Samuel Ball, Martin W. Rand.all, 1855; Henry H. Hoyt, 
1856; Phine.as Silsby, Cecil D. P.arsons, 1S57 ; Benjamin P. 
Sherman, 1838; William P. Stow, 1859; Cecil D. Parsons, 
William N. Hoyt, i860; Israel B. Colborn, 1861 ; Benjamin 
P. Sherman, 1862; Charles Welcker, 1863; William Sabin, 
1864; Nelson B. Green, 1865; William P. Stow, Benjamin 
H. Mowers, 1866; Israel B. Colborn, Benjamin H. Mowers, 
1867; William S.ibin, William Dillingham, 186S; Robert 
Anderson, 1869; Heniy R. Miller, Elisha W. Grant, 1870 ; 
Israel B. Colborn, Charles L. Gordon, 1871 ; William Sabin, 
1S72; Elisha W. Grant, Cecil D. Parsons, Jr., 1873 ; William 
R. Miller, Ira Snyder, 1874; Cecil D. Parsons, Jr., Cliaries 
L. Gordon, 1S75 ; Andrew J. Wickman, 1876; Jeremiah 
Casady, 1S77; Israel B. Colborn, 187S; Cecil D. Parsons, 
Jr., 1879. 

ASSESSORS. 

Henry H. Hoyt, Fred'k B. Parsons, Stephen D.iiley, 1838 ; Fred'k 
B. Parsons, Stephen Dailey, Henry H. Hoyt, 1S39; Ledyard 
S. Adams, Fred'k B. Parsons, Henry H. Hoyt, 1840; 
John Hill, Ruel Rand.ill, Ledyard S. Adams, || 1841 ; Losson 
Gordon, Delsey Benjamin, 1842; Henry H. Hoyt, Edgar 
Purdy, 1843 ■> Edgar Purdy, Henry H. Hoyt, 1844; Frederick 

f Resigned. David Bush appointed to fill vacancy Nov. 28, 
1866. 

J Died. Elisha W. Grant appointed to fill vacancy July 8, 1879. 

I Died in office. Graham H. Barker appointed to fill vacancy 
July 26, 1856. 

II Died in office. F. B. Parsons appointed to fill vacancy M.ay 
3, 1S41. 



CONWAY TOWNSHIP. 



34 1 



B. Parsons, Stephen Dailey, 1845; David Bush, Ficilerick 
B. Parsons, 1846; Eli S. Balch, Henry Kennedy, 1847; 
Charles Thompson, David Bush, 1848; Thurston Simmons, 
Cecil D. Parsons, 1849; Samuel Ball, Henry H. Hoyt, 1850. 
See list of supervisors from 1851 to 1879, inclusive. 

SCHOOL INSPECTORS. 

Ledyard S. Adams, Timothy Wait, Amos Colborn, 1838; Bentley 
Sahin, Frederick B. Parsons, Warren G. Grant, 1839; Julius 
K. Parsons, Henry H. Hoyt, Cecil D. Parsons, 1840; Derxs- 
tus Hinman, Eli S. Balch, Samuel Ball, 1841 ; Ruel Randall, 
Bentley Sabin, Derastus Hinman, 1842; Heniy H. Hoyt, 
Henry Snyder, 1843; Graham N. Barker, 1844; Stephen 
Dailey, Graham N. Barker, Henry H. Hoyt, 1845; Graham 
N. Barker, David Bush, 1846; Elisha W. Grant, 1847; 
Sylvester Tanner, 184S; David Bush, 1849; Sylvester Tan- 
ner, George R. Sayles, 1850; Bentley Sahin, 1851 ; Elisha 
W. Grant, 1852; Graham N. Barker, David Bush, 1853-54; 
Bleecker L. Barker, 1855; Edwin Hitchcock, 1856; Smith 
Benson, Albeit A. Fisk, 1857; Elisha W. Grant, 1858; .Selh 
W. Miner, Edwin Hitchcock, 1859; Elisha W. Grant, i860; 
Selh W. Miner, Obadiah S. Parsons, i86r ; Edward C. Silsby, 
1862; Charles I,. Gordon, Elisha W. Grant, 1863; Thom.is 
Copeland, 1S64; Roger Sherman, Wilbur F'. Parsons, 1865; 
David Bush, Ariel Bigelow, 1866; Henry C. Colborn, 1867; 
David Bu-h, 1868; Montraville Sabin, 1869; David Bush, 
Charles L. Gordon, 1870 ; Henry C. CoUmrn, 1871 ; Eugene 
A. Bush, Edward B. Barker, 1872; Charles L. Gordon, 
Fayette Grant, 1873; Mallise Dillingham, 1874; Fayette 
Grant, 1S75; Edward Doolittle, 1876; Cecil D. Parsons, Jr., 
1S77; Julian B. Fuller, 1S78-79. 

TOWN SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. 
Henry C. Colborn, 1S75-76; Willnir F. Parsons, 1S77-79. 

DRAIN COMMISSIONERS. 

Robert Anderson, Daniel Sherwood, 1871; Losson Gordon, 1S72; 
William Sabin, Sr., 1873-74; John Parker, 1875; Samuel S. 
Tower, 1876; George Morse, 1877; Charles Coleman, 1878; 
Thumas Stanfield, 1S79. 

EARLY HIGHWAYS. 

A.s before mentioned, the first road opened for 
general travel was the Trail road, which passed 
over a portion .of the southwest part of the town- 
ship. The opening of this route was a private 
enterprise, we believe, over which the township 
authorities of Howell exercised no authority. 

At the first meeting of the Board of Highway 
Commissioners of lena, composed of Cecil D. Par- 
sons, Anios Colborn, and Ledyard S. Adams, held 
May 17, 1838, they decided to establisii four road 
districts, the boundaries of which were described 
as follows: 

•* District No. I. Beginning at the northeast ci)rner of section 
one, and running west three miles; ihence south three miles; 
thence east thicc miles; ihence nortii three miles to the ]>lace of 
beginning. 

" District No. 2. Beginning at the northeast corner of section 
twenty-four, and running west three miles; south three miles; east 
three miles; and north three miles to the place of beginning. 

" District No. 3. Beginning at the northeast corner of section 
twenty-one, and running west three miles; south three miles; 
cast ihree miles; an<l north iluee inilc^ lo the place of beginning. 

" District No. 4. Beginning at ihc northeast corner uf section 



four, and running west three miles ; south three miles; east three 
miles; and north three miles lo the place of beginning. The dis- 
tricts to lie within tlie said boundaries." 

On the 24th of the same month, at a meeting 
where the commissioners of the townships of lena 
and Antrim were present, was projected the first 
highway wherein officers of lena used their au- 
thority as such. A joint road was laid out, de- 
scribed as "commencing at the section corners of 
31 and 32 of Antrim, and 6 and 5 of lena; thence 
east along the county line one-half mile." 

Alexander's, Parsons', Yaples', Ball's and several 
other roads were laid out prior to the spring elec- 
tion of 1839. 

At that time three additional road districts were 
established, making seven, of which Cecil D. Par- 
sons, Robert Colborn, John Ale.xander, Bentley 
Sabin, Stephen Dailey, Chauncey Yaples, and 
Warren G. Grant were the respective pathtnasters. 

EDUCATIONAL. 
Early in FeTaruaiy, 1839, a majority of the first 
Board of School Inspectors met and organized 
School District No. I. The following notice ex- 
plains their action : 

" To Frederick B. Parsons, a taxable inhabitant of School Dis- 
trict No. I, in the township of lena. 

" Sir, you will hereby take notice that we, Lee Null and Timo- 
thy Wait, school inspectors of said township of lena, have formed 
a school district in said township, numbered it, and bounded it as 
follows, to wit: sections number 12, II, lO, 15, 14, 13,24,23, 
and 22 shall conMitule School District No. i, and the first meet- 
ing of said district will be held at the house of Levi Pars ms, in 
said town of lena, on Monday, the iSth day of Februaiy, at one 
o'clock of lh.it day, .\.u. 1839. And you will, in pursuance of the 
law, notify every qualified voter of said district, either ])orsonally 
or by leaving a written notice at his place of residence, of the time 
and place of said meeting, at least five days before said meeting, 
then and there to transact such business as the law requires." 

The first school-house, a small log shanty, was 
built on the south side of section 14, and in it 
Miss Abigail Ball, daughter of Samuel Ball, tauglit 
the first school,* for which she received gi per 
week. But whether the house was built and a 
school taught, before the erection of the district, as 
some claim, or later, as one would naturally sup- 
pose, we do not undertake to answer. 

Sections 33 and 36 were annexed to fractional 
School District No. 2, of the townships of Howell, 
Tuscola, Handy, and lena, Jan. 23, 1840. 

In 1840 the people, at their spring election, 
voted to raise $2$ for primary schools, which was 
the first money raised by tax for school purposes. 

Territory cotnprising sections 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, 
and 34 were organized into School District No. 3, 
Feb. 28, 1842. The first consolidated report of 



* It h.as been stated that this school was taught in the spring of 



342 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



tovvnsliip schools was made in October, 1843, and 
the number of school districts, number of children 
of school age then residing in the township, and 
the amount of primary-school fund apportioned, 
was as follows: District No. i, 10 scholars, ;$3.95 ; 
District No. 2, 17 scholars, ^6.69; District No. 2 
(fractional), 10 scholars, ^3.93 ; District No. 4, 10 
scholars, $3.93- 

In May, 1847, the records first mention the 
granting of teachers' certificates, and we learn that 
Miss Jane Roardman, Miss Mary Meendy, and 
Mrs. Sarah Huggins received at that time certifi- 
cates to teach primary school. 

Reports from Districts Nos. i, 3, 4, in October, 
1848, show that 78 children of school age then re- 
sided within their boundaries, and that the amount 
of primary-school money apportioned was ^26.10. 

Teachers receiving certificates in 1850 were 
Elizabeth Boyd, Laura Ann Hardy, Charlotte A. 
Fay, Julia A. Jessup, Charles Adams, Almon 
Tucker, Edwin Hitchcock, and Clarissa Gould. 

In 185 I, Mary Coder, Ellen Adams, Sophia A. 
Cook, Helen Stafford, Angeline Boyd, John S. 
Pitts, Graham N. Barker, and Hannah Boyd were 
licensed as teachers. Other early teachers are 
jiientioned by years, viz. : 1852, Philinda E. Par- 
sons, Isabella McPherson, Amos Pratt, Cynthia 
Wetherell. 

In 1853, Henry M. Case, Elisha VV. Grant, Amos 
Pratt, Alvin Y. Jones, Clara Phillips, Emma Gro- 
ver, Lucy Fowler, Almira Barker, Ellen Adams, 
and Cynthia Wetherell. 

Prior to 1856, Amanda M. Randall, Electa' Hitch- 
cock, Caroline E. Hitchcock, Joseph L. Cook, Ada- 
line Hatch, Mr. Steadman, Miss Uhler, Miss Eraser, 
Philinda E. Parsons, William A. Sprout, L. C. York, 
John Leek, Emma Green, Abby Pond, Sarah E. 
Rumsey, Julia Brown, Miss Stafford, Mary A. 
Boothby, Mr. Barnes, Amos Pratt, Julia A. Gilbert, 
O. H. Benedict, Lewis E. Wright, Emma S. Hickey, 
Edwin Parsons, Adelia Grant, Angeline Boyd, Miss 
Briggs, Mary A. Cross. 

In 1858, Mrs. Coe, George Gooding, Obadiah 
Parsons, Sarah E. Rumsey. 

In 1859, Henrietta Bigelow, Laura Sabin, Laura 
Bogert, Miss Lyon, Miss Sowle, Sarah Winegar, 
Wm. P. Parsons, J. J. Hitchings, G. B. Chandler. 

In i860, Nancy Locke, Eliza R. Grant, Mary A. 
Pratt, Maria Randall, E^liza J. Randall, and Ellen 
Baker. 

The annual report for the year i860 shows the 
following number of children of school age residing 
in the township, and the amount of public moneys 
apportioned: District No. i, 54 scholars, ^24.84; 
No. 3 (fractional), 34 scholars, ^15.64; No. 5, 46 
scholars, $21. 16; No. 6, 59 scholars, $27.14; No. 



7, 37 scholars, $17.02 ; No. 8, 48 scholars, $22.08; 
No. 10, 22 scholars, $10.12. 

1870. — District No. 1,46 scholars; No. 2, 31 ; 
No. 3 (fractional), 48 ; No. 5, 52 ; No. 6, 57; No. 
7 (fractional), 35 ; No. 8 (fractional), 65 ; No. 9 (frac- 
tional), 23 ; No. 10 (fractional), 37. 

Amount of primary-school funds apportioned 
during the year, $196.06. 

From the annual report of the township Board 
of Education for the year ending Sept. i, 1879, are 
taken the following statistics: 



Number of wliole districts 4 

" fractioiinl distiicts 5 

" children uf scliool age residing in the town- 
ship 421 

" children .attending school during the year... 357 
" children nonresidents attending school dur- 
ing the year 9 

** brick school-houses i 

** frame *' 9 

Seating capacity of houses 474 

Value of school property $4300.00 

Male teachers employed during the year 8 

Female " " *' " 12 

Months tau))hl by males 29 

" " females 36 

Paid m.ile teachers $765.00 

Paid female teachers $381.62 

RECEIPTS. 

From moneys on hand Sept. 2, 1878, two-mill tax, pri- 
mary-school fund, district taxes for all purposes, and 

from all other sources $2500.15 

ExriCNDlTURF.S. 

Paid teachers $1146.62 

For building, repairs, and other purposes 640,13 

Ca:.h on hand Sept. I, 1879 713 40 

Total $2500.15 



PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY. 

CONWAY GRANGE, No. 114, P. of H., 

received its dispensation from the National Grange, 
Oct. 30, 1873; its charter, March i, 1874; and was 
duly incorporated in accordance with the laws of 
the State of Michigan, Jan. 20, 1876. 

Those members named in the articles of incor- 
poration were A. J. Wickman, Thomas Copeland, 
Harriet L. Wickman, Cecil D. Parsons, Jr., Thomas 
Stanfield, Charles L. Benjamin, Mary A. Benjamin, 
John G. Copeland, Joel A. Chapman, Henry Snyder, 
Robert Copeland, Etta J. Copeland, Dwight Gaston, 
Oren B. Green, C. Sherwood, James L. Gordon, 
and Wilbur F. Parsons. 

Their hall is situated on the southeast corner of 
section 22, and the society still continues in a 
flourishing condition. 

RELIGIOUS. 

In the fall of 1837, Rev. Washington Jackson, 
a circuit preacher of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, visited those people residing in the 




B.P. SHERMAN. 





MRS.B.P. SHERMAN. 



MRS. B.P. SHERMAN. 



PHOrOS. BV SROWH, hOWaU MICH 



CONWAY TOWNSHIP. 



343 



Parsons settlement, and held the first religious 
services, in the house of Levi Parsons. Before con- 
cluding his visit, a class of that denomination 
was formed, of which Frederick B. Parsons and 
wife and Cecil D. Parsons and wife composed the 
original members. Revs. Isaac Bennett and John 
Cosart were also very early preachers. Among 
other early members were Amasa G. House and 
wife, Levi H. Bigelow and wife, Thomas Stanfield 
and wife, and Mrs. Jacob Sherman. 

This society has continued its organization with 
varj'ing success to the present time, and a flourish- 
ing Sabbath-school is maintained. Their meetings 
are held in school-houses. 

Among other religious denominations which 
have an existence and a following in the township 
are the Methodist Protestants and United Brethren. 

CEMETERIES. 

The first place of burial in the township was 
the Coughran burying-ground, on the southeast 
quarter of section 25. Other places of interment 
have since been established on the northeast corner 
of section 27, the west side of section 29, and the 
Conway and Antrim burying-ground on the north 
side of section 2. Within recent years the town- 
ship authorities have purchased a tract for ceme- 
tery purposes, containing nearly 20 acres, and 
situated on the west side of section 15; but as 
yet no improvements have been made upon it. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



BENJAMIN PORTER SHERMAN. 

Among the representative men of Livingston 
County who have, by their own exertions, taken 
important positions and made the county what it 
is, should be mentioned him whose name stands at 
the head of this brief sketch. 

Benjamin P. Sherman was born in Palmer, Mass., 
Dec. 22. 181 1. His boyhood and early manhood 
was passed upon a farm. When twenty-three 
years of age he came to Michigan, and worked 
on a farm in Washtenaw County. While thus 
engaged he located some three hundred acres of 
land, where he now resides. He was married 
April 26, 1 841, to Mary E. Dudley, and imme- 
diately proceeded to occupy his land, upon which 
he had built a log house, and partially cleared 
some twenty acres of land. The latter was sowed 
to wheat and oats, but was not a success, yielding 
only about double the amount of seed sown. 
Notwithstanding this discouraging beginning he 
did not retreat, nor rely upon his neighbors, — 



in fact, his nearest neighbor then was one and a 
half miles distant, — but with a persistence which 
has characterized him throughout life, he kept 
steadily onward, year by year pushing back the 
forest and improving his land, until ease, comfort, 
and wealth have been secured. His wife died 
Nov. 15, 1872, leaving one son, Roger Sherman, 
who married Emma Swarthout, of Handy, and 
who resides on an adjoining farm. Mr. Sherman 
lost a daughter, Mary Augusta, who died in 1867, 
aged eighteen years. Mr. Sherman was again 
married Sept. i, 1873, to Mrs. Rhoda L. Lowry, 
formerly Mrs. Comstock. 

Politically, Mr. Sherman is a Republican. He 
has held several town offices, among others that of 
supervisor during the first two years of th.e war. 
Mr. Sherman is ranked among the substantial citi- 
zens of Livingston County, and has justly earned 
that distinction. 



LUTHER CHILD. 



Charles T. Child, the father of the above, was a 
native of Woodstock, Conn., and the father of 
thirteen children. He was a farmer, and in com- 
fortable circumstances. 




photo, by Erown, Howell. 
LUTHER CHILD. 

Luther Chikl, who was born July 19, 1815, re- 
mained on the home-farm until he was twenty-two 
years of age, at which time he journeyed to the 
home of his brother-in-law, in Steuben Co., N. Y., 
and worked at various occupations about three 
years. Jan. 10, 1841, he was married to Miss A. 
Coates, of Steuben County, and for the following 
fifteen years carried on a farm and engaged in 
lumbering. In 1855 he removed to Michigan with 



344 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



his wife and six children, and settled in Novi town- 
ship, Oakland Co. For two and a half years he 
continued farming in that and Plymouth town- 
ships (the latter in Wayne County), and in 1858 
came to Howell, in Livingston Co., where his wife 
died in 1863. For the past five years Mr. Child 
has attended to the affairs of a two-hundred-acre 
farm belonging to his son, Marcus B. Child, who 
is engaged in the lumber business in Kent County. 
Mr. Child, Sr., who is in his sixty-fifth year, is yet 
as active as in middle age, and performs most of his 
own work. 



WILLIAM P. STOW. 

This gentleman, the son of a farmer, and one of 
a family of four children, was born in September, 
1830, in Patterson township, Putnam Co., N. Y. His 
father, David L. Stow, moved in 1834 to Living- 
ston Co., N. Y., where he purchased one hundred 
acres of land and lived for twenty-two years. In 
the spring of 1856 he removed, with his wife, son, 
and daughter, to Howell, Livingston Co., Mich., 
purchased a house and lot of L. D. Smith, and 
lived but one year afterwards. 

William P. Stow worked on the farm with his 
father until he was twenty-four years old, attending 
school winters. Before he left home, on March i, 
1855, he married Miss B. B. Hillman, daughter of 
Benjamin L. Hillman, an early settler in Living- 
ston Co., N. Y. She was the youngest but one in 
a family of four children, and with her husband 
lived on the old farm until the fall of 1856, when 
they came to Michigan and located in Conway 
township, Livingston Co., moving into the log 
house which they still occupy. Their children 
are two in number, — George F.,born in December, 
1856; now married to Miss Nancy Bailey, and 
living half a mile south of his parents' old farm, 
on the place formerly owned by George W. Stone. 
Willie E., born in August, 1858, and now living at 
home. They have also an adopted daughter, Liz- 
zie B. Stow. 

Mr. Stow, who is a Republican in politics, has 
held numerous township offices, among them that 
of supervisor one term, justice of the peace two 
terms, commissioner of highways one term, and 
township clerk two terms. In i860 he went to 
Fowlerville in company with his brother, George 
W. Stow, and the two opened a store, carrying a 
full line of dry goods, groceries, and drugs. Wil- 
liam P. Stow was also postmaster. In January, 
1863, he sold out his interest in the store, and in 
September returned to the farm. Jan. 2, 1864, he 
enlisted in the 9th Michigan Infantry, and remained 



in the service until Sept. 27, 1865, leaving his wife 
and two small children on the farm. While in the 
army and acting as company clerk, he was detailed 
by Gen. Thomas as clerk in the Military Conduc- 
tor's office, and assisted in making out muster-out 
rolls. After the war he was postmaster at Fowler- 
ville for several years, finally resigning. 



LEVI H. BIGELOW 

was born in Batavia, N. Y., July 2, 1817, at which 
time his father, Abel Bigelow, was sheriff of that 
county. He subsequently moved to Canada, and 
from thence to Michigan, settling in West Bloom- 




Photo. by Brown, Howell, 
LEVI H. BIGELOW. 

field, Oakland Co., in 1825, where he died in 1866. 
Levi H. lived at home until he was eighteen years 
of age. He then worked on a farm for three years, 
at one hundred and fifty dollars per year, from 
which he saved three hundred dollars ; with this 
he purchased eighty acres of land, where he now 
lives, in November, 1837. In November, 1840, he 
married Mary Capron, formerly of Niagara Co., 
N. Y. The next fall William Bigelow moved on to 
his land, where he has since resided. His wife 
died Aug. 16, 1876, leaving nine children, one son, 
Howard Bigelow, having previously died while in 
the army; he enlisted in the 12th New York Cav- 
alry, and died of fever, Dec. 4, 1864. 

Mr. Bigelow was again married in May, 1878, 
to Mrs. Eliza Ann Mathews, formerly Miss Cor- 
nick, of Niagara, Canada. Other lands have been 
added to the original eighty, which have been sub- 
divided, leaving one hundred and twenty acres 
with the old home. The children are all married 
except the three youngest sons, who live at home. 



CONWAY TOWNSHIP. 



345 





Photos, by Brown, Howell. 



CECIL n. PARSONS. 



MRS. CECIL D. I'ARSONS. 



CECIL D. PARSONS 

was born in Conway, Mass., March 12, 1808. His 
paternal grandfather, Joel Parsons, was one of the 
earliest settlers in that town. He was born in 
Somers, Conn., June 28, 1753, married Triphena 
Booth in July, 1775, and removed to Conway, 
Mass., in the summer of that year, making the 
journey on horseback, and carrying his wife on the 
horse behind him. Here he located on a farm, but 
for many years worked at blacksmithing, which 
was his trade. He raised a large famil)' of chil- 
dren, of whom Levi, the father of Cecil D. Parsons, 
was one of the oldest. 

Levi raised a family of seven children, Cecil D. 
being the second son. The latter came to Michi- 
gan in 1 83 1, and entered land in Waslitenaw 
Count)', where he remained six years, when his 
father, Levi Parsons, came on witii the family. 
Frederick B., Cecil D., and Julius F. were married. 
Samuel F. was the youngest. Ruth M. married 
Waterman B. Fay. They all came to Webster, 
Washtenaw Co., where Cecil D. was then living. 
Desirous of all being neighbors, he sold out, and 
they all went farther into the forest. They took 
up lands adjoining, in all about one thousand acres, 
in what is now the town of Conway. After secur- 
44 



ing their lands they returned to Webster. In the 
month of June, 1836, the young men went on to 
their land, and built a log house for the old people. 
This was the first house in the town of Conway. 
In the fall of 1S37, Cecil D. moved on to his land, — 
one hundred and sixty acres, — where he has since 
resided. He was married while he lived in Web- 
ster, Oct. 21, 1834, to Elizabeth Munger, who was 
born in Clarcmont, N. Y., Feb. 14, 18 16. Her 
father died when she was a child ; her mother 
came to Oakland County, where she died in 1833. 
Mr. and Mrs. Parsons have been the parents of 
eleven children, eight of whom are now living, 
viz. : William P. is a farmer in Shiawassee County ; 
Cecil D. is a farmer, and has a part of the old farm ; 
Charles L. is a farmer in Shiawassee County ; 
Edward H. is a farmer in Orleans County, N. Y. ; 
Elvira J. married Orin B. Green, a farmer in Kent 
County ; Louis A., Joel F., and Frederick N., the 
thiee youngest, live at the old home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Parsons are the only surviving 
couple of the original colony. They have wit- 
nessed the entire growth of the town, and procured 
the naming of it after the town they came from in 
Massachusetts. They are consistent members of 
the Methodist Church, and assisted to organize the 
first class in the tow'n of Conway. 



MARION TOWNSHIP. 



This towiisliip was formed from Putnam in 
1S37. It is one of the four interior divisions of 
Livingston County, and lies directly southwest of 
its geographical centre. Adjacent township or- 
ganizations are Howell on the north, Genoa on 
the east, Putnam on the south, and Iosco on the 
west. By the original United States survey, it 
was designated as township No. 2 north, of the 
base line of range No. 4 east, of the principal 
meridian. Its present name, although suggested 
by one* who had formerly resided in the town of 
Marion, Wayne Co., N. Y., is, with the latter or- 
ganization, derived really from Gen. Francis 
Marion, a gallant American officer, who, as the 
"Swamp Fox of the Carolinas," gained much 
celebrity and distinction during the war of the 
Revolution. 

" Well knows the fair and friendly moon tlie band that M.irion 
leads — 
The jjHtter of their rifles, the scampering of their steeds. 
'Tis life to guide the fieiy barb across the moonlit plains; 
'Tis life to feel the night wind that lifts their tossing manes. 
A mt)ment in the British cam)) — a moment and away 
Back to ihe pathless forest before the peep of day." 

— From Bryants Song of Marion's Men. 

The general surface, which here reaches the 
greatest altitude of any portion of the county, — 
over five hundred feet above Lake Erie, — is di- 
versified with plains, bluffs, and ridges, dotted with 
numerous small lakes, and intersected by streams 
whose surplus flow, here divided by Nature's water- 
shed, starts in opposite directions, and ultimately 
finds its way to Lakes Erie, Huron, and Michi- 
gan. The original timber consisted principally of 
white and red oak, hickory, beech, and rhaple, on 
the higher grounds, while black and white ash, 
whitewood, and elm predominated in the low- 
lands. 

Openings of light, dry soil, known at an early 
day as Prevost's, Boyden's, Hubbard's, and Chubb's 
plains, besides others of lesser note, occurred in 
various parts of the township. These, interspersed 
with more heavily timbered belts, the meander- 
ing brooks abounding with excellent fish, and 
numerous beautiful, clear lakes, fed by springs and 
rivulets, made this region in early summer a most 
enchanting spot. Wild-flowers grew in great pro- 



546 



* Hiram Wing. 



fusion, which, with a considerable growth of pale- 
green grass, rendered the carpet nature had 
created more lovely than an artificial one. Deer 
and wild fowl were very plentiful, — the former as 
tame as domestic animals not especially well 
treated. In the low timbered places wild gra[)es 
climbed to the tree-tops. Whortleberries and 
cranberries were to be found in numerous swamps, 
and along the higher banks of the streams apples 
and wild plums abounded. 

These bounties of nature, here so lavishly dis- 
played, enticed the Indians to tarry within her 
borders, and contributed much to the ofttimes scant 
larder of the pioneers of Marion. Cedar Lake 
Avas a favorite resort of the aborigines during the 
hunting and fishing seasons. Two trails crossed 
to the north of the lake, and on a high hill or 
bluff, still farther to the northwest, was their usual 
camping-ground. Near by this was a place of 
burial, and here many of their weapons of war and 
the chase have been found. 

The principal water-courses of Marion are the 
Cedar and Shiawassee Rivers. The former takes 
its rise from the lake of the same name, and flows 
northerly through the west half The latter starts 
from Coon Lake and flows in a general course 
towards the north through the east part. Some 
eighteen lakes are found in the township, a major- 
ity of them being in the southern part. Among 
the most considerable are Cedar, Pleasant, Coon, 
Grass, Triangle, and Mud Lakes. Horseshoe Lake, 
the largest body of water in the northern part, is 
situated on section 10. The total lake surface of 
the township is not far from 700 acres. Springs 
generally abound, and in all respects the locality 
is well watered. The soil consists of the alternate 
belts of sand and clay loam usually found in Mich- 
igan. It produces abundantly, and in the quality 
and aiTiount of its agricultural products Marion 
stands in the front rank of Livingston County 
townships. 

Her people are chiefly engaged in the pursuits 
of agriculture, and numbered in 1874 — the last 
census — 1 162. 

THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS. 

Sardis Davis, one of the pioneers of Cattaraugus 
Co., N. Y., purchased the northwest part of the 



MARION TOWNSHIP. 



347 



north part of the northwest fractional quarter of 
section 2, Sept. 15, 1834, and we have reason to 
beheve that he became the first resident of town- 
ship 2 north, of range 4 east, during the same sea- 
son. It is related by those who were personally 
acquainted with Mr. Davis that he was about forty 
years of age at the time of his settlement here ; 
an invaluable pioneer, generous in the extreme, 
whose door was ever open to those in need of a 
shelter or sustenance, and who more than once 
divided his bread with the hungry to the extent of 
going to sleep without an evening meal. He was 
one of the most active in procuring the organiza- 
tion of the new township of Marion, and, as will 
be further noticed,* was one of the first justices of 
the peace and highway commissioners elected. 
Mr. Davis was a carpenter by trade, and one of the 
first framed barnsf in the township was erected by 
him in 1837. He harvested the first crop of wheat 
in 1836. His wife, a most estimable lady, died the 
same year, — hers being the first death in the town. 
In 1839 or 1840, Mr. Davis removed to Wisconsin, 
and his further history is unknown. 

In the summer of 1S35, Deacon Israel Branch, 
of Ann Arbor, purchased the southeast quarter of 
section 1 1 from the government, and of James T. 
T. Allen and David Godfrey the northeast frac- 
tional quarter of section 2. He settled upon the 
latter section during the earlj- part of the fall of 
1835, thus becoming the second settler of the 
township. Some time during the year 1836, while 
visiting Ann Arbor, he died. The lands situated 
upon section 2 were soon after purchased of his 
heirs by Edward F. Gay, who settled here in 1837. 
Before the winter of 1835-36 had fairly closed in, 
Major Francis I. Prevost, Alexander Boyden, Jean 
Louis Franqois Benoit Fasquelle, and Stoddard 
Smith, all from Washtenaw Co., Mich., moved in, 
and erected for themselves log habitations in the 
northwest part of the town. All of the.se settlers 
last mentioned purchased their land from the gen- 
eral government. Major Prevost remained here 
but a short time, having sold his possessions to 
Ebenezer Stearns in the spring of 1837. Mr. 
Fasquelle also remained here but a brief period 
(one winter), having sold his lands and improve- 
ments to Guy C. Lee. In 1836 he returned to Ann 
Arbor, where, as Professor of Modern Languages, 
he served in the State University for many years. 
He was the author also of a valuable work entitled 
" Fasquelle's French Series." 

Stoddard Smith, father of Pierpont L. Smith, 



* See list of township officers. 

t An inrorni.int states lint b.nnis were built by Sardis Davis and 
Sylvchtei Ruuiuls at the same lime. 



settled upon the east half of the southwest quarter 
of section 7, remaining there until his death. 

The history of Alexander Boyden is well known 
to nearly every present resident of Marion. " Boy- 
den's Plains" has ever been a landmark in the 
township annals. A favorite variety of wheat, 
propagated by him and bearing his name, was ex- 
tensively cultivated by people of the county. His 
location was admirable and his lands were readily 
brought under cultivation, but his great delight 
was in threading the intricacies of the forests in 
pursuit of the game with which they then teemed, 
and it is related that during the winter of 1835 and 
'36 he killed more than ico wolves and deer. He 
died in 1877, upon the farm where he began the 
first improvements more than forty years pre- 
viously. 

Sylvester Rounds, from Wayne Co., Mich., was 
the next settler in the township. He made the 
first entry upon section 19, Jan. 14, 1836, being 
the northwest fractional quarter, or 166 acres, 
and, during the same winter, built a log house 
and settled his family here. He was a man 
well versed in the amenities and duties of life, 
and a consistent member of the Methodist Church. 
At his house the itineiant minister always found a 
hearty welcotne. Among the members of his fam- 
ily was an elder son, by the name of Jabez, who, 
like most young men, was fond of company and 
the gatherings which usually terminated in an 
exhibition of the " light fantastic." One evening 
there was to be a prayer-meeting held in the 
neighborhood, and, at another house, a dance. 
The family [possessed but one horse, an Indian 
pony, which the father usually rode to " meet- 
ings," and which he proposed to do on this oc- 
casion. On the other hand, Jabez required the 
pony to take his girl to the dance. Long and 
loud were the arguments between them, which 
was finally ended by Jabez exclaiming, " There is 
no use talking, father, the stoutest man takes the 
horse!" and Jabez departed with the pony. Robert 
Munns, a son-in-law of Mr. Rounds, settled in the 
same vicinity in February, 1836, and became one 
of the first highway commissioners of the town- 
ship. 

On the 6th of May, 1S36, Hiram Wing, his 
brother, John L. Wing, and their father. Barker 
Wing, a veteran of the war of 1812, arrived in the 
township. The brothers had purchased a portion 
of section 15 in October, 1835. Upon this they 
erected a log house, and began the herculean work 
of hewing out a home in the wilderness. They 
were from Marshfield, Plymouth Co., Mass., origi- 
nally, but in years subsequent to 1824 had resided 
in Oneida and Wayne Counties, N. Y. 



348 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Hiram Wing, aged seventy-five years, now resides 
in the village of Howell, having removed from his 
farm in Marion eight years ago. In the quiet pos- 
session of a modest competency, good health, and 
all his faculties, he bids fair to remain, for years to 
come, one of the respected and honored landmarks 
of the past, one of the very few now living who 
saw Marion in 1836, and witnessed its many trans- 
itions to the present. 

The first township meeting was held in his house 
in 1837, at which he officiated as clerk, and was 
the same day elected township clerk and justice of 
the peace. He relates many incidents illustrating 
the difficulties and hardships which beset the paths 
of those who chose Marion as their home prior to 
1840; but as none are of a startling nature, were 
shared in common by all residents, and have been 
many times related at home firesides, we forbear 
their repetition. He is quite certain, however, that 
at the time of his settlement none had preceded 
him other than those already named, viz.: Messrs. 
Davis, Branch, Prevost, Boyden, Fasquelle, Smith, 
Rounds, and Munns. 

During the summer and fall of 1836 the popu- 
lation of the township was further increased by the 
arrival and settlement of some 20 or more addi- 
tional families. Among them were Miles Chubb, 
who settled in the soutiieast part. Townsend 
Drew, from Steuben Co., N. Y., who still resides 
on the land then purchased by him, it being upon 
the highest elevation in the town. He early de- 
voted much attention to fruit culture. He also 
built the first framed house, in the fall of 1836, Mr. 
Barker Wing doing the carpenter work. Henry 
G. Love, James Bavin, Nehemiah Gilks, Thomas 
Love, William Love, Elisha Love, Stephen T. 
Probet, Adam Rubbins, and Joseph Brown were all 
from England. Thomas L. Hancock, from Wash- 
tenaw Co., Mich. Dr. Thomas Hoskins, the first 
physician, and the first supervisor of Marion, was 
also from Washtenaw County. He is described 
as having been an able man, a practitioner of the 
old school, rigid in his treatment, yet withal a ge- 
nial gentleman. He removed to Scio, after con- 
tinuing here but two or three years. George P. 
Jeffreys, from Washtenaw County. Samuel Lyon, 
from Steuben Co., N. Y., who, as " Deacon Lyon," 
became well known throughout the county for his 
many estimable qualities. 

Guy C. Lee, with his sons, George W., Henry 
B., and Frederick J., were from Madison Co., 
N. Y. This family became one of tlie most promi- 
nent in the township. They soon made large im- 
provements, and to their example and inculcation 
may be attributed much of the high moral char- 
acter for which the people of Marion have ever been 



noted. Guy C. Lee was a gentleman respected 
by all men, and his voice was ever heard in behalf 
of the right. Free speech, free labor, free Chris- 
tianity, in fact, universal freedom, were themes 
upon which he never wearied, and probably no 
other man brought so much moral power into the 
township. One of his daughters taught the first 
school ; and foremost among the early residents of 
the town was his elder son, George W. Lee, who, 
as one of the first justices of the peace, assessor, 
teacher, and postmaster, was conspicuous in the 
first years of Marion's history. In later years he 
settled in Howell, where he engaged in merchan- 
dising. From thence he moved to Detroit. Dur- 
ing the war of the Rebellion he received the ap- 
pointment of paymaster, and is now performing 
the duties of Indian agent. 

Other settlers of 1836 were Peter Merrihew, 
Elisha Martindale, William R. Marshall, and Ar- 
temas Mahan, all of whom came in from Washte- 
naw County ; Price Morse, from Genesee Co., 
N. Y. ; Nelson A. Smith, from Erie Co., Pa.; 
George Sewell, from England; Chas. Van Winkle, 
from Allegany Co., N. Y. ; William Younglove 
— a prominent pioneer — and his son Aaron, from 
Washtenaw Co., Mich.; Mrs. Rebecca Green 
and family, from Massachusetts; and Henry H. 
Smith, from Genesee Co., N. Y. Of Artemas 
Mahan, just mentioned, Mr. Edward F. Gay, in 
some pioneer reminiscences, published in 1872, 
related the following incident : 

" But one house now intervened between Uncle Robert's [Rob- 
ert Bigham's, in Briyhton] and my destination, to wit, ' Peet's 
Log Hotel,' in Genoa, sonic seven miles ea^t of Howell. At 
sundown I had anived within three miles. At this place I dis- 
covered a shanty covered with bark, and in a locality which had 
been previously desciibed to me by an acquaintance by the name of 
Mahan, who had recently located in Marion, a short distance from 
Howell. He said that after preparing his future home in Marion, 
he returned to his former residence, expecting soon to move his 
family. While on his return, on foot and alone, at this spot, in 
midday, he was approached by two men, each armed wiih a 
hand-pike, and his money or his life was demanded. Without 
parleying, he gave them all of his money e.xcept some small 
change, which he begged them to allow him to keep, togetlier 
with his life, which they generously consented to do, while he 
hastened to leave them without making any attempt to know who 
they were, or why they h.id thus treated him. Mr. Mahan always 
afier seemed reluctant to discuss this incident, though considered 
a man of the strictest integrity." 

Before taking leave of the settlers of 1836 a 
perusal of the following facts, furnished by Thomas 
Love, will be of general interest to Marion people, 
showing as it does the inception and commence- 
ment of the " English Settlement." 

Henry G. Love and his family arrived in New 
York City from England on the lOtli of June, 1836, 
and immediately began a journey westward, with 
the intention of settling in Illinois. Proceeding to 






THOMAS LOVE. 



MRS. THOMAS LOVE. 




RESIDENCE OF THOMAS LOVE, MARION. LIVINGSTON CO, MiCH 



MARION TOWNSHIP. 



349 



Albany by steamer, tliey disembarked, and again 
continued their journey to Rochester, N. Y., via 
the Krie Canal. 

At the latter city the female portion of the fam- 
ily were left in comfortable quarters, while the 
father and his son, Thomas, kept on via the canal 
to Buffalo ; thence by lake steamer to Detroit. In 
Detroit they met some Kn^jlish friends who iiad 
already entered land in township 2 north, of range 
4 east, and were persuaded by them, on their rep- 
resentations, to enter lands in the present town of 
Marion. Henry G. Love purchased four lots on 
the west half of section 33, situated south of Cedar 
Lake. Of their friends, Edwin M. Cust bought 
on the west side of the lake, or the south half of 
section 29 ; Stephen T. Probct, east of the lake ; 
and Joseph H. Steel, north of the lake ; while James 
Bavin located lots situated upon sections 22 and 
23. The party then purchased in Detroit four 
yoke of oxen, two wagons, provisions, plows, a.\es, 
and other necessary implements, and then began 
their journey towards their locations in the new 
township via the Grand River road. Mr. Love 
declares that it zvas a grand road. Stiaight out 
from Detroit, as far as the eye could reach, led 
this highway, which had been improved to the ex- 
tent of cutting down the trees and filling the low 
and marshy places with the trunks, terming the 
same " causeways." 

Over this route they rumbled along until reach- 
ing Ore Creek, now Brighton ; then leaving the 
Grand River road, they turned westward and 
finally arrived at the residences of the Messrs. Car- 
penter, Hoagland, and Bennetts, in the present 
township of Hamburg, where they remained for a 
Sunday's rest. Here the little party lost the 
further companionship of Mr. Cust, as he bought 
some land of Mr. Bennett, and concluded to settle 
in Hamburg. The remainder, consisting of Henry 
G. Love, his son Thomas, and nephew, William 
Love,* Stephen T. Probet and nephew, James B.ivin 
and brother, Adam Rubbins, Joseph Brown, and 
their guide, whose name is now unknown, con- 
tinued their journey on Monday, July 4th, and 
before nightfall reached the east side of Cedar 
Lake, and camped on the land entered by Mr. 
Probet. Probably this was the first party who 
crossed the east line of the township for the pur- 
pose of settling. All who preceded them had come 
in from the south, through Washtenaw County. 



* Wm. Love came from Uerkshire Co., England, in 1834, and 
after two years' residence in New York Siale, tlie latter portion of 
which was spent in the city of Rochester, his brother, Elisha, came 
on from Eni;land. The brothers joined the English settlers of 
Marion in 1836. In 1839, William Love was married to Miss 
Keziah Benneli, a ilau^hter of John licnneit. 



A shelter was soon arranged with boards 
brought with them, and then they attacked the 
forest with the purpose of cutting out logs for 
houses. They were not good choppers at that 
time, however, and at first were obliged to hire 
some help who were to the manor born. But, as 
Mr. Love remarks, they soon learned the "Yankee 
trick," and ere many days the strokes of the a.xes 
in the hands of the English colonists resounded as 
loud, regularly, and with as good effect as any, as 
shown by the immediate clearing of five acres on 
the land of Henry G. Love. A cabin was built 
upon the Probet place, and the family left at Ro- 
chester soon came on, accompanied by Nehemiah 
Gilks. A crop of wheat was sown the same fall, 
but it proved to be too late in the season, and was 
a failure. About the first thing done, after getting 
settled, was the cutting of the largest whitewood- 
tree to be found on Mr. Bavin's premises; this was 
fashioned into a huge canoe, and launched upon 
Cedar Lake. This was the first boat placed upon 
the lake by white men, and proved a source of 
great benefit to the settlers, for, as one of them 
remarks, " there was an abundance of fish in Uncle 
Sam's waters, and but a small amount of pork in 
the barrels at home." 

During the winter of 1836-37 the English set- 
tlers cleared about 15 additional acres with their 
four yoke of o.xen ; the land was plowed the follow- 
ing summer, the whole sown to wheat, and a good 
crop resulted. In the summer of 1837, Thomas 
Love broke five acres for Henry H. Smith, the first 
ground plowed on Sinith's land. At this time it 
was very difficult to obtain the most common 
articles of food. Flour was worth S15 per barrel, 
and corn $1.75 per bushel. Provisions were ob- 
tained at Dexter, Scio, and very frequently none 
nearer than Ann Arbor. 

Thus have we briefly traced the settlement here 
of a small company of English people, — men and 
women of sterling worth, — who, to the present 
time, have honored themselves and the land of 
their adoption. 

In January, 1837, Thomas B. Brooks settled upon 
section I, and prior to the first township election, 
which was held April 3d of the same year, Edward 
F. Gay came. Ebenezer Stearns, who brought in 
from Ohio the first horses and sheep, Thomas 
Schoonhoven, who made the first improvements on 
the farm afterwards occupied by Elijah V. Burt, 
Cornelius Potter, the first blacksmith, William 
Hudson, and James Hoadley were all domiciled in 
various portions of the township. There were about 
20 voters present at the first township-meeting, of 
whom 16 received office. The whole number of 
names reported upon the first assessment roll, dated 



3SO 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



May I, 1837, as resident tax-payers was 34, and tlie 
total population of the township for the same year, 
according to the State census, was 202. 

Of the settlers last mentioned, Edward F. Gay 
perhaps became the most prominent. He was a 
native of Connecticut, and first came to Michigan 
in 1 83 1, settled at Ann Arbor, and engaged in 
merchandising. He remained there until 1837, 
when, having meanwhile purchased the premises 
in Marion previously occupied by Deacon Branch, 
he removed there April 1,1837. During the same 
year he built and occupied a store in Howell, which 
was the second framed building erected in the vil- 
lage. He was an active and respected citizen in 
every particular, and served as Marion's supervisor 
during the years 1841 and 1842. Further mention 
of Mr. Gay and family will be found in the history 
of Howell village. 

Ezra N. Fairchild, another well-known pioneer, 
the first surveyor, and prominent during his whole 
residence here as a township ofificer, settled in 
May, 1837. He came from Genesee Co., N. Y., 
and died at Battle Creek, Mich., in 1875. from a 
chronic disease contracted while surveying land 



in Livingston County. 



Other settlers of 1837 were George D. Baker, 
Waters Clark, from Monroe Co., N. Y. ; David 
Dickerson, who settled on section 14, Seth C. and 
Seth A. Darwin, from Livingston Co., N. Y. The 
latter brought in a stock of dry-goods, which were 
sold at " Darwin's Corners," in 1837 or 1838. Wil- 
liam Davis, from Erie Co., Pa., was another settler 
of 1837; also Horace Griffith, from Steuben Co., 
N. Y. ; Joseph Walker, from Allegany Co., N. Y. ; 
James Haddan, Samuel Hubbard, Jeremiah Kent, 
Hiram Mitchell, from Madison Co., N. Y. ; Myron 
Mitchell, his son ; Lewis Pardee, from Monroe Co., 
N. Y. ; Thomas Ross, Walter R. Seymour, from 
Wayne Co., Mich.; William, Joseph, and Parley 
H. Sexton, William J. Webster, and Conrad WoU. 
Ashbel A. Winegar came from Cayuga Co., N. Y., 
to Michigan in the fall of 1837. He drove the 
entire distance, bringing two teams of horses. 
The journey required thirty days. He says that 
emigrants moving West filled the roads in many 
places for miles, and his experience in traversing 
thirty miles through the " Maumee Swamp" will 
never be forgotten. The roads generally were 
about as bad as could be, and many of the farmers 
living along the route stood in readiness, with teams 
yoked or harnessed, to assist — if well paid for it — 
those whose teams were stalled. 

Among the settlers of 183S were James T. Bash- 
ford, Zebulon M. Drew, Nathan Fields, Josiah P. 
Jewett, Noah Drew, Jesse Shafer, James Sloan 
(who was another early blacksmith), Patrick Smith, 



and Lyman E. Beach, Jr. The latter was a native 
of Madison Co., N. Y. In years just prior to his 
removal to Michigan he had resided in the coun- 
ties of Chautauqua, N. Y., and in Erie, Pa. During 
the month of March, 1838, accompanied by his 
young wife, he arrived here and settled upon lands 
that had been located by his father in April, 1836. 
The entire distance was accomplished with an ox- 
team and wagon, — a great achievement, considering 
the difficulties then attendant upon a passage 
through the terrible " Maumee Swamp." A log 
shanty was erected upon the southeast corner of 
section 7, which possessing neither floor, door, nor 
window, was occupied in that condition until the 
frosts of winter came on. This primitive struc- 
ture gave place in later years to a more comfort- 
able log dwelling, which in turn was succeeded by 
a framed house. Mr. Beach and his estimable 
wife experienced all the vicissitudes incident to 
pioneer life. But when, after a few years of in- 
dustry and economy, they were standing on the 
threshold of prosperity, just entering upon the full 
fiuition of their most ardent hopes and aspirations, 
both were called to that bourne from whence none 
return. Mrs. Beach died in 1856, aged forty years. 
Mr. Beach followed the partner of his joys and 
sorrows three years later, dying at the early age 
of forty-three years. Their children — four sons and 
one daughter — all reside in Livingston County at 
the present writing, the elder son, William M., 
being the present efficient County Register of 
Deeds. 

During the three succeeding years, viz., 1839, 
1840, and 1 84 1, the popul.ition of the town was 
still further augmented by the settlement of Elias 
II. Bristol, Isaac Baker, Joseph H. Best, Ebenezer 
Bliss, Joseph D. Bull, James C. Baker, Hiram P. 
]5aker, Charles Clark, Ephraim C. Hendee, Merritt 
S. Havens, Jonathan Lee, Ozro F. Olds, Asahel 
Ru.st, p:ii A. Roberts, William Spafford, William 
L. Tompkins, John T. Watson, Lorenzo Smith, 
Julius D. Smith, and Ephraim Smith. The latter 
was a veteran of the war of the Revolution, the 
grandsire of Henry H. Smith, and lived to the 
great age of ninety-nine years and thirteen days. 

Hon. Pierpont L. Smith, who throughout his 
whole residence in Marion has been one of the 
best known and most respected citizens of the 
township, purchased lands here in 1835, — as shown 
in list of land-entries, — but he did not become a 
permanent resident until some three or four years 
later. He has occupied many offices in the gift 
of his fellow-townsmen, and has borne a conspic- 
uous part in the advancement of Marion to her 
present proud position. 

Elijah F. Burt came to the village of Howell, 




^\ 



?, 




MRS.E. BASING 



E. BASING-. 




Residence or E. BASING, Marion, Mich 



MARION TOWNSHIP. 



351 



from Rockingliam, \Viiulhaiii Co., Vt., in 1838. 
During the succeeding four yeais lie was engaged 
as the village school-teacher. In October, 1842, 
he returned to Rockingham and married Miss 
I'anny Olcott, of the same place. Returning to 
Michigan soon after, he purchased Thomas Schoon- 
hoven's farm, where he remained until his election 
as county clerk, in 1846. After serving two terms 
as county clerk, he retired to the pleasant premise.s 
now occupied by his widow and children. Besides 
holding other township offices, he represented this 
township on the Board of Supervisors seven terms. 

Other settlers here prior to 1844 were James 
Abbott, Hiram Barton, Thomas Bush, Daniel S. 
Grosvenor, Loton Hiscock, Ezra Ingram, James 
IMuir, Patrick McEaneany, David Parker, and 
Alfred Woodward. 

Robert Holland, from Lincolnshire, England, 
settled upon the north part of section 29 in 1847. 

NOTEWORTHY E.\RLY EVENTS. 

Among the first most notable events not already 
mentioned, we may here add that James Bavin built 
the first saw-mill, since known as the Drew mill, 
in 1S38. Hiram Wing, in 1836, was the first shoe- 
maker in the west half of the county, and made the 
first maple-sugar, in 1837. 

The first birth occurred during the last week of 
October, 1836, being a daughter of James Bavin. 

Mary F. Wing, daughter of Hiram Wing, and 
now Mrs. Clark, of California, was born Nov. 3, 

1836, she being the second child born in the town- 
ship. 

The first marriage, probablj', was that of John 
L. Wing to Miss Olivia Smith, in 1837 or '38. The 
ceremony was performed by Elder Cosart. 

The Marion post-office was first established about 

1837, and George W. Lee appointed postmaster. 
Hiram Wing succeeded him. 

Pierpont L. Smith owned the first mowing-ma- 
chine, and has ever been notetl as one of the first 
to introduce improved agricultural implements. 

David Dickerson burned the first lime, about 
1842. Z. M. Drew was also engaged in burning 
lime in 1844 

Edward F. Gay made the first brick, as shown by 
the following from an early number of the Living- 
ston Courier: 

*' The subscril>cr would inform all who are interested that, not- 
willislaniling the unfavorable season, he has made and liurnt 
100,000 brick this season, which are now ready for delivery for 
cash or approved notes, at his kiln, hiUfa mile south of the village 
of Howell. 

" E I'". Gay. 

" Howell, June 19, 1S44." 

The following arc the names of those ap[)earing 
as resident tax-payers on the first assessment roll 



of the township of Marion, dated May I, 1837, 
together with a description of their land, etc.: 

Names. Section. Acres. X^'S'^'-'"" "^ 

Real L-state. 

.\lcxander Boydeii 5 172 S516 

Thomas B. Brooks I So 240 

James Bavin 22, 2j 400 1200 

Miles Chubb 35.36 334 I002 

•Sardis Davis 2 38 132 

Towiisend Drew 3, 4 395 1 185 

Nehcmiah Gilks 32 294 S82 

Edwaicl !•■. (;.iy 2 232 928 

William Hudson 5 233 701 

James lloadlcy. 

Thomas I,. Hancock 8 40 120 

Thomas Hoskins 31, 32 240 720 

Oeorge P. JeflVies 33.34 '20 360 

Henry G. Love 33 320 960 

Samuel Lyon 10 160 480 

Guy C. Lee 7, 8 360 1200 

Georije W. Lee 8 40 I20 

Robert Muniis 19, 20 80 240 

Artemas Malum 120 390 

Elisha Martindale. 

Peter Merrihew. 200 650 

\Vm. R. Marshall 22 80 240 

Price Morse 10 80 280 

Cornelius Potter 7 43 129 

.Sylvester Rounds 19 166 498 

Ebcnezer Stearns 5, 6 268 972 

Stodd.ird Smith 7 80 240 

Nelson A. Smith 17 So 240 

Thomas Schoonhoven 6 206 812 

George Sewell 18 160 480 

Charles V.in Winkle 27 70 210 

Hiram Wing 15, 21 120 360 

Aaron Younglove 33, 34 108 324 

William Vounglove 34, 33 240 720 



The total assessed valuation of real and personal 
estate, including resident and non-resident owners, 
amounted to $65,868, and the amount of ta.K levied 
upon the same was $213.66. 

Those denominated resident tax-payers in 1844, 
and their location by sections, were as follows : 



Sec. 

Austin, George 6 

Abbott, James 26, 27 

Bentley, Richird 25 

Bentley, G. B 12 

Brooks, Thomas B I 

Beardsley, Hiram 11, 12 

Bull, Joseph D 29 

Bnxnnan, M. S 22 

Brown, Joseph 22 

Baker, Isaac 19 

Bucknell, John 28 

Beach, Lvmau K.,Jr 7,8 

Bashfurd,' James T 8 

Bashford, Joshua N 

Boyden, Alexander 5 

Bush, Thom.is 2C 

Buiden, Enos 32 

Burt, E. K 6, 7, 12 

Barrett, William 9 

Bavin, James 22, 23 

Crandall, Laban 

Coleman, Eri 30 

Cameron, George 17 

Coffey, Levi 10 

Coffey, Nelson 10 

Carson, Wdliam 5 

Chubbs, Miles 35 

Clark, Charles 13 

Drewry, Richard 28 

Darwiii, Seth C 17, 20, 21 

Darwin, Seth A 17 

Dicw, Townscnd 3 

Drew, Noah lo, 11 



Sec. 

Drew, Z. M 3, 10, 14 

Dickei^on, David 14 

Ellsworth, Edward 18. 

Eves, John 8 

FairchiUl, Ezra N 22, 28 

Fitch, William P 22, 27 

Foster, Samuel 27, 34, 35 

Field, Nathan II 

Field, Timothy 11 

Fishbeck, Levi 25 

Fishbeck, Elsey 25 

Gay, Edward V 2 

Gilks, Nehemiah 5, 32 

Griffith, Horace 23,24, 25 

Green, Rebecca 26 

Grosvenor, Daniel S 13 

Hunn, Gideon 23, 24 

Hubbard, .Samuel 2 

Hcndee, E. C 35. 36 

H.avens, M. S 9 

Hancock, Thomas L 8 

Hiscock, Loton 3 

Hudson, William 5 

Haddan, James 5, 9 

Itzell, Andrew .. 18 

Ingram, Ezra 20, 21 

Jewett, S. P 2 

Jcwett, Lucrelia 2 

Jewett, George W 2, 3 

Jackson, Mary 24 

Knickerbocker, Alanson 

Kochlar, .Vbram 8 

Lee, Hczekiah F 2 



352 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Sec. 

Lee, Jonathan i^, 34 

Lee, Guy C 7, 8 

Lee, Henry B 7> ^ 

Lee, Frederick 

Love, William 15 

Love, Elisha 4, 32, ^^ 

Love, Henry G 33 

Love, Thomas 29 

Lyon, Samuel 10 

Lyon & Thomas 10 

Lake, Rial 6, 8, 9 

McEneany, Patrick I 

McDowell, George 12 

Moore, Samuel 

Munns, Robert 30 

Mitchell, Spencer 20 

Muir, James 20 

Mitchell, Hiram 20 

Miller, Zachariah 22 

Olds, O. F 9, 14. 15 

Pinckney, John 2 

Pardee, Lewis 30 

Pardee, Silas 30 

Rilter, Berry 1 6 

Roberts, Eli A 6 

Roberts, Eli A., Jr 

Rounds, J:ibez 19 

Rounds, Sylvester 19 

Rounds, Joseph 

Ross, Thomas 22, 27, 34 

Rust, Asahel 29 

Rubbins, Adam 23, 25 



Sec. 

.Sellman, Thomas 36 

Sexton, William 14 

Sexton, Joseph 14 

.Sexton, Pailcy H 

Smith, Patrick 13 

Sloan, James 25 

Saunders, Frederick 32 

Shaft'er, Jesse (agent) 31, 32 

.Swarthout, Justus 26 

Smith, H. H 21 

Smith, Lorenzo E 2i 

Smith, John 15 

Smith, P. L 7 

Smith, N. A 8, 17 

Sewell, Georj^e 18 

Spafford, William R 8 

Stearns, Henry P 5> ^ 

Stearns, Allen C 5, 6 

Stearns, Ebenezer 2 

AValker, Joseph 19, 20 

Wing, John L 22 

Wing, Hiram 15 

Wing, Barker 12, 21 

WoU, Conrad 9, 10 

Watson, John T 4 

Woodward, Alfred.... II 

Wdlis, Daniel 11 

Webster, William J 13 

Winegar, Ashbel A 35, 36 

Woll, Peter 10 

Younglove, William 4, 33 

Younglove, Aaron 3, 34 



LAND-ENTRIES. 

The following is a complete list of those who 
purchased of the government lands situated in this 
township. Those marked witli a star (*) became 
actual residents. 

SECTION I. 
John D. Pinckney, Dutchess Co., N. Y., Dec. 3, 1S33. 
Ira A. Blossom and Elijah D. Etner, Erie Co., N. Y., Sept. 

2, 1835. 
John Fraser, New York City, Oct. 26, 1835. 
Flavins J. B. Crane, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 27, 1835. 
Heman Harrington, Oakland Co., Mich., March 14, 1836. 
William C. Shaft, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 9, 1836. 
Fred Carey, Lenawee Co., Mich., July 14, 1836. 

SECTION 2. 

Jonathan Easterbrooks, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., May 14, 1834. 
Sardis Davis,* Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., Sept. 15, 1834. 
Samuel Hubbard,* Livingston Co., N. Y., May 13, 1835. 
James T. Allen and David Godfrey, Washtenaw Co., Mich., 

May 26, 1835. 
David W. Wetmore, New York City, June 30, 1835. 
George W. Jewclt, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 9, 1835. 
Samuel Hubbard,* Livingston Co., Mich., Aug. 25, 1835. 
Ira A. Blossom and Elijah D. Efner, Erie Co., N. Y., Sept. 2, 

1835- 

SECTION 3. 

Jonathan Austin, Livingston Co., Mich., July 8, 1834. 
James Hiscock, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Dec. iS, 1834. 
George W. Jewett, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 9, 1835". 
Isaac R. Stone, Ontario Co., N. Y., Oct. 21, 1835. 
Townsend Drew,* Steuben Co., N. Y., May 20, 1836. 
Robert F. Randall, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. 9, 1837. 
James A. Hicks and Samuel T. Buell, Wayne Co., Mich., 
March 16, 1837. 

SECTION 4. 

Rial Lake, Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 12, 1S35. 
John D. Riddle and Reuben Moore, Washtenaw Co , Mich., 
Oct. 29, 1835. 



Rial Lake, Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 4, 1836. 
Townsend Drew,* Livingston Co., Mich., Jan. g, 1837. 
Joseph Collier, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. 20, 1837. 
Joseph Collier, Washtenaw Co., Mich., March 2, 1837. 
Luke Hemingway, New York City, March 27, 1837. 
John Bennett, Livingston Co., Mich., Oct. i, 1851. 



SECTION 5. 
James Haddan,* Livingston Co., Mich., 



May 25, 1837. 



Alexander Boyden,* Livingston Co., Mich., April 19, 1837. 
Rial Lake, Philadelphia, Pa., June 15, 1837. 
Francis I. Prevost,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 17, 1835. 
Alexander Boyden,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 17, 1835. 
John B.iUard, W.ayne Co., Mich., July 25, 1835. 
Charles A. Bogart, Ontario Co., N. Y., Sept. 30, 1835. 
Mary Ann Prevost, Livingston Co., Mich., Jan. 2, 1836. 
Benjamin Smith, Livingston Co., Mich., June 29, 1836. 
Rial Lake, Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 4, 1836. 
Gaines D.ayton, Wayne Co., Mich., March 2, 1S37. 

SECTION 6. 

Francis I. Prevost,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 17, 1835. 

Gaines Dayton, Wayne Co., Mich., March 2, 1837. 

Thomas Schoonhoven,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., March 20, 

1837- 
James Haddan,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., M.ay 25, 1837. 
Rial Lake, Philadelphia, Pa., June 15, 1S37. 
Rial Lake, Philadelphia, Pa., June 28, 1837. 
Samuel P. Jewett, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. 3, 1838. 
Rial L.ake, Livingston Co., Mich., April 6, 1S38. 
George W. Keeler, Livingston Co., Mich., March 15, 1855. 
H, H. Norton,* Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 13, 1853. 

SECTION 7. 

John Ballard, Wayne Co., Mich., July 17, 1835. 
Pierpont L. Smith,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Aug. 7, 1835. 
Alonzo Piatt, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Aug. 12, 1835. 
Stoddard .Smith,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Sept. 16, 1835. 
Jean Loui.s Francois Benoit Fasquelle,* Washtenaw Co., 

Mich., Oct. 9, 1835. 
Pierpont L. Smith,* Washtenaw Co., Midi., Dec. 5, 1835. 
Guy C. Lee,* Madison Co., N. Y , April 18, 1836. 
Lyman E. Beach, Erie Co., Pa., .^pril 23, 1836. 
Cornelius Potter,* Livingston Co., Mich., April 28, 1836. 

SECTION 8. 

Charles A. Bogart, Ontario Co., N. Y., Sept. 30, 1835. 
James T. Bashford,* Wayne Co., N. Y., March 25, 1S36. 
Guy C. Lee,* Madison Co., N. Y., April 18, 1836. 
Lyman E. Beach, Erie Co., Pa., April 23, 1836. 
Thomas L. Hancock,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 8, 1836. 
George W. Lee,* Livingston Co., Mich., July 11, 1836. 
Israel S. Spencer, Madison Co., N. Y., Sept. 24, 1836. 
Rial Lake, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 28, 1836. 
Richard Day,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 30, 1852. 

SECTION 9. 

James Collins, Genesee Co., N. Y., Sept. 25, 1835. 
Rial Lake, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 28, 1836. 
Conrad Woll,* Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 26, 1836. 
B. B. Kercheval, Wayne Co., Mich., Dec. 15, 1836. 
George Corselus, Wayne Co., Mich., Dec. 26, 1836. 
Ozro F. Olds,* Livingston Co., Mich., June 25, 1839. 

SECTION 10. 

Price Morse,* Genesee Co., N. Y., Oct. 23, 1835. 
Samuel Lyon,* Steuben Co., N. Y., May 20, 1836. 
William Gibbs, New Haven, Conn., June 3, 1836. 



MARION TOWNSHIP. 



353 



Ro'iwin Kingshuiy, Monroe Ci., N. Y., July 6, 1S36. 
.Samuel Lyon,* .Steulien Co., N. Y., July 7, 1836. 
Conrad Woll,* Livingston Co., Mich., Oct. 27, 1836. 
Jon:.llian Seeley, W.ayne Co., Mich., Nov. 15, 1836. 
Edward Esteys, Wayne Co., Mich., May 12, 1837. 
Zebulon ^^ Drew,* Livingston Co., Mich., Oct. 8, 1S38. 

SECTION II. 

Israel Branch,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 10, 1835. . 
John D. Riddle and Reuben Moore, Washtenaw Co., Mich., 

Oct. 29, 1835. 
Israel Urancli (2d), W.islitenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 23, 1S35. 
Charles Mosely, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 27, 1835. 
Israel Branch,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 27, 1S35. 
Elisha S. Avery and Charles Eldredge, Wayne Co., Mich., 

Jan. II, 1837. 

SECTION 12. 

John M. Brown, Ontario Co., N. Y., July 16, 1835. 
John I'. Thornton, Wayne Co., Mich., Nov. 14, 1835. 
Adna Sawyer, Yates Co., N. Y., June 4, 1836. 
Giles Church, Monroe Co., N. Y., June 13, 1836. 
Enoch Webster, Steuben Co., N. Y., June 22, 1836. 
Edward G. Wilber, Columbia Co., N. Y., June 23, 1836. 
Veny Goldthwait, Washtenaw Co., Mich., March 10, 1837. 

SECTION 13. 

John M. Brown, Ont.irio Co., N. Y., July 16, 1835. 
Dwight Hawks, Oakland Co., Mich., March 17, 1836. 
William J. Webster,* Steuben Co., N. Y., June 22, 1836. 
Edward G. Wilber, Columbia Co., N. Y., June 23, 1836. 
William J. Webster,* Livingst.m Co., Mich., Oct. 30, 1837. 
William C. Decker, Livingston Co., Mich., April 15, 1853. 

SECTION 14. 

John M. Brown, Ontario Co., N. Y., July 16, 1S35. 
Walter R. Seymour,* Wayne Co., Mich., Nov. 14, 1835. 
John P. Thornton, Wayne Co., Mich., Nov. 14, 1835. 
Aaron Seymour,* Wayne Co., Mich., Jan. 20, 1836. 
Edgar M. Gallow.ay, W^ayne Co., Mich., March 14, 1836. 
William Clay, W.ayne Co., Mich., June 16, 1836. 
Edward Estes, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 18, 1836. 
Zebulon M. Drew,* Livingston Co., Mich., Jan. 9, 1S37. 
Joseph Sexton,* W.ishtenaw Co., Mich., Sept. 25, 1837. 
Parley H Stevens, Livingston Co., Mich., Oct. 13, 1846. 

SIXTION 15. 

Hiram Wing* and John L. Wing,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., 

Oct. 26, 1835. 
Josiah Doty, Monroe Co., N. Y., Nov. 19, 1835. 
William Kirtland, Wayne Co., Mich., Jan. I, 1S36. 
Jeremi.ah Kent,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 31, 1836. 
Kinnelh Davison,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 7, 1836. 

SECTION 16. 

William Huntington,* Dec. 20, 1854. 
J. N. Bashford,* Sept. 26, 1849. 
S. W. Coffey,* Oct. 24, 1848. 
M. S. Havens,* Sept. 16, 1841. 
Lyman Clark,* March 14, 1849. 
Nelson Coffey,* May 8, 1849. 
James Ilarger,* Nov. 29, 1 858. 
H. C. Mallory,* July 22, 1857. 
C. Coleman, Oct. 9, 1850. 
Pierce Elwell,* Nov. ii, 1856. 
A. T. Albright, March 8, 1855. 
James Harger,* Nov. 29, 1858. 
Chester Goodrich, Nov. 29, 1858. 

45 



SECTION 17. 
Seth C. Darwin,* Livingston Co., N. Y , Oct. 27, 1835. 
Lyman E. Beach, Erie Co., Pa., April 23, 1836. 
Asahel W. Prior, Madison Co., N. Y., Jan. 14, 1837. 
Waters Clark,* Madison Co., N. Y.,June i, 1837. 
Nelson A. Smith,* Erie Co., Pa., June 20, 1836. 
Lyman Clark,* Livingston Co., Mich., March 2, 1849, and 
Sept. I, 1868. 

SECTION 18. 

Jeplha Jewett, Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 2, 1835. 

Alvin S. McDowell, Niagara Co., N. Y., Oct. 14, 1835. 

Hiram Fisk, Niagara Co., N. Y., Oct. 14, 1835. 

George and Livy Rash, Washtenaw Co , Mich., Dec. 29, 1835. 

George R.ash, Washtenaw Co., Mich., April 15, 1836. 

William Davis,* Erie Co., Pa., April 23, 1836. 

Robert Munns,* Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 28, 1838. 

John A. Ezel, Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 4, 1847. 

SECTION 19. 

Sylvester Rounds,* Wayne Co., Mich., Jan. 14, 1836. 
Robert Munns,* Wayne Co., Mich., Feb. 8, 1836. 
Hiram P. Baker,* Monroe Co., N. Y., May 18, 1836. 
Joseph Walker,* Allegany Co., N. Y., May 23, 1836. 
William Hines, W.ishtenaw Co., Mich., July 12, 1838. 

SECTION 20. 

Seth C. Darwin,* Livingston Co., N. Y., Oct. 27, 1835. 
Joseph Walker,* Allegany Co., N. Y., May 23, 1836. 
Robert Munns,* Livingston Co., Mich., May 23, 1836. 
George Mitchell, Madison Co., N. Y., June I, 1836. 
Hir.am Mitchell,* Livingston Co., Mich., June I, 1836. 
Spencer Mitchell, Madison Co., N. Y., June I, 1836. 
Hiram Mitcliell,* Livingston Co., Mich., June 4, 1836. 
George Bates, Plymouth Co., Mass., June 18, 1836. 

SECTION 2E. 

Seth C. Darwin,* Livingston Co., N. Y., Oct. 27, 1835. 

Hiram Wing,* W.ashtenaw Co., Mich., March 8, 1836. 

Samuel Clark, W.ayne Co., N. Y., M.ay 18, 1836. 

Henry Van Geison, W.ishtenaw Co., Mich., May 31, 1836. 

George Bates, Plymouth, Mass., June 18, 1836. 

Heniy H. .Smith,* Genesee Co., N. Y., June 3, 1836, and 

May 16, 1S37. 
David T. Wood,* Livingston Co., Mich., April 15, 1S47. 

SECTION 22. 

George Rash, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Dec. 29, 1835. 
John L. Wing,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., March 8, 1836. 
William R. Marshall,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 6, 1836. 
Charles Van Winkle,* Allegany Co., N. Y., June 6, 1836. 
Ezra N. Fail-child,* Macomb Co., Mich., June II, 1836. 
Joseph H. Steel, Wayne Co., Mich., June 24, 1836. 
James Bavin,* England, June 25, 1836. 

SECTION 23. 
George W. Moore, Ontario Co., N. Y., Oct. 22, 1835. 
Edgar M. Galloway, Wayne Co., N. Y., March 14, 1S36. 
Morris K. Henry, Wayne Co., Mich., June 16, 1836. 
Jason Butterfield, Otsego Co., N. Y., June 18, 1836. 
Jenks Chase, Ontario Co., N. Y., June 18, 1836. 
James Bavin,* England, June 24, 1836. 
John C. Bull, Wayne Co., Mich., July 11, 1836. 

SECTION 24. 
Timothy R. Bennett, Livingston Co., Mich., July 24, 1835. 
Justus E. Brown, Columbia Co., N. Y., Oct. 22, 1835. 
Horace Griffith,* Steuben Co., N. Y., May 26, 1836. 
Eastman Griffith, Livingston Co., Mich., June 8, 1836. 



354 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



JenUs Chase, Ontario Co., N. Y., June i8, 1836. 
Hoiace Griffith,* Steuben Co., N. Y., June 22, 1836. 
Catharine Griffith, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 3, 1836. 
William L. Tompkins,* Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 29, 1836. 
Jacob D. Gale, Livingston Co., Mich., Aug. 24, 1846. 

SECTION 25. 

James Sloan,* W.-ishtenaw Co., Mich., June 17, 1836. 
Jenks Chase, Ontario Co., N. Y., June 18, 1836. 
Christopher Hoagland,* Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 3, 1S36. 
Jacob Fishbeck,* Living.ston Co., Mich., Jan. 20, 1837. 
Levi Fishbeck,* Livingston Co., Mich., Jan. 20, 1837. 
Adam Rubbins,* Livingston Co., Mich., July 14, 1837. 
James D. Gale, Livingston Co., Mich., June 9, 1847. 
Richard D. Bentley,* Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 3, 1853, 
and Feb. 8, 1854. 

SECTION 26. 

Reuben H. Bennett, Livingston Co., Mich., May 26, 1836. 
Eastman Griffith, Steuben Co., N. Y., May 26, 1836. 
James Sloan,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 17, 1836. 
Jenks Chase, Ontario Co., N. Y., June 18, 1836. 
Verry Goldthvvait, Washtenaw Co., Mich., March 10, 1S37. 

SECTION 27. 

William Forshee, Cayuga Co., N. Y., May 25, 1836. 

C. Ho.igland* and H. Griffith,* Steuben Co., N. Y., May 26, 

1836. 
John Holden, Providence, R. I., May 30, 1836. 
Charles Yan Winkle,* Allegany Co., N. Y., 1S36. 
Stephen Thomas Probet,* England, June 10, 1836. 

SECTION 28. 

Ezra N. Fairchild.* Genesee Co., N. Y., M.ay 23, 1836. 
Stephen Thomas Probet,* England, June 10, 1836, and June 

ir, 1836. 
Joseph H. Steel, Wayne Co., Mich., June 24, 1836, and June 
28, 1836. 

SECTION 29. 

Silas Raymond, Erie Co., N. Y., June 13, 1836. 

Edwin M Cust, England, June 20, 1836. 

Elijah F. Burt,* Windham Co., Vt., June 15, 1837. 

Joseph H. Steel, Wayne Co., Aug. 14, 1S37. 

Eri Coleman,* Livingston Co., Mich., Sept. 3, 1849. 

SECTION 30. 

Jesse Shaffer,* W.ashtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. 13, 1S36. 
Stephen Averill, Erie Co., Pa., April 23, 1836. 
Henry Bower, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 13, 1836. 
Lewis Pardee,* Monroe Co., N. Y., May 18, 1836. 
Benjamin Hill, W.ayne Co., Mich., April 11, 1837. 
Rial Lake, Philadelphia, Pa., June 15, 1837. 

SECTION 31. 

Thom.as Hoskins,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 17, 1836. 
Benjamin Nichols, Columbia Co., N. Y., June 17, 1836. 
Caleb Rice, Yates Co., N. Y., Sept. 23, 1836. 
Jeremiah D. Samson, Wayne Co., Mich., Aug. 10, 1S37. 
Ira Annis, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 30, 1852. 

SECTION 32. 

John S. Farrand, Cayuga Co., N. Y., May 30, 1836. 
Lemuel Bryant, Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 31, 1836. 
Willi.am Wing, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., May 31, 1836. 
Thomas Hoskins,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Sept. 21, 1836. 
Horace H. Smith, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 29, 1836. 
William Love,* Livingston Co., Mich., May, 1837. 
Elizabeth Basing,* Livingston Co., Mich., July 15, 1844. 



SECTION 33. 

George P. Jeffries,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 31, 1836. 
Aaron Younglove,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., June i, 1836, and 

June 4, 1836. 
Russell Palmer, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 17, 1S36. 
Henry G. Love,* England, June 25, 1836. 

SECTION 34. 

George Corselus, Wayne Co., Mich., March 14, 1836. 
William Forshee, Cayuga Co., N. Y., M.ay 25, 1836. 
John Holden, Providence, R. I., M.ay 30, 1836. 
George P. Jeffries,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., M.ay 31, 1836. 
Aaron Younglove,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., June I, 1836. 
Randall Holden, Providence, R. I., June 8, 1836. 

SECTION 35. 

Miles Chubb,* Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 14, 1S35. 
Ephraim C. Hendee,* Livingston Co., N. Y., June g, 1836. 
John Holden, Providence, R. I., June 9, 1836. 
Randall Holden, Providence, R. I., June 28, 1S36. 

SECTION 36. 

Miles Chubb,* Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 14, 1835. 
Ephraim C. Hendee, Livingston Co., N. Y., June g, 1836. 
James Tate, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Dec. 14, 1836. 
Lewis Austin, Wayne Co., Mich., Jan 10, 1837, and Jan. 14, 

1837- 
Thomas Morrissey, Washtenaw Co., Mich., April 26, 1837. 

CIVIL AND POLITICAL. 
By an act of the State Legislature, approved 
March 23, 1836, the township of Putnain was 
formed, and inckided the present towns of Putnam 
and Marion. One year later, Marion was organ- 
ized as a separate township by the same authority. 
The act of organization, approved March 11, 1837, 
provides as follows : 

" All that portion of the county of Livingston, designated in the 
United States survey as township two north, of range four east, be, 
and the same is, hereby set off and organized into a separate town- 
ship, by the name of Marion, and the first township-meeting therein 
shall be held at the house of Hiram Wing." 

Under the organizing act the legal voters of the 
township of Marion assembled, for their first town- 
ship election, at the house of Hiram Wing, on the 
3d day of April, 1837. Guy C. Lee was called to 
the chair, and Hiram Wing appointed clerk. On 
motion of Thomas Hoskins, William Younglove, 
Sardis Davis, and Thomas Hoskins were elected 
inspectors of the election, and the result of the 
balloting was the election of the following officers: 
Thomas Hoskins, Supervisor; Hiram Wing, Town- 
ship Clerk; Price Morse, George W. Lee, William 
Younglove, Assessors; Samuel Lyon, Collector; 
Sylvester Rounds, William Hudson, Directors of 
the Poor; Guy C. Lee, Sardis Davis, Robt. Munns, 
Highway Commissioners; Sylvester Rounds, Ed- 
ward F. Gay, Cornelius Potter, School Commis- 
sioners; Sardis Davis, William Younglove, George 
W.Lee, Hiram Wing, Justices of the Peace; Aaron 
Younglove, Price Morse, George Sewell, Thomas 





GEO. B, WILKINSON 



MRS GEO. B.WILKINSON. 




RESIDENCEOF GEO. B.WILKINSON, Marion, Livingston Co, Mich. 



MARION TOWNSHIP. 



355 



Hoskins, William R. Marshall, School Inspectors; 
Samuel Lyon, Constable. 

On motion of Sardis Davis, it was voted " that a 
bounty of five dollars be paid out of the township 
treasury to any and every person who shall prove 
to have killed or destroyed a wolf in the township 
of Marion." On motion of Sylvester Rounds, the 
sum of one dollar and seventy-five cents was al- 
lowed Sardis Davis for expenses incurred in divid- 
ing the township. On motion of Price Morse, it 
was voted " that the ne.xt annual. township-meeting 
be held at the house now occupied by Hiram 
Wing, and that this meeting do now adjourn." 

On the 2istof May, 1837, a special township- 
meeting was called to elect officers to vacancies 
existing by reason of the non-qualification of per- 
sons elected at the first meeting. Thereupon, 
Elisha Martindale was elected constable, and Win. 
Younglove, Price Morse, and George W. Lee in- 
spectors of schools. 

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. 

The following is a list of township officers from 
1837 to 1879, inclusive: 

SUPERVISORS. 

1S37, Thomas Hoskins; 183S, Georj;e W. Lee; 1839, Guy C. 
Lte ; I S40, George W. Lee; 1841-42, Edward F. Gay; 1843, 
Elijah F. Burt; 1S44. Horace Griffith ; 1845, Ge .rge \V. Lee;* 
1S46, Ezra N. Fairchild; 1847, William Younglove; 1S48, 
Pierpont L. Smith; 1849, Hiram Wing; 1850, Pierpont L. 
Smith; 1851-53, Elijah F. Bun; 1854, Lyman E. Be.ach, 
Jr.; 1855-56, Pierpont L. Smith; 1857, Elijah F. Bent; 1858, 
Nelson G. Isl)ell; 1859, Pierpont L. Smith; i860, Elijah F. 
Burt; 1861-64, Nelson A. Smith; 1865-68, H. J. Haven; 
1869-70, Nelson A. Smith; 1871-72, Theodore Welcker; 
1873-74, George Coleman; 1875, David O. Smith; 1876, 
Jonathan M. Hoagland; 1877-78, George Coleniaji ; 1S79, 
Thomas Ross, Jr. 

TOWNSHIP CLERKS. 

1837-39, Ilirnui Wing; 1840-42, John T. Watson; 1843, Lyman 
E. Beach, Jr. ; 1844, George Sewell ; 1845, Lyman E. Beach, 
Jr.; 1846-47, Hiram Wing; 1848, George .Sewell; 1849, 
James R. S.age ; 1850, Peter L. Wilhelm ; 185 I, U.avid Parker; 
1852-53. Hiram Wing; 1854, Frederick Saunders; 1855, 
John Van Winkle; 1856, James R. Sage; 1857, Ezra N. 
Fairchild; 1858-59, James Hargcr; i860, Peter L. Wilhelm ; 
1861-66, Ezra N. Fairchild; 1867, Harvey Harrington ; 1868, 
Edward C. Brown; 1869, A. N. Fairchild; 1870, Theodore 
Welcker; 1871-72, Silas Smith ; 1873-75, Theodore Welcker; 
1876-78, AlLert N. Fairchild; 1879, Frank O. Burl. 

TREASURERS. 
1S39, Price Morse;! 1840-42, Henry II. Smith; 1843, John L. 
Wing; 1844, Samuel Lyon ; 1845, William J. Webster; 1846^ 
47, Lyman E. Beach, Jr. ; 1848, William Tompkins; 1849, 
Hiram Beardsley; 1850, David Parker; 1851, John L. Wing; 
1852, Thomas Love; 1853, Frederick Saunders; 1854-56, 

* Resigned ; Elijah F. Burt appointed to fill vacancy, Oct. 13, 

1845. 
f Resigned; Horace Griffith appointed to fill vacancy, Sept. 26, 

>839- 



Alexander M. Boyd ; 1857-58, John M.King; 1859, James 
W. Dickerson ; i860, Asa V.an Kleeck; 1861, George W. 
Smock; 1862, Asahel A. Abbott; 1863, William C. Criss; 
1864-65, Leonard S. Haynes; 1866, .Stephen II. Aldrich; 
1867, Augustus R. Sewell; 1868-69, Lyman K. Beach; 
1870-71, John Lee; 1872, John Stoddard; 1873, William 
T.Ely; 1874, Adelbert Smith; 1875-76, John IL Rubhins; 
1S77-78, Albert Welcker; 1879, Henry G. Buckncll. 

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 

Sardis Davis, Willian\ Younglove, George W. Lee, Hiram Wing, 
1837; Miles Chubb, Edward F. Gay, 1838; George W. Lee, 
1839; Edward F. G.ny, 1840; Selh C. Darwin, 1841 ; Horace 
Griffith, 1842; George W. Lee, 1843; .1"'"> T. Watson, 1844; 
William Younglove, 1845; Nelson G. Isbell, Sylvester Rounds, 
Zebulon M. Drew, 1846; Miles Chubb, 1847; E^''* N. Fair- 
child, 1848; William Tompkins, 1849; George T. Sage, 
George H. Switzer, 1850; Aaron Younglove, 1851 ; Ezra 
N. Fairchild, 1852 ; George H. Switzer, Ezra N. Fairchild, 
George Cameron, 1853; George Cameron, 1854; David Dick- 
erson, 1855; Willi.am T. Totten, John Van Wnikic, 1856; 
Wdliam Younglove, 1857; Pierpont L. Smith, 1858; George 
H. Switzer, George Cameron, 1859; George Colemau, i860; 
William Younglove, 1S61 ; Stephen H. Aldrich, Thomas 
Love, 1862; Joseph Brown, 1863; George Coleman, 1864; 
Charles Bailey, 1865; Hiram Beard:>ley, 1866; George H. 
Switzer, 1867; George Coleman, 1868; no record for i86g; 
Hiram Beardsley, 1870; John Stoddard, 1871; William 
Gilks, 1872; James Harger, 1873; George Smock, Theo- 
dore Gorton, 1874; Robert H. Holland, 1875; George 
Younglove, Andrew Rounds, 1876; Asahel A. Ablx)tt, John 
Brigham, Alexander Smock, 1877; Henry Padley, John T. 
Oliver, Charles O'Connor, 1878; Israel Bailey, Nathan Fields, 
1879. 

ASSESSORS. 

Price Morse, George W. Lee, William Younglove, 1837 ; Price 
Morse, William Younglove, Horace Griffith, 1838; Horace 
Griffith, William Younglove, EbenezerSie.ams, 1839; Charles 
Clark, Joseph Walker, Ebenezer .Slearns, 1840 ; Ebenezer 
Stearns, Joseph Walker, Horace Griffith, 1841 ; Ephraim C. 
Hendee, Pierpont L. Smith, 1842; Edward F. Gay, William 
Younglove, 1843; Ebenezer Stearns, Hiram Mitchell, 1844; 
Elijah F. Burt, Edward F. Gay, 1845 ! Elijah F. Burt, Hiram 
Beardsley, 1846; D.aniel Bentley, Lyman E. Beach, 1847; 
Thomas Love, William T. Tolten, 1848; Ezra N. Fairchild, 
Ebenezer Stearns, 1849; Chester Goodrich, Samuel Lyon, 
1850. .See list of s«i)ervisors 1851 to 1879, inclusive. 

SCHOOL INSPECTORS. 

Aaron Younglove, Price Morse, George -Sewell, Thomas Hoskins, 
William R. Marshall, 1837; Ezra N. Fairchild, George W. 
Lee, Edward F. Gay, 1838; George W. Lee, Edward F. 
Gay, Horace Griffith, 1S39; Ephraim C. Hendee, John T. 
Watson, Horace Griffith, 1840; George W. Lee, Horace 
Griffith, Ejihraim C. Hendee, 1841; Horace Griffith, J. H. 
Cardell, George W. Lee, 1842; Ezra N. Fairchild, Horace 
Griffith, 1843; Horace Griffith, 1844; Elijah F. Burt, .Allen 
C. Stearns, 1S45 ; Sylvester Sexton, 1846; John W. .Sted- 
nian, 1848; John Rodgers, 1849; James Harger, Lyman E. 
Beach, Jr., 1850; Elijah V. Burt, 1851 ; Lyman E. Beach, 
Jr., 1852; Elijah F. Burt, 1853; Thomas Gilks, 1854; Elijah 
F. Burt, 1855; James Harger, 1856; Lyman E. Beach, Jr., 
1857; William K. .Sexton, 1858; Andrew I. Itsell, Jonathan 
M. Hoagland, 1859; Wm. M. Be.ach, i860; Myron Rogers, 
1861; Wm. M. Beach, 1862; H.J. Haven, 1863; Wm. M. 
Beach, 1864; Wm. J. Hazard, H. J. Ha^en, 1865; Milo 
M. Abbott, 1866; Wm. K. .Sexton, 1867; ^ilo M. Abbott, 
1868; Theodore Welcker, 1869; George Coleman, 1870; 
Hiram E. Reed, 1871; John Rubhins, 1872; John Clements, 



3S6 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



1873; John Faull;, 1874; Frank O. Burt, 1S75-76; Hiram 
E. Reed, 1877; Frank O. Burt, 1878; Irving J. Abbott, 1879. 

SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS. 
Sylvester Rounds, E. F. Gay, Cornelius Potter, 1S37. 

COLLECTORS. 

Samuel Lyon, 1837; John L. Wing, 1838; Elias H. Bristol, 
1839; Ozro F. Olds, 1840; Samuel Lyon, 1841. 

DRAIN COMMISSIONERS. 

Robert H. Holland, 1S71; Philo L. Reed, 1872-73; William 
Wilcox, 1874-75; Eugene Brown, 1876; Ira A. Marble, 
1877; John Lee, 187S-79. 

TOWN SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS. 
John E. Clements, 1S75-77; Hiram E. Reed, 1878-79. 

HIGHWAYS. 

The first highway laid in the township was 
opened in 1835 or 1836. This road followed no sec- 
tion lines, but, starting on the south line of Marion, 
ran north to what was then termed Prcvost's Plains, 
its general course being about one-half mile east 
of the west line of the township. It is difficult to 
determine whether this road was laid by the town 
of Dexter in 1835, as claimed, or by the town of Put- 
nam in 1836, for no transcribed records relating to 
it are to be found on the Marion books. The first 
highway projected by the township authorities of 
Marion was surveyed by Ezra N. Fairchild, June 
16, 1837, and described as follows : " Beginning at 
the southwest corner of section nineteen, township 
two north of range four east ; thence east on the 
south line of said section to the centre of a high- 
way running north and south. Distance, 27 chains, 
23 links. Variation, 3° 30' to the right." During 
the succeeding twelve months eighteen more high- 
ways were laid by the highway commissioners, and 
surveyed by Mr. Fairchild. 

The town was first divided into road districts in 
1838, as follows: 

District No. i contained sections 1,2, 3, 4, 9, 
and ID; Samuel Hubbard, Overseer. 

District No. 2, sections 11, 12, 13, and 14; Jo- 
seph Sexton, Overseer. 

District No. 3, sections 23, 24, 25, 26, 35, and 
36 ; Horace Griffith, Overseer. 

District No. 4, sections 32, ^^, 34, 27, 28, and 
29; Ezra N. Fairchild, Overseer. 

District No. 5, sections 21, 22, 15, 16; Henry 
H- Smith, Overseer. 

District No. 6, sections $, 6, J, and north half of 
section 8 ; Alejjander Boyden, Overseer. 

District No. 7, sections 17, 18, and south half of 
section 8 ; Nelson A. Smith, Overseer. 

District No. 8, sections 19, 20, 30, and 31 ; Hiram 
Mitchell, Overseer. 

A town-house, situated nearly one mile south 



of the geographical centre of the township, was 
completed in 1856, costing about ^500. 

WAR BOUNTIES. 

On the I oth of February, 1864,3 petition, signed 
by B. E. Mitchell, George Younglove, George H. 
Switzer, David Dickerson, James W. Dickerson, 
Hiram Wing, James Harger, Henry Bucknell, 
Daniel Jeffrey, Robert Holland, Robert Holland, 
Jr., Leonard S. Haynes, George Driver, Joseph 
Brown, and William Younglove, was presented 
to the town board, asking that a special township 
election be held at the earliest practicable day, " to 
determine by vote what sum of money shall be 
raised as a bounty fund to be paid volunteers en- 
listed and mustered into the military or naval ser- 
vice of the United States from this township ; also 
to determine by vote whether such sum shall be 
raised by ta,\ or a loan." In accordance, a .special 
election was ordered to be held in the town-house, 
on Saturday, Feb. 20, 1864. This meeting failed 
of being a legal one, in consequence of not posting 
up a sufficient number of notices. Another peti- 
tion, signed by James Harger and fourteen others, 
was thereupon presented to the town board on 
the day last mentioned, and an election was ordered 
to be held at the town-house, Monday, March 7, 
1864. At this meeting 89 votes were polled, of 
which 84 were cast in favor of a loan, and 5 against 
a loan. 

On the 15th of August, 1864, James Harger, 
Hiram Wing, S. W. Dickerson, Theodore Welcker, 
Charles O'Connor, Pliilip Prior, Samuel Lyon, 
William P. Fitch, J. W. Dickerson, William Sex- 
ton, David Dickerson, Harvey Harrington, and 
Aaron Younglove presented another petition to the 
honorable body composing the township board, 
calling upon them to appoint a special election to 
determine " whether a bounty of ;^ 100 be paid each 
volunteer who enters the military service of the 
United States upon the President's call for 500,000 
men, dated July 18, 1864, and also to determine 
whether the money be raised by tax or loan." In 
pursuance, notices were posted designating Wednes- 
day, Aug. 31, 1864, as the time for holding at the 
town-house a special election. At this election 81 
votes were polled, and all of them were for a tax. 

Soon after, the proper township authorities issued 
township bonds to the amount of ^1900, payable 
in two years, with interest at seven per cent. 

SCHOOLS. 

It is probable that the first school-house was 
built on " the plains," near the central part of sec- 
tion 7, in 1838, and that Miss Laurella Lee, a 
daughter of Guy C. Lee, taught the first school in 




GEORGE COLEMAN. 










RESIDENCE ur &EORGE COLEI 



. JLV-.i^J,*^'-- -ir"'^^ 




■r; MRS. , 

GEORGE COLEMAN. 



~. •. ^--^- 




I :iON, Livingston County, Mich. 



MARION TOWNSHIP. 



357 



the same IniildinLj, during the summer of tlie same 
year. Other schools quiclcly followed this in 
vnii<nis parts of the township, but as early school- 
records have not been preserved, it is impossible 
to furnish statistics of their number and condition. 
The first school-house in the district of the " Eng- 
lish Settlement" was built near Mr. F"uller and 
IJryant's, north part of Putnam. Thomas Love 
made tlie sash for the windows. 

The following statistics, taken from the annual 
report of the school inspectors, show the condition 
of the township schools for the year ending Sept. 
I, 1879: 

Number of whole dislricts 4 

" fr.iciiiinal distiicls 6 

(.'hildien of school aye residing in ihe township 484 

Children alleiidini; school duriny the year 43° 

Fr.Tnie school-houses 8 

.Stone " 2 

Value of school properly $3650.00 

Qualilied male icacliers employed during the year 7 

Qualified female " " " " 14 

Months taui^ht by males 27.25 

" " females 49 

Paid male teachers $768.00 

I'aiil female teachers SO17.25 

RECEn>TS. 

Moneys on hand Sept. 2, 1S78 $277.51 

Two mill tax 534-87 

Primary-school fund 223 52 

District taxes for all purposes 793'8l 

From other sources 6.95 

Total resources $1836.66 

EXPKNDlTlRfS. 

For teachers* wages, building, and rep.-iirs, on bondetl 

indebtedness, and all other purposes $1661.28 

Amount on hand, Sept. i, 1879 '75-3^ 

Total expenditures $1836.66 

RELIGIOUS. 

Although no house of worship has ever been 
erected within the limits of this township, the pio- 
neers and their descendants have not been neg- 
lected in a religious sense. As early as 1837, Rev. 
Washington Jackson, a missionary of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, visited the settlements, and 
preached at irregular intervals in the dwellings of 
Elisha Love and Guy C. Lee. Elder Cosart, who 
lived in the town of Hartland, was also a pioneer 
preacher of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. 
He held meetings in 1838, and, for a few years im- 
mediately succeeding, in the houses of Sylvester 
Rounds, Guy C. Lee, Horace Griffith, David Dick- 
erson, and Elisha Love. Later, classes and organ- 
izations of various denominationshave been formed, 
who held meetings in district school-houses. 

The First Baptist Society of Marion was regu- 
larly incorporated Jan. 5, 1853, and Thomas Love, 
J. D. Bull, John Van Winkle, Ezra N. Fairchild, 
George Sevvell, T. Bennett, and Lyman Clark 
elected trustees. 



CEMETERIES. 

The first place of burial was on the Pinckney 
road, near Joseph Walker's residence. The Lake 
Burying-Ground, situated upon sections, was also 
a place for early interments. The grounds of the 
East Marion Burying-Ground Corporation, con- 
taining one acre, and situated near the northeast 
corner of the southeast quarter of section 23, were 
surveyed by Ezra N. Fairchild, March 15, 1849. 
On the 9th of February, 1878, these grounds were 
incorporated under the foregoing title, and the fol- 
lowing officers elected : Joseph Brown, President ; 
James Harger, Clerk ; Alfred Wright, Treasurer ; 
and James W. Dickerson, Sexton. The Putnam 
and Marion Burying-Ground Corporation was in- 
corporated March 17, 185 1. The grounds are 
situated on the northeast corner of section 5, Put- 
nam township. The first officers were William 
Younglove, President ; David Parker, Clerk ; John 
Love, Collector; Ellisha Love, Treasurer; and Nehe- 
miah Gilks, Se.xton. Other incorporators, Aaron 
Younglove, Thomas Love, John Larkin, J. Barney, 
Frederick Saunders, I. H. Shaw, Ezra N. Fair- 
child, Enos Burden, A. H. Smith, S. H. Hazard, 
William P. Fitch, Lorenzo Smith, Henry G. Love, 
and John Van Winkle. This association was re- 
organized April 10, 1869, and the name changed 
to the Marion and Putnam Burying-Ground Cor- 
poration. Thereupon ICzra N. Fairchild was 
chosen President, George Younglove, Clerk, and 
William H. Gilks, Treasurer. 

The North Marion Burying-Ground Corpora- 
tion was incorporated Dec. 31, 1864, and the offi- 
cers then elected were P^lijah F. Burt, President ; 
Frederick W. Munson, Clerk ; Samuel M. Yerkes, 
Treasurer; and Henry K. Avery, Se.xton. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



GEORGE COLEMAN 

was born in Orange Co., N. Y., Sept. 7, 1833. His 
father, I'>i Coleman, emigrated to Livingston 
County in the fall of 1843, with his family, which 
consisted of a wife and six children, — five sons and 
one daughter. In April, 1844, they settled on 
eighty acres of land, where George Coleman now 
lives. Upon this land there was a small log house, 
and a few acres improved ; that year a frame house 
was built, and other improvements were made. 
As the boys grew up, the farm increased in ratio, 
until it contained five hundred acres, with a large 
share under good cultivation. The property was 



353 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



then divided, and Mr. Coleman went to Pinckney 
and engaged in the mercantile business, where he 
died, Dec. 20, 1863, aged si.xty-four years. In the 
distribution of property, George received the old 
homestead with two hundred acres of land. He 
has since added other lands, erected fine buildings, 
and has what may be termed a model farm. He 
is a well-read and thinking man, the owner of a 
good library, and his farm is conducted with in- 
telligence, as are all his affairs. He breeds a good 
grade of horses, and has a fine herd of Galloways. 
Politically he is a Democrat; has served as super- 




visor four terms, and as justice of the peace for 
sixteen years, filling these offices to the satisfaction 
of all. His official course has been to prevent 
litigation in the neighborhood. 

Mr. Coleman was married in 1855 to Sarah 
Rubbins, who died Jan. 30, 1861, leaving three 
children. He was again married, in September, 
1862, to Eliza Rubbins, by whom he has had two 
children. Both wives were daughters of Adam 
Rubbins, who came from England, and was an 
early settler in Marion, where he now lives at an 
advanced age. 




Photos, by Brown, Howell. 



W. K. SEXTON. 



MRS. W. K. SE.XTON. 



W. K. SEXTON, 
one of the enterprising and reliable men of Living- 
ston County, was born at Sherburne, N. Y.,' Feb. 
6, 1835. He came to Livingston County in 
1837, with his father, William Sexton, who pur- 
chased one hundred and sixty acres of land on 
section 14, now in Marion township, upon which 
there was an unfinished log house, and a few acres 
cleared. Having some means, he soon made sub- 
stantial improvements. Subsequently, he pur- 
chased other lands, made other farms, and finally 
retired to the village of Howell, where he now re- 
sides. 

The immediate subject of this sketch lived with 
his father until he attained his majority, assisting 
on the farm, and receiving such educational advan- 
tages as were offered by the schools at Howell, and 
the State Normal School, at Ypsilanti. He taught 
school one winter, and graduated at the Commer- 
cial College, in Chicago, in 1858. He was subse- 
quently employed by the Cairo and Fulton Railroad 
Company, as agent at Charleston, Md. With this 



education and experience, he was well prepared for 
the stern realities of life. Returning to his native 
town, he purchased the old homestead of two 
hundred and forty acres from his father. He was 
married Dec. 19, 1S60, to Miss Cynthia L. Adams, 
of Utica, Mich., and since that time has made 
farming his specialty. 

His ability, as a business man, is recognized by 
the farmers of Livingston County, who have for 
several years made him the business agent of tiie 
County Council, and the Howell Grange. The 
success and prosperity of those organizations, 
under his management, show that a man may pos- 
sess business qualifications as well as being a prac- 
tical farmer. A visit to his fine farm and com- 
fortable home, is convincing evidence that he and 
his estimable wife enjoy the good things of this 
world in a sensible and practical manner. They 
have long been active and consistent members of 
the Presbyterian Church, of Howell, and have 
filled some of the most important offices in that 
body. 

Politically, Mr. Sexton is a Republican, but has 



MARION TOWNSHIP. 



359 



never souglit political fame. He has held the 
office of school inspector, and of deputy collector 
of the United States Internal Revenue for the 
Fifth District of Michigan. 

Although yet a young man, Mr. Sexton is 
widely known throughout Livingston County for 
his efficiency, enterprise, and good judgment, and 
enjoys to a large degree, the confidence and es- 
teem of all who know him. 



THOMAS LOVE 
was born Jan. 4, 18 13, in the Parish of Mortimer, 
Berkshire Co., England. He emigrated to this 
country with his father, Henry George Love, who 
came in May, 1836, with a family of five children, 
and settled on a half section of land on the south 
line of the town of Marion. This has since been 
known as the Love settlement. There he died in 
i860. 

Thomas Love remained with his father until 
July 24, 1839, when he was married to Lavina 
Basing, who came with her father from the same 
neighborhood as did the Loves, in 1838. The 
young couple at once started on their own account, 
their only capital being strong arms, with a very 
limited outfit of household goods. For a time he 
operated the Bevins saw-mill on shares, afterwards 
worked some land on shares for a few years, when 
he purchased eighty acres of land where he now 
lives. Upon this land there was an unfinished log 
house, but no other improvement. For the neces- 
saries of life he worked out by the day, and as the 
land was not yet paid for, the improvements were 
made only by the greatest exertion. 

Mr. Love and his wife each had watches they 
had brought from the old country, — gifts from 
friends; with these they paid for splitting the rails 
which made their first fence. Their first cow was 
bought on credit, for they had nothing else to buy 
with. Mr. Love was much employed at his trade, 
that of a carpenter. He worked on the house of 
Townsend Drew, said to be the first frame house 
in town. 

Through these discouraging years they never 
faltered. Slowly, but surely, progress was made. 
The first land was paid for, and other lands added, 
until at one time he had three hundred and forty 
acres. The log house has long since given place 
to a commodious residence. A family of seven 
children have been reared and given such advan- 
tages as are enjoyed by the most enterprising 
people of the day; and now, after an industrious 
and exemplary life, this pioneer couple look back 
to the small beginning and privations of the fron- 
tier life with the satisfaction that they have acted 



well their part, — as they enjoy their pleasant home, 
a large circle of friends, and a well-earned com- 
petency. 



GEORGE B. WILKINSON 

is the descendant of a very respectable family of 
the middle class of society in England. The first 
of whom we have any record was one Thomas 
Wilkinson, who migrated from the north of Lin- 
colnshire to the " P'ens," in quest of a better con- 
dition for his children than his own. He settled 
on a farm at Moore's Wood, and raised a very 
numerous progeny. The youngest son was named 
Thomas Wilkinson (2d). In due time he married 
a young lady by the name of Martha Wilson. To 
them were born many children, nine of whom lived 
to manhood, and did honor to their name. The 
fifth child, George Wilkinson, was the father of the 
subject of our sketch. He lived on a farm, and 
occupied a house commonly known as the Pear- 
Tree House, for about forty years. The sharer of 
his joys and sorrows was Miss Mary Ann Mar- 
shall. She was the mother of fifteen children, 
thirteen of whom are now in the prime of 
life. Mr. Wilkinson is a man ever ready to 
speak his mini! on all subjects, and from youth 
labored with Cobden, Bi ight, etc., for every needed 
reform, — ever battling the idea that distinguished 
origin was a matter of personal merit, or obscure 
origin one of reproach. 

George B. Wilkinson was born in the parish of 
Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, England, Feb. 25, 
1833, being the eldest of the fifteen children. 
Circumstances early initiated him into the duties 
of " chore-boy" upon his father's farm, where a 
rigid performance of every duty was demanded, — 
a severe but good discipline. In the year 1 851, 
being about eighteen years of age, he emigrated 
to America, coming an unusual route, via New- 
port, in Wales, to Portland, in Maine, a passenger 
in the little bark " Richard Young.s." Immediately 
he journeyed to Western New York, where he 
sojourned one year and three months. He then 
moved to Ohio, and wandered a little, staying in 
the State one year and nine months. In the year 
1854 he came to Michigan, residing a short time in 
Green Oak, but eventually moved into Lyon, Oak- 
land Co., where he lived about eight years. He 
and his two brothers, Charles and Samuel C, were 
quite well known in that region. The former en- 
listed and served three years in the United States 
army, and was accredited to the quota of that 
town. 

In the year 1863, George B. Wilkinson married 
Miss Keziah, third daughter of the late William 



36o 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Fletcher, of Milford. The union was a happy one. 
They were blest with five children, of whom three 
survive, — one son and two daughters. After their 
marriage they moved on to the farm upon which 
they now live. Mr. Wilkinson soon became noted 
as an agriculturist. Within a few months he 
opened about a mile of ditch, thereby reclaiming 
much land before considered worthless. To him 
is accredited the building of the first underdrain 
in the township. It was an inverted trough, and 
did good service. On his farm, to his credit it 
may be said, weeds are seldom allowed to go to 
seed. 

Mrs. Wilkinson is very domestic, — a fond mother, 
refined in her tastes, having a great love of the beau- 
tiful. In horticulture she takes great delight, and 
commands much notice. From her front door 
may be seen a fine sight, one which needs to be 
seen to be appreciated. No pen-picture can do it 
justice. Nature and art combine to make it 
beautiful. On the flower-stand are many choice 
domestic and e.xotic plants, the pride of their pos- 
sessor, and the admiration of the passers-by. 

Mr. Wilkinson is conservative in politics, usually 
acting with the Republican party. He seeks no 
office, yet has many times been the Republican 
candidate for positions of trust. His tastes are 
somewhat literary. While at South Lyon, in 
Buchanan's hey-day, he gained some little notice 
by a political satire. Since his residence in 
Marion he has, for amusement, written consid- 
erable for the newspapers. On visiting England 
he also furnished the press with some incidents 
of travel. Shortly afterwards he composed the 
story, " What Hattie did with her New Year's 
Gift." " An address to the Pioneers of Living- 
ston County" showed much ability, as did also 
another and more recent address to the farmers, 
when in council, at a farmers' institute, held in 
Howell. 



PIERPONT L. SMITH 

was born in Greene Co., N. Y., June i6, 1S05. His 
father, Stoddard Smith, was a lawyer in Greenville, 
N. Y. He came to Marion in 1836, and settled 
on a farm, where he died Dec. 17, 1842, aged 
seventy-five years. 

When Pierpont was fifteen years of age he went 
to New York City, where he was a clerk in a dry- 
goods store until 1826, when he came to Michigan 
and located on land in Washtenaw County. He 
returned to New York City in August that year, 
and married Letitia M. Degarmo. They came to 
Webster, Washtenaw Co., where they resided sev- 



eral years and made a good improved farm. While 
living there he was appointed justice of the peace 
by Governor ]\Iason. At that time Livingston 
was attached to Washtenaw County for judicial 
purposes. While living in Webster he purchased 
the land where he now lives, in Marion, and in 
1840 moved on to it. He at once made substan- 
tial improvements, and now has a highly-cultivated 
farm of three hundred acres. 

Mrs. Smith died May 28, 1865. She had been 
the mother of eight children, all of whom grew to 
maturity, e.xeept one. Two of the sons were sol- 
diers in the war of the Rebellion. W. Augustus 
was captain in the 22d Michigan Infantry ; was 
wounded at Chickamauga, and died in hospital. 
Junius, in the same regiment, was wounded at 
Chickamauga ; he is married and lives on a por- 
tion of the old farm. 

Mr. Smith was a second time married, Jan. 17, 
1 87 1, to Mrs. Frances Warner, of Dexter, formerly 
Miss Porter, of Bridgeport, Conn. 



GEORGE YOUNGLOVE 

was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., May 4, 1827. His 
father, William Younglove, emigrated to Wash- 
tenaw Co., Mich., in 1S30, where he remained six 
years. He then came to Livingston County, and 
settled on the town line, between Marion and Put- 
nam. That foil {1836) he built a small frame 
house, which was the first or second frame house 
in the town of Marion. This is the wing of the 
present house on the Younglove homestead. 
William Younglove was a man much respected 
and honored; he was justice of the peace, and for 
many years occupied some position on the town 
board. He died March 19, 1876. 

George Younglove was the youngest of five 
children. He and his brother, William, purchased 
ninety acres of land with the old homestead, and 
after William's death purchased his interest. He 
has added other lands, until he now has nearly 
three hundred acres. In 1857 he was married to 
Miss Margaret A. Lawson. Her father, John F. 
Lawson, came from New York City in 1857, and 
purchased from government five hundred and sixty 
acres of land in the towns of Genoa and Oceola, 
where he died. 

Mr. and Mrs. Younglove are among the pioneers 
who have witnessed the transformation of the 
primeval forest into a prosperous community, and 
remember well when the Indian and the wolf were 
not an uncommon sight, where now is a thickly- 
settled town. 





GEO. YOUNGLOVE. 



MRS. GEO YOUNGLOVE. 




P. L. SMITH . 



MARION TOWNSHIP. 



361 



AARON VAN PATTEN 

was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., July 24, 1828. 
When he was seven years of age his father moved 
to Onondaga County, where he died in 1844, leav- 
ing a family of nine children. Aaron remained 
with the family some ten years after his father's 
death, but worked out a portion of the time. 
Wishing to get a home of his own, he came to 
Livingston County in 1854, and purchased eighty 
acres of land upon which there was a small house 
and a few acres partially improved. He had 
money to make a small payment, but nothing 
left to make further improvements. For the 
necessaries of life he worked out by the day. 
Before this " eighty" could be paid for, an adjoin- 
ing one was offered for sale, and Mr. Van Patten 
desirous to possess a larger farm, borrowed 
the money and purchased it. In those days 
tile money-lender was master of the situation, 
and the heavy interest he was obliged to pay 
added other and more serious burdens to his 
already heavy load. At this juncture he received 
material aid by marrying, March 15, 1857, Miss 
PhcEbe Ann, daughter of Ira P. Annis, who 
enlisted in the 26th Michigan Infantry, and died 
in hospital, March 17, 1863, aged forty-eight 
years. 

For several years after Mr. Van Patten was mar- 
ried the struggle was severe and progress slow, 
but by frugal habits and persistent industry the 
land has been paid for, large and substantial 
buildings erected, the farm put under a high state 
of cultivation, and a handsome interest account 
running in his favor. 

Mr. and Mrs. Van Patten are consistent mem- 
bers of the Methodist Church. To them have 
been born eight children, five of whom are now 
living, — one son and four daughters. 
46 



ELDRED BASING 

was born in Berkshire Co., England, April 4, 182 1. 
His father, Joseph Basing, came to America in 
1838, with his family, consisting of a wife and nine 
children. One other child was born after they came 
to this country. He purchased one hundred and 
twenty-three acres of land near the Love settle- 
ment, Marion, where he still lives at the ad- 
vanced age of ninety-six years. His wife died 
May 29, 1878, aged eighty-six years. 

Eldred Basing lived at home until he was twenty- 
four years of age, when he went out to work by the 
month for a few years. He then purchased eighty 
acres of unimproved land. He cleared some 
twenty-five acres, when he sold and purchased 
one hundred and twenty acres on the corner where 
he now lives. Upon this land there was a log 
house and sixteen acres cleared. With this start 
he determined to have a home. He worked bravely 
and alone for three years, when he took a copartner 
by marrying Cordelia Burden, Dec. 22, 1853. She 
died Oct. 27, 1865, leaving four children, — three 
daughters and one son. 

Mr. Basing was again married, Nov. 21, 1867, 
to Mrs. Priscilla Merritt, formerly Priscilla Fields, 
daughter of William Fields, who came from Erie 
Co., Pa., in 1 848, and settled in Livingston County. 
He died in Iosco, in 1873. 

The history of Mr. Basing shows what may be 
accomplished by industry and economy. There 
has been no sudden accession of wealth, but by 
his own exertions, year by year, the improvements 
have been made. The progress, although slow at 
first, has been sure, until a fine farm, a plea.sant 
home, and an abundance have been secured. 

Mr. and Mrs. Basing are consistent members of 
the Methodist Church, and respected by all who 
know them. 



HARTLAND TOWNSHIP. 



The townsliip of Hartland is described as town- 
ship 3 north, range 6 east, and lies on the eastern 
side of Livingston, bordering on Oakland County. 
The reminiscences of Hartland are intimately as- 
sociated with the latter county, and its early settlers 
were frequently called upon to extend courtesies 
to their neighbors, whose entrance to the Territory 
as pioneers bore a much later date, — Hartland 
having remained an unbroken stretch of wood 
and plain for some years after the settlement of 
Oakland. The earliest entries of land, with a 
single exception, were made in 1833, and the larger 
proportion of them not earlier than 1835 and 1836, 
while many bear a much later date. 

Though arriving at a period subsequent to the 
settlement of the adjoining townsiiips, they were 
not the less thrown upon the resources of their 
own ingenuity. Their dwellings were also rude 
cabins made of logs, sometimes rough, sometimes 
hewn, and isolated as they were from all commu- 
nication with the world of civilization, with their 
stout hearts and willing hands the wilderness was 
soon made fruitful, and comfortable homes ere long 
replaced the primitive log structures. 

The township of Hartland seems to have de- 
rived its name from a township of like name in 
the State of New York, which was the former 
home of some of its early settlers. Its separate 
existence dates from 1836, when it became an in- 
dependent township and held its own elections. 
The writer has been unable to discover any early 
arrival antedating that of Col. Samuel Mapes, who 
came from Niagara Co., N. Y., to the Territory of 
Michigan, and located in Washtenaw County. In 
1831 or 1832 he was attracted by the rich lands of 
Hartland and removed thither, entering at first a 
tract of 80 acres, and subsequently adding to it. 
At this early period the country was almost an 
unbroken wilderness, a pilgrimage of six miles 
being necessary to hold intercourse with a single 
human being. With Col. Mapes came his son, 
Samuel, who aided him in breaking up the land 
and establishing a home. They arrived in winter, 
and their labors were first directed to cutting 
timber with which to build a shanty, and later a 
saw-mill. They succeeded in erecting a comfort- 
able habitation, and the following year they were 
followed by the family, who became permanent 
362 



residents. Rufus Tenney also located land very 
early, and was among the earliest of Hartland's 
pioneers. 

Eli Lee came late in the fiill of 1833, from Mon- 
roe Co., N. Y., and entered 125 acres on section 
25. With him came his family, including five sons, 
but one of whom survives. With Mr. Lee came 
E. J. Smith, of the same county in New York State, 
who located lands upon sections 24 and 5, each 80 
acres. Mr. Smith built a comfortable shanty upon 
section 20 soon after his arrival, and as soon after 
as practicable a house. Neither of these gentle- 
men found any road to guide them to their desti- 
nation, and were able to reach their lands only by 
following the Indian trail, which indicated the di- 
rection of their travels, while the axe was in con- 
stant demand to provide a pathway for the oxen. 
Their neighbors were all residents of the township 
of Highland, in the adjoining county. 

Mr. Lee's house was, during the early years of 
his settlement, constantly the rendezvous of land- 
lookers, and it was not unusual to find the floor 
covered at night with their slumbering forms, be- 
ing grateful for even such meagre cheer as it was 
possible to offer. 

In the spring of 1834 a child was born to Mr. 
and Mrs. E. C. Smith, which they christened 
Frances, and who afterwards became Mrs. Myron 
Curdy. This child enjoyed the distinction of being 
the first white child born within the limits of the 
township. 

Menzo Smith arrived in 1834, and located on 
section 23. Soon after he lost a child, which was 
buried on his land, and is believed to be the earliest 
death that occurred in the township. The exact 
date is not known, but thought to be the latter part 
of the year 1834 or early in 1835. 

William E. Huntley was a native of New York 
State, and early removed to Ohio, where he re- 
mained one year, and then came to the county of 
Livingston and settled in Hartland, arriving with 
the pioneers of 1S34. He immediately took an 
active interest in the growth of the county, and in 
1846 was elected sheriff", which office he held for 
four years. He removed later to Howell, and died 
in that village in April, 1872. Elias Armstrong 
came to the township from Connecticut in 1834, 
and died on the farm he at first purchased. 




;iP_ .^. ^ ST'^it-: sisiiS'KiQ 



i 



HARTLAND TOWNSHIP. 



363 



Norman Brainard came with his family from 
Genesee Co., N. Y., in May of 1835. From Buf- 
falo to Detroit they traveled by steamboat, his 
original intention being to proceed to Illinois and 
there purchase a farm. Meeting at Detroit a band 
of settlers from Highland, who extolled the advan- 
tages of Michigan, he was induced to prospect in 
the State. He procured a team and came via 
Birmingham (then rejoicing in the cognomen of 
Piety Hill) to Commerce and Milford. From Com- 
merce there was no road, but the route was 
marked by blazed trees. No special incidents 
marked the progress of the party, who arrived 
ere long at the house of Deacon Jesse Tenney in 
Highland. The following day, leaving the family 
at this hospitable house, Mr. Brainard, together 
with the deacon and a neighbor, departed in the 
search of land, and were so successful that the 
succeeding day Mr. Brainard repaired to Detroit 
and located 121 acres on section 21. He imme- 
diately began the erection of a log house, the 
family reriiaining during the interval at the house 
of Deacon Tenny for four weeks until its comple- 
tion. When first occupied it had neither floors, 
doors, or windows. However, two windows were 
very soon improvised, the sash and glass having 
been brought with the household goods. The 
children could not overcome their fear of the 
wolves, which prowled around the house and 
made night hideous with their cries, especially 
since there was no door to prevent their entrance. 
The boards were consequently taken from a 
box in which the goods were brought, and a 
floor was rudely constructed upon the beams 
overhead. There the children slumbered in less 
fear of wild beasts, but in imminent peril of 
tumbling out of bed and breaking their necks. 
A lower floor of puncheons was soon in place, 
and before winter approached a few boards were 
obtained, from which a door and upper floor were 
made. The following fall, after the first crop of 
wheat was harvested .and threshed, Mr. Brainard 
took the grist to a mill four miles north of Pontiac 
to be ground, and was absent four days. During 
his absence his family consumed their last loaf, 
and by employing the coffee-mill were able to 
grind a sufficient amount of wheat to supply their 
needs until the flour arrived. When the pork 
barrel was empty, the want could always be sup- 
plied through the Indians, who constantly offered 
fresh meat for barter, and thus kept the larder 
abundantly filled. Mrs. Grace Brainard (wife of 
Mr. Brainard) organized at her home the first 
Sabbath-school in the township, to which the 
children came a long distance through the woods 
when there was no road. A Sunday-school cele- 



bration was held during the summer of the first 
year of its existence, which proved a very interest- 
ing occasion, and may with propriety be charac- 
terized as the first event of like character in the 
county. Addresses were made by the older ones 
present, and at the close of the exercises 24 of the 
little ones sat down to a sumptuous repast pre- 
pared by the willing hands of Mrs. Brainard. 

Charles Smith came to Hartland in 1834, and 
located 200 acres on section 25. He was known 
as a successful firmer, and continued to improve 
his land until his death, which occurred in 1875. 

Adoniram Hubbell was also one of the pioneers 
of 1835, having removed from Newburgh, O., and 
purchased 200 acres on section 26, — reaching his 
possessions via Detroit, from whence he drove 
an ox-team and a covered wagon. He was ac- 
companied by two sons and a daughter. He fol- 
lowed the path marked by blazed trees, as had the 
few who preceded him. He arrived in October, 
and occupied an old dilapidated slianty one mile 
east of his land. However, before the winter 
closed they had erected a log house of their own, 
which, though primitive, was an improvement on 
the one they vacated. There were no doors; 
sheets suspended from the top being the only pro- 
tection. The wolves at times seemed determined 
to effect an entrance, when hot coals would be 
thrown at them. This served for a time to intimi- 
date them. Mr. Hubbell was a hatter by trade, 
and plied his calling vigorously during the winter 
season. He and his sons— Sardis F. and Ephraim 
A. — also broke up much of the adjoining land for 
the owners, keeping five yoke of oxen for the pur- 
pose. The younger son, Ephraim A., now resides 
on section 23, and Sardis F". is a prominent lawyer 
of Howell. 

John Whalen removed from the northern part of 
Ohio to Michigan, and settled in Hartland in Octo- 
ber, 1835, on an additional 40, on section 12, on 
which he established himself Mr. Whalen had 
si.x children, but one of whom is at present living 
in the county. He was a surveyor of much re- 
pute, and made many surveys of lands in Living- 
ston County. His death occurred June 20, 1851, 
in his sixty-fourth year. 

Hubbard Bullard came from Monroe Co., N. Y., 
in 1834, and located 40 acres on section 13, and 
purchased an additional 40 on section 24. He 
accomplished the whole journey from his former 
home with teams, and on his arrival made a brief 
sojourn with Eli Lee until the completion of his 
own log house. He owned four yoke of oxen, 
and for years engaged in the occupation of break- 
ing land for the neighboring settlers. Mr. Bullard 
well remembers the first log school-house, which 



364 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



was built in 1836, and which he assisted in erect- 
ing. 

The earliest instructor was Miss Sarah Huntley, 
who followed the custom of teachers of the day 
and " boarded 'round." 

John R. Williams was the companion of Mr. 
Bullard in his pioneer e.vperiences, and located 
160 acres on sections 14 and 23, — 80 acres on 
each. His father, John Williams, located 80 acres 
on section 24. He was one of the soldiers of the 
war of 18 1 2, and lost a limb in one of the early 
battles. Mr. Williams died in 1S37. 

John and James Brophy were among the earliest 
pioneers, arriving in the township in 1835, and im- 
mediately entered 320 acres of land, which was 
divided equally and upon which they each erected 
a log house. 

Elihu Haynes left his home in New York State 
in 1836, and purchased from government 80 acres 
in Hartland, to which he subsequently added 80 
acres. He has since continued to reside upon his 
purchase. 

One of the oldest pioneers of Hartland, Mr. O. 
E. Chambers, still survives, and resides within its 
limits. He came from Monroe County, N. Y., 
Sept. 27, 1836, via Detroit, traveling the whole dis- 
tance with an ox-team, his father having the pre- 
vious May located 80 acres upon sections 10 and 
1 1, and erected a log house. There were no roads 
at this early period, and the surrounding country, 
Mr. Chambers states, was a continuous stretch of 
black soil, the result of fires, which had swept 
vegetation for years previous. The year of his 
arrival a decided increase in population occurred, 
and it was not unusual to be summoned to a 
raising every day, his services as carpenter and 
joiner being in especial demand. His nearest 
neighbor was Thomas Hall, who located 160 acres 
on sections 14 and 15, and lived but a short time 
after his advent. His was the first interment in 
the cemetery at Hartland Centre. 

In October of 1837 James Gleason entered 160 
acres on sections 19 and 30. He left his former 
home in Orleans Co., N. Y., with an ox-team, 
coming via Detroit, and remaining with his friends, 
the Brophy brothers, until he had completed his 
log house. As his family increased he replaced 
this with a house of more ample proportions, in 
which he still resides. Mr. Gleason was elected to 
the State Legislature in 1853, and though not now 
an active politician, still maintains his interest in the 
public events of the day. The first Roman Catho- 
lic service in the township was held at his house, 
the rooms being barely large enough to accom- 
modate the worshipers. Father Morrissey, of Ann 
Arbor, was the officiating clergyman. 



Amos F. Albright left Monroe Co., N. Y., for 
the West in 1832. He remained in Ohio until 
1836, when he proceeded to Michigan, and en- 
gaged in his occupation of millwright. Having 
purchased land on section 16, he removed to Hart- 
land and made his temporary abode with Norman 
Brainard while he erected a log house upon his 
land. This house stood upon the site now occu- 
pied by the residence of Mrs. Chauncey L. Crouse. 
After completing a habitation he immediately 
began the erection of a grist-mill, which was 
completed and in working order the following 
fall. This mill, though a source of much accom- 
modation to the surrounding farmers, was prema- 
turely built as a matter of profit to the owner. 
Mr. Albright, finding himself involved, disposed of 
it in 1841 to Chauncey L. and Robert D. Crouse. 
He subsequently removed from the township, and 
now resides in Isabella Co., Mich., hale and hearty, 
though having reached the advanced age of sev- 
enty-eight years. 

Hiram Scollard, whose peculiar characteristics 
have been more fully touched upon in the history 
of an adjoining township, entered land on sections 
I and 2 in 1836. He established a reputation as the 
eccentric miller, at Woodruff's Mills, in Brighton. 

Dr. Josiah Clark was the first resident who prac- 
ticed the healing art. During the early years of 
his practice he resided on section 25, but died at 
Hartland Centre. 

The earliest saw-mill within the boundaries of 
the township was erected by Mapes & Bursley in 
1836. It stood upon section 7, on the banks of 
North Ore Creek, and enjoyed the patronage of 
the surrounding country, who were dependent upon 
it for most of the lumber used in the erection of 
their houses and barns. 

William Smith, another of the prominent settlers 
of 1836, came from Pennsylvania with a fimily of 
si.K children, and located on section 6, where he 
purchased 130 acres of Col. Samuel Mapes, who 
located the land. He was one of the earliest jus- 
tices of the peace of the township, in which ca- 
pacity he officiated for many years, and was also 
an honored member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. He died in Flint in 1852, and was suc- 
ceeded in his possessions by his son, Elisha G , 
who died in 1 870. 

As r>early as can be determined the earliest 
divine service was held in the first school-house, 
already mentioned, the officiating clergyman being 
that distinguished pioneer in Christian work, Elder 
Cosart. 

Elder Jackson, a missionary of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, preached also at a very early 
date, and is remembered by many of the older 



HARTLAND TOWNSHIP. 



365 



residents riding by on horseback with liis port- 
manteau at his side. 

Elder Britten was also an early cxhorter, and 
was accustomed to ride an old horse, with his wife 
and child seated behind him. 

Probably one of these gentlemen performed the 
first marriage ceremony (the date of which remains 
uncertain) of Mr. George Cornwell to Miss Wil- 
liams, daughter of John Williams. Another early 
marriage was that of Lyman Lee to Miss Andrews. 

Freeman Near emigrated from Oneida Co., N. Y., 
in 1839, and located at Hartland Centre. Dis- 
covering here a fine field for his abilities he estab- 
lished himself as a physician, and was the first in 
the little hamlet. He later married and continued 
to reside in the place until his death, which occurred 
some years since. 

Ira D. Crouse removed fiom Avon, Livingston 
Co., N. Y., in 1843, having been induced by his 
brothers to assist them in their business at Hart- 
land Centre. As soon as he had accumulated suf- 
ficient means he purchased land, and since that 
time has added to it untfl he now owns 360 acres. 
He is one of the repre.sentative men of the town- 
ship, actively interested in all public enterprises, 
and especially zealous in the advancenfent of its 
educational interests. 

Hiram Husse)' removed from Waj'ne Co., N. Y., 
in 1844, and purchased from his brother, Calvin 
Bussey, who had [^receded him, 160 acres, on sec- 
tions 4 and 9. At this late date the country was 
not thickly settled. His neighbors at this time 
were Calvin Bussey, James Webber, Elder David 
Youngs, and Le Grand Clark, the latter of whom 
came but a short time before and located, on sec- 
tion II, 220 acres. 

Le Grand Clark, one of the prominent farmers 
of Hartland, came to the township in 1841, and 
purchased the farm upon section 1 1, where he now 
resides, and which he has greatly improved. 

C. A. Weaver became a resident of Green Oak 
in 1S43, ait^ '" 1855 removed to Hartland, pur- 
chasing the foundry at the village, and owning it 
for several years. Later he became the proprietor 
of the leading hotel, which was burned, and rebuilt 
by him, and finally sold. He now resides upon a 
farm adjacent to the village. 

Lorenzo L. Armstrong emigrated to the State 
in 1835. and to Hartland in 1842. In 1845 he 
went to Milford, but not finding the advantages it 
offered superior to those of the township he first 
located in, returned in 1853 and purchased a farm 
embracing 480 acres, and took up his residence 
upon it. He has since that time been a leading 
spirit in all that pertains to the welfare of the 
township. 



The soil of Hartland is a gravelly loam, fertile, 
and well adapted to the growth of wheat, of which 
abundant harvests repay the toil of the farmer. 
The surface of the township is undulating, with 
broad acres of level land interspersed with gently 
sloping hills, which give variety and beauty to the 
landscape. 

Several lakes dot the surface of the ground, 
chief among which are Round Lake, Long Lake, 
Brophy Lake, Whalen Lake, and Dunham Lake. 
North Ore Creek also affords a water-power in the 
southern portion of the township. 

On the map of the township may be seen a nar- 
row neck of land on the line of sections 27 and 28, 
between Long and Round Lake. On this isthmus, 
partially covered with trees, dwelt in a certain rude 
independence old Shakaw, the retired chief of a 
remnant of the tribe that once peopled the wilder- 
ness embraced in the present county of Livingston. 
When the advance of civilization turned these 
wild lands into beautiful fields, the ranks of the 
tribe were broken, and the chief, having separated 
himself from his followers, repaired to the beautiful 
spot mentioned, to spend in retirement- the remnant 
of his days. Here he constructed a primitive 
abode, made entirely of bark. The family of Sha- 
kaw consisted of one son and two daughters. Near 
the hut of Shakaw was a similar one constructed 
of bark, in which the friend of the chief, Portabeek, 
with his fiiniily, consisting of two daughters and 
two sons, made their abode. He was a man of 
lofty bearing, which, accompanied by a command- 
ing form and a strong will, made him feared and 
respected by the brethren of his tribe. When Sha- 
kaw chose this secluded spot on the banks of the 
two lakes for his home, Portabeek followed his 
friend into retirement. Neither seemed disturbed 
by the progress of civilization around them, and 
the a.Ke and plow had little influence in changing 
their primitive life. The ground they occupied was 
left untilled, and the woods and streams continued 
to supply their meagre wants. It would seem 
natural that to complete the romance in the lives 
of these two life-long friends, the daughters of 
Shakaw should be wooed by the dusky sons of 
Portabeek. But history does not thus record it. 

These Indians are well remembered by many of 
the older white settlers. They finally removed to 
the northward, and it is said that old Shakaw died 
at a comparatively recent date in Isabella County. 

Annexed is a list of individuals who made orig- 
inal entries of land within the township of Hart- 
land : 

SECTION I. 

Acres, 

Willi.Tm Thompson, .April, 1836 208.56 

A. K. Albright, June, 1836 80 



366 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Acres. 

H. R. Scollard, June, 1S36 80 

Ledyard Flint, June, 1836 160 

Ledyard Hint, December, 1836 205.28 

SECTION 2. 

W. H. Townsend, October, 1835 198.24 

William Thompson, April, 1836 195-72 

SECTION 3. 

John I. Blackman, April, 1S36 118.65 

Henry Hawkins 

Van R. Hawkins, June, 1836 80 

Levi Andnis, July, 1836 160 

J. C. Whalen, October, 1836 "703 

Jacob Weslervelt, October, 1836 40 

O. E. Darrow, October, 1S36 80 

Alanson Olds, January, 1837 So 

Samuel Cowles, April, 1837 40 

SECTION 4. 

James Webber, October, I S35 120 

Major Curtis, January, 1S36 156.21 

Franklin Curtis, March, 1836 40 

Austin Wakeman, March, 1836 117-52 

H. and V. R. Hawkins, June, 1836 80 

Calvin Bussey, September, 1836 So 

Thomas Bussey, September, 1S36 40 

Jacob Westervelt, October, 1836 So 

SECTION 5. 

Isaac Parshall, September, 1835 179-92 

Ezra Gleason, October, 1835 So 

John I. Rice, November, 1835 So 

Major Curtis, December, 1S35 '97-93 

David Curtis, March, 1836. 40 

SECTION 6. 

E. Gleason, May, 1836 40 

J. Maplebeck, June, 1834 79 54 

Samuel Mapes, Deceinber, 1835 40 

William Chapman, Apiil, 1S35 59-52 

Calvin Bussey, June, 1S35 40 

Abel Hyde, October, 1836 80 

Russel Morton, January, 1836 56.17 

SECTION 7. 

A. and R. Tenney, October, 1832 197.16 

John T. Brown, February, 1835 157. oS 

Abby Mapes, June, 1835 40 

J. T. Brown, August, 1835 J20 

Asa Parshall, September, 1835 80 

Samuel Bidleman, September, 1835 40 

SECTION 8. 

J. Maplebeck, November, 1837 40 

Garry Griswold, May, 1837 40 

B. Townley, December, 1836 40 

Abram Dean, December, 1836 40 

Samuel Mapes, December, 1834 40 

Abby Mapes, October, 1835 40 

Nehemiah Lamb, November, 1835 80 

Nehemiah Lamb. December, 1835 80 

B. M. Towsley, June, 1836 40 

William Gannon, July, 1836 40 

Daniel Griswold, July, 1836 40 

John Van Derhoop, October, 1836 40 

Abram Dean, November, 1836 40 

Dennis Whalen, November, 1836 40 

SECTION 9. 

Jos. S. Webber, October, 1835 80 

Nichols, November, 1835 120 

Cyrus Jackson, June, 1836 320 

Calvin Bussey, .September, 1836 80 

Thomas Bussey, December, 1836 40 

SECTION 10. 

Jas. Chambers, May, 1S36 40 

Cyrus Jackson, June, 1836 240 

Seth I, Smith, June, 1S36 80 

John Hopkinson, September, 1836 So 



Acres. 

Z. Shaw, September, 1836 40 

Peter Hartinan, September, 1836 So 

Smith Irish, November, 1836 40 

Dennis Whalen, November, 1836 40 

SECTION II. 

John Whalen, November, 1836 40 

F'reelove Adams, April, 1836 40 

James Chambers, May, 1836 40 

Samuel Hosford, June, 1836 40 

Samuel L. Hale, June, 1S36 80 

Jos. B. Enos, June, 1836 120 

J. C. Whalcn,"june, I.S36 40 

Royal Baker, June, 1836 40 

H. S. Sncdiker, September, 1836 I20 

Josiah Hale, October, 1836 40 

A. C. Taj;gart, May, 1836 40 

Ledyard Flint, June, 1836 160 

Ledyard Flint, June, 1S36..: 80 

H. & V. R. Hawkins, June, 1836 80 

H. S. Snecbker, September, 1836 240 

John Whalen, October, 1836 40 

SECTION 13. 

Dennis Whalen, July, 1834 40 

J. Coburn, May, 1836 40 

Hubbard IJullard, June, 1S36 40 

H. S. Snediker, September, 1S36 200 

Adolphus Cary, Jr., October, 1836 160 

James Whalen, October, 1S36 40 

Noah Cowles, April, 1837 80 

J. C. Russell, December, 1838 40 

SECTION 14. 

John William':, June, 1834 80 

A. I'helps, July, 1834 80 

Dennis«Whalen, July, 1834 80 

Eli Lee, July, 1835 80 

George Huntley, July, 1835 40 

Thomas Hall, Mav, 1836 120 

Elisha B. Hall, May, 1836 80 

Moses Taggart, June, 1S36 80 

SECTION 15. 

Aaron Phelps, July, 1834 80 

Ornian Holmes, September, 1835 80 

C. W. Pierce, October, 1835 80 

Thos. Hall, May, 1S36 80 

James Snow, June, 1836 80 

Cyrus Jackson, June, 1S36 160 

George Ha.stings, October, 1S36 40 

A. Cary, Jr., December, 1836 40 

SECTION 16. 

A. F. .■Mbright, October, 1837 80 

A. F. Albright, October, 1837 4° 

Albright & Flint, August, 1839 4° 

J. Flint, September, 1843 160 

H. Gleason, November, 1843 4° 

J. D. Grouse, 1845 and 1S47 160 

Lucy Norton, March, 1848 4° 

H. H. Middah, July, 1850 4° 

SECTION 17. 

Joe Brophy, March, 1835 160 

James Brophy, March, 1835 160 

John CuUen, December, 1835 160 

Thomas .Mackey, December, 1835 80 

Thomas .Sullivan, Januai-y, 1836 4° 

Thom.as Kelley, September, 1836 40 

SECTION 18. 

Thom.is Tyrrell, March, 1836 >57-25 

John Jordan, March, 1835 So 

Thomas Tyrrrell, August, 1835 79-67 

Thom.as Kelley, December, 1S35 4° 

Thomas Sullivan, January, 1836 4° 

John Cullen, January, 1S36 4° 

William Gannon, January, 1836 So 

John Jordan, September, 1836 4° 

B. O. Cavanagh, October, 1836 4° 

James Gannon, May, 1837 39-^7 



HARTLAND TOWNSHIP. 



367 



SECTION 19. 

Acres. 

Benjamin Wait, October, 1835 80 

C. Peco-ird, January, 1836 40 

James McDonnell, March, 1836 39-38 

Elilui Haines, March, 1S36 I20 

George Lemon, June, 1836 120 

Isaac L. Piatt, Aujjust, 1836 40 

J. I!. Weeden, September, 1S36 15784 

Hugh McKeever, August, 1838 39-38 

SECTION 20. 

David F. Hess, October, 1835 40 

Halsey Bidwell, May, 1836 200 

Joseph Hard, June, 1836 40 

Thomas Conlon, June, 1836 40 

Georjje Lemon, June, 1836 80 

Dennis O'Reardon, November, 1836 40 

Patrick Crosby, August, 1837 40 

Hiigl) McKcever, August, 1838 80 

John Cullen, July, 1854 40 

SECTION 21. 

Norman Brainard, June, 1835 120 

David F. Hess, October, 1835 40 

N. Brainard, December, 1835 40 

Solomon Foster, July, 1836 40 

Solomon Daillard, August, 1836 240 

R. D. Hess, September, 1836 40 

N. Brainard, October, 1836 40 

Relecta Hastings, April, 1S37 40 

Patrick Kelley, September, 1837 40 

John G. Horion, May, 1855 120 

C. \V. Pierce, October, 1835 80 

Lavius Tenney, March, 1836 80 

Cornell Lansing, March, 1836 80 

Cornell Lansing, May, 1836 80 

R. D. Hess, September, 1836 40 

Lavius Tenney, September, 1836 40 

Laura Hubbell, November, 1836 40 

SECTION 23. 

John Williams, June, 1834 80 

George Huntley, June, 1834 80 

George Bulkley, June, 1834 40 

Aarcni Phelps, July, 1S34 160 

Rufus Tenney, December, 1835 40 

Eunice Tenney, January, 1836 40 

John B. Smith, May, 1836 40 

Bliss Charles, June, 1836 40 

C. T. Charles, June, 1836 40 

John Hopkinson, September, 1836 80 

Laura Hubbell, December, 1836 40 

SECTION 24. 

John C. Russell, December, 1838 40 

B. B. Kercheval, October, 1836 40 

A. Carey, October, 1836 40 

E. I. Smith, September, 1833 80 

George Burnet, April, 1834 40 

John Wdliams, October, 1834 40 

John Williams, February, 1S35 40 

E. I. Smith, June, 1835 80 

Harriet Smith, June, 1835 40 

Crocker Hastings, October, 1835 4° 

J. T. Clark, November, 1835 40 

N. P. Morse, September, 1836 40 

S. T. Armstrong, October, 1836 80 

SECTION 25. 

Charles Smith, April, 1833 160 

Lavius Tenney, May, 1833 ". 80 

Eli Lee. M.iy, 1833 120 

E. J. Smith, September, 1833 120 

William Kinney, October, 1833 80 

E. Armstrong, June, 1S35 40 

John C. Morse, November, 1836 40 

SECTION 26. 

John Glines, November, 1836 40 



Acres. 

John Glines, July, 18(4 40 

Aaron Phelps, March, 1835 40 

Eber Adams, July, 1835 160 

A. Hubbell, Novembei', 1835 40 

jeptha Coburn, February, 1836 40 

Charles Smith, Feliruarv, 1836 40 

E. I. Smith, .Mav, 1836'. 80 

A. "Hubbell, May, 1836 40 

William Kinney, September, 1836 40 

A. Hubbell, October, 1836 40 

SECTION 27. 

Abner Hyde, January, 1836 40 

N. P. Morse, May, 1836 40 

C. B. Phillips, May, 1836 80 

Levi Maxfield, May, 1836 40 

Isaac F. Brant, August, 1S36 120 

George Cornell, Septeml>er, 1836 80 

John Glines, October, 1836 40 

Benjamin Brevoort, October, 1836 40 

James Handy, November, 1854 40 

John Glines, October, 1855 40 

L. L. Armstrong, January, 1856 40 

James (irubb, January, 1S60 40 

SECTION 28. 

D. F. Hess, October, 1835 80 

I. H. S. Hurlbert, October, 1835 80 

Elisha Mudge, July, 1836 So 

I. F. Brant, August, 1836 120 

Laura M. Hess, September, 1836 40 

Medad Feri-y, January, 1S38 40 

John B. Smith, June, 183S 40 

Laura Lewis, August, 1838 40 

Samuel Mapes, November, 1852 40 

J. H. Handy, Decenilier, 1854 40 

H. A. Potter, May, 1S55 40 

SECTION 29. 

I. H. S. Hurlbert, October, 1835 80 

M. McDonnell, May, 1836 80 

Stephen C. Hathaway, May, 1S36 80 

Thomas Conlon, June, 1836 40 

Wm. J. Cochrane, August, 1836 320 

Julia A. Hess, F'ebruaiy, 1839 40 

SECTION 30. 

A. Rogers, Jr., May, 1836 39-72 

M. McDonnell, May, 1S36 160 

James Cileason, May, 1836 80 

Mary McGuire, May, 1836 39-72 

Ira C. Hathaway, May, 1836 160 

Silas Hathaway, May, 1836 '•9-95 

Wm. N. Hoyt, September, 1836 40 

SECTION 31. 

R. B. Ruggles, August, 1835 165.54 

Benjamin Tanner, Ajiril, 1836 160 

Heniy S. Lisk, May, 1S36 80 

Patrick Mullen, June, 1S36 120 

Charles Hartley, August, 1836 40 

Wm. A. Clark, September, 1836 81.90 

SECTION 32. 

Charles Robinson, July, 1834 80 

Joseph Robinson, June, 1835 40 

H. S. Lisk, Mav, 18156 80 

S. Kilp.atrick. May, 1836 80 

Abm. M. Topping, August, 1836 160 

Isaac L. Piatt, August, 1836 160 

Benjamin Blain, November, 1854 40 

SECTION 33. 

Benjamin Tanner, April, 1S36 120 

Elijah Marsh, June, 1836 80 

Isa.ac !•'. Brant, August, 1S36 80 

Betsey Marsh, October, 1836 40 

Israel Amies, February, 1837 40 

H. H. Wharner, October, 1837 40 



368 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Acres. 

Snmiiel Crippen, M^y, 1S3S 40 

Morris Whiteliout, Kel)ru,Try, 1846. 40 

I. H. Handy, Fel)ruary, 1S53 40 

Michael Wal-h, August, 1853 40 

Franklin Walsh, March, 1858 40 

Robert Sloan, March, 1854 40 

.SECTION 34. 

H. Goodspeed, July, 1835 80 

Joseph Young, M.iy, 1836 160 

W. H. Johnston, June, 1836 80 

Chauncey Childs, September, 1836 160 

Benjamin Brevoort, December, 1S36 40 

Isaac Collin^, September, 183S 40 

L. M. Armstrong, December, 1853 40 

H. J. Ross, December, 1854 40 

SECTION 35. 

Emeline Hewett, Jmie, 1839 80 

Benjamin Wood, December, 1833 40 

Cornell Lansing, March, 1835 80 

Ibrook Tower, M.ay, 1835 40 

R. & J. Tenney, July, 1835 120 

Ch.arles Smith, November, 1835 40 

John n. Smith, December, 1835 40 

F. \V. Goodman, December, 1835 40 

William Kinney, September, 1836 40 

Soloinon Cooper, November, 1837 40 

Wells Farr, January, 1838 40 

Keyes Child, June, 1S38 40 

SECTION 36. 

John Cosart, November, 1836 40 

Alvah Tenney, October, 1832 80 

Jesse Tenney, April, 1833 80 

John C. Morse, May, 1833 40 

Erastus J. Smith, September, 1833 40 

John Wood, December, 1833 80 

Beniamin Wood, Jr., December, 1S33 40 

John Cosart, October, 1835 120 

William Kinney, September, 1836 80 

H. T. Ross, December, 1854 40 

The following is an alphabetical ILst of the resi- 
dent tax-payers in the township of Hartland in 
1844: 

Andrus, Rebecca. Cosart, John. 

Atwood, David. Dyre, Edward, 

Armstrong, Elias. Dibble, Henry A. 

Armstrong, Giles. Devine, Robert. 

Armstrong, Simeon. Flint, Ledyard. 

Bussey, Calvin. Ferry, William C. 

Bussey, Hiram. Finney, John. 

Brown, Walter. Gleason, Elijah. 

Boullon, James. Griswold, Gary. 

Brock, Matthew. Griswold, Daniel. 

Brown, Fortius. Griswold, Henry. 

Brophy, John. Graves, Harley H. 

Brophy, James. Graves, Charles K. 

Brainerd, Norman, Gannon, Richard. 

Brown, Stephen. Garfield, John. 

Bradley, Orlando. Gle.ison, John. 

Clark, Le Grand. Gillinghain, John. 

Chambers, James, Griffin, George J. 

Copp, Peter. Gleason, Hiram. 

Cimmer, Nathan. Gannon, William. 

Gary, Adolphus. Glines, John. 

Chambers, James, Jr. Grant, George. 

Chambers, L. C. Graham, David. 

Grouse, C. L. & R. Gleason, James. 

Clark, Josiah T. Griswold, Benjamin. 

Cullen, John. Hodges, Russell. 

Cook, Ezekiel. Hodges, Willard. 

Cloucherty, John. Haynes, Lyman. 

Child, Ch.auncey. Hale, Elisha B. 



Huntley, William E. 
Holmes, Orman. 
Huntley, Erastus L. 
Haines, Stephen. 
Haines, Elihu. 
Horton, John G. 
Himtley, Henry O. 
Hubbell, Adoniram. 
Hathaway, Ira. 
Hess, David F. 
Hess, George. 
Johnson, William S. 
Johnson, Widow. 
Jordan, John. 
Kesler, Jacob. 
Kelly, Thomas. 
Kinney, George. 
Kinney, William N. 
Kinney, H. R. 
Littlefield, Anthony R. 
Lamb, Aroswell. 
Lennon, Margaret. 
Lanning, William C. 
Lyon, Aliiel. 
Lake, Warner. 
Liverniore, Lampson. 
Lee, Eli. 
Lee, Adon. 
Morgan, Dudley. 
Marvin, Richard. 
Minor, Ezra. 
Maxfield, Thom.as. 
Menter, Daniel. 
McKeever, Hugh. 
Mapes, Samuel, Jr. 
Mudge, John. 
Mudge, .Samuel T. 
Mills, John H. 
Maxfield, Levi. 
McDon.ald, Michael. 



Ma]ies, Hiram. 
McCormick, Jacob. 
Near, Freeman. 
Parshall, Isaac. 
Phillips, Charles B. 
Rice, John I. 
Ross, Charles. 
Richardson, A. W. 
Ross. John. 
.Seed, Hugh. 
Smith, Beriah G. 
Smith, William. 
Simons, Alfred S. 
Scullard, Hiram R. 
Seeley, William D. 
Shaw, Z. 
Smith, John B. 
Smith, Eiastus J. 
Smith, Charles. 
Townley, Daniel. 
Thayer, I. R. 
Townley, Benjamin W. 
Tyrrell, Thomas. 
Tenney, Lavius. 
Thompson, Elias. 
Whalcn, Josiah C. 
Webl>er, James S. 
Westervelt, Jacob. 
Wakeman, Austin. 
Welilier, Joseph. 
Whalen, John. 
Whalen, James. 
Whalen, Dennis. 
White, Sandford. 
Williams, John. 
Williams, Sally. 
Waters, Vincent. 
^yood, John. 
Youngs, David. 



HARTLAND CENTRE. 

This little village, which is located northwest of 
the geographical centre of the township, was settled 
not long after the first settlement was made in the 
township, but it assumed no special importance as 
a centre of trade until some years later. Rufus 
Tenney is said to have made the earliest location 
of land within its limits, and the first store was 
opened by George J. Griffin, from Rochester, N. Y., 
in 1839. This was for a long time the head- 
quarters of the hamlet, where the news of the day 
and political topics were discussed, and where 
various matters relating to the welfare of Hartland 
had their origin. Township-meetings were also 
held here for several years, and liquor was freely 
dispensed. After canvassing the ballots, the elected 
candidates were accustomed to exercise their hos- 
pitality, and a free-and-easy time was the inev- 
itable result ; some of the early pioneers who still 
survive having a vivid recollection of the condition 
in which they sought their homes after these elec- 
tion revels. 

Amos F. Albright early erected a grist-mill here, 



HARTLAND TOWNSHIP. 



369 



and for several years manaj^ed its business, but in 
1 841 disposed of the property to Robert D. and 
Chauncey L. Grouse. With the arrival of these 
active business men begins the era of commercial 
enterprise in the little village, and the growth and 
prosperity of the place is largely indebted to their 
presence. Robert D. Grouse came to the State 
in 1832, and to Hartland in 1842. In connection 
with the mills, he purchased a large tract of land, 
and also kept a store with a general stock. This 
store enjoyed a large trade, and was for a long time 
a depot for much of the traffic of the township. 
Mr. Grouse was also one of the stockholders of 
the East Saginaw Salt Manufacturing Gompnny, 
and erected in the city of Saginaw the first block 
of stores, called after him the Grouse Block. 
Ghauncey L. was the brother and partner of Robert 
D., and was intimately associated with him in his 
business enterprises. He also became a resident 
here in 1842. 

The village contains one tavern, kept by Asa 
Parshall ; one tin-shop, owneil by L. Hurlbert; two 
dry-goods stoics, the proprietors of which are 
Grouse & Go. and W. R. Gannon respectively, both 
of whom keep, in connection with dry goods, a 
general stock adapted to country trade; one drug- 
store, kept by H. Gullen; a general store, by O. 
B. Ghambers ; a harness-shop, by O. Bowles, and 
a boot- and shoe-store, by George Darling. The 
grist-mill which was built by Amos F. Albright, 
and was afterwards the property of the Grouse 
brothers, is now owned by V. Parshall & Son. 
There is also a foundry in the village, which was 
built in 1849, by Lyman Bishop. In 1855 it was 
purchased by G. A. Weaver, who conducted it 
until i860, when it was disposed of to Hildebrant 
& Garl. The foundry is now owned by Sanford 
Hildebrant, and manufactures plows, scrapers, and 
other implements used in farming. There are also 
three blacksmith-shops, owned by R. Drulard, F. 
Steadman, and A. McDunagh. 

There are three physicians in Ilartland Gentre, — 
Drs. William M. Hayford, Murphy, and J. J. Boyd, 
— the latter of whom represents the Homoeopathic 
school of practice. The village also contains a 
flourishing school, under the direction of Prof Sell- 
man. 

CONGRKCJATIONAL CHURCH. 

The First Gongregational Ghurch of Hartland 
Centre was organized April, 1844, in a school- 
house in the immediate vicinity. Eight persons 
united to form this new society, — six having letters 
from other churches and two uniting by profession. 
They were Myron Lovell, Garoline Lovell, John 
P. Kellogg, Ann J. Kellogg, Elsie Marvin, Mar- 
garet Lennon, Sophia Glark, Gharles Williamson. 
47 



The Rev. Albert Worthington. of Milford, Oak- 
land Co., was the officiating minister, and continued 
to be their pastor for two years, — coming once in 
four weeks to preach to them. Two months after 
the organization of the church two more persons 
united by profession of faith. The church records 
are then silent until P"eb. 21, 1847, when the Rev. 
A. Smith, also of Milford, preached and adminis- 
tered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper; at 
this date five persons united with the church by 
letter. 

Rev. Mr. Waterbury came July 8, 1849 (from 
what place the records do not state), and preached 
and administered the Lord's Supper, — four persons 
uniting with the church at this date. Rev. Mr. 
Ackley, of Howell, preached Oct. 29, 1849, and 
administered the Lord's Supper, — four uniting 
by letter. Mr. Ackley soon after became their 
pastor for one year. After this the church had no 
pastor or stated preaching until the autumn of 
1851, when the Rev. E. T. Branch, who had just 
completed a long pastorate at Genesee, became the 
pastor and continued his labors for two years. 
Both himself and wife were earnest church-work- 
ers, doing good, administering comfort to the af- 
flicted, and causing every one to feel that in them 
they had sincere friends. 

The Sabbath-school (which at that time was a 
union school) was very prosperous during their 
residence here. All classes were gathered in and 
became interested in the study of the Bible. Mrs. 
Branch organized the first Ladies' Home Mission- 
ary Society in this place, which was a success; not 
only were the individuals themselves who thus met 
benefited, but funds accumulated with which to 
furnish the prospective church. 

After Mr. Branch's pastorate the church records 
are silent until Nov. 3, i860, a period of seven years. 
During that interval, however. Rev. Mr. Goodell 
was pastor of the church one year, and occasional 
preaching was had by ministers who were pastors 
of neighboring Gongregational Churches. During 
that time, also, in the summer of 1858, their pres- 
ent house of worship was built, the cost of build- 
ing being 51800. This church was fully paid for 
and free from debt, and was also very well furnished 
by the ladies of the church and congregation at 
the time it was dedicated, December, 1858. Rev. 
Mr. Greely, of Grand Rapids, was present on that 
occasion, and preached the dedicatory sermon. 
Myron Lovell was their first church clerk, — chosen 
to that office when the church was organized, and 
continuing to act in that capacity until February, 
1847. Their second clerk was Daniel Rich, elected 
to the office in 1847, and filling the position until 
his death. 



370 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



In the spring of i860 the Rev. M. C. Stanley 
became the pastor, and remained with the church 
one year. At the close of his pastorate the Rev. 
W. W. Robson, of Worth, in this State, became 
the pastor. He was an able Biblical scholar, and 
brought well-beaten oil into the sanctuary. Seven 
persons united with the cliurch while he was pas- 
tor, — five by letter and two by profession. His 
laboi's with the church closed October, 1863. 

Nothing more is shown by the records until 1868, 
when the Rev. C. N. Coulter became pastor, and 
also filled the office of clerk during his stay of one 
year. Henry Bishop was the fourth clerk, chosen 
1869, and held the office until his removal from 
this place, in 1873. Amos Beebe was the next or 
fifth clerk for three years, at the expiration of 
which time Miss S. A. Griffin was chosen clerk, 
and continues to hold the office at the present 
date. 

Rev. W. B. Williams visited this church in 1872, 
and held meetings for four weeks, preaching every 
evening, and being assisted by the Rev. Mr. Crane. 
Soon after the close of these meetings twenty per- 
sons united with the church. At that time the 
Union Sunday-school was divided, each church 
having a separate school. The Congregational 
school purchased a large library, and also a fine 
organ. 

Rev. H. H. Crane was their pastor in 1868, com- 
mencing his labors soon after the protracted meet- 
ing closed, and remaining one year. The church 
was then without a pastor until October, 1874. 
At that date the Rev. R. W. Fletcher, of Jackson, 
an earnest, faithful worker, became the pastor. 
During his stay the edifice was very thoroughly 
repaired and greatly beautified. 

The first Woman's Foreign Missionary Society 
of this church was organized during that year, 
Mrs. Fletcher taking the lead in the work. It is 
still doing a good work. 

During the summer of 1876 the church was 
without a settled clergyman, but in the autumn of 
that year the Rev. Mr. Osborne, of Augusta, Hills- 
dale Co., became their pastor, he occupying this 
field two years, preaching also in Tyrone each Sab- 
bath afternoon, at which place he organized a Con- 
gregational Church. 

He was followed by Rev. D. A. Strong, of Fre- 
donia, N. Y., who commenced his labors Oct. 20, 
1878. He has labored both here and at Tyrone, 
being pastor of both churches. His work has 
been very successful, and large numbers have been 
added to both churches. This society has, from 
the very first, kept itself free from debt. The esti- 
mated value of church property at the present 
date is ;g2CXX). 



METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Hartland 
Centre embraces 69 members, and is at present in 
charge of Rev. N. J. Lyon. The church building, 
which is owned by the society, is a substantial 
structure, costing about $2500. An effort by the 
writer to obtain a complete history of the church 
has proved unsuccessful. 

PARSHALLVILLE. 

This active little hamlet lies in the extreme 
northwest corner of Hartland, and, though the 
larger portion may be claimed as belonging to the 
township named, a sufficient portion lies in Tyrone 
to entitle it to a share of the honor. As in many 
villages of much larger proportions, the water- 
power which the site afforded was the nucleus 
around which the village was built, it having 
offered a very attractive prospect to the first 
settler and founder of the place, Isaac Parshall,and 
induced him to cast his fortunes in this portion 
of Hartland in 1834. Having surveyed the country 
carefully, and discovered the opportunities that 
North Ore Creek offered to a man of enterprise, he 
immediately entered 400 acres of land, which in- 
cluded the mill-privilege. 

Later, Mr. Parshall began the erection of a saw- 
and grist-mill, but did not at once settle upon his 
property. He returned to his home in the East, 
and in 1837 had fully determined to cast his for- 
tunes with the pioneers of Hartland. A mill had 
previously been built by Calvin Bussey in 1835, one 
mile south of Parshallville, on section 8. It was 
upon North Ore Creek, and had sawed much of 
the timber, during its brief existence, that had been 
used in the construction of the rude houses and 
barns of that early day. Later it was bought by Wm. 
Smith, and its quaint ruins are still seen on the 
banks of the creek as the traveler passes on his 
way to Brighton. 

Having in 1835 erected a frame house and made 
some improvements in the surrounding land, Mr. 
Parshall, when he became a resident in 1837, found 
a wide and inviting field for his energies. He was 
also a blacksmith, and added to the occupations of 
miller and farmer the reputation of shoeing a horse 
as well as any smithy in the county. Mr. Par- 
shall did not entirely monojfolize the field, how- 
ever, but encouraged John Roberts at an early day 
to embark in trade. He built a small store on the 
west side, and filled it with a general assortment of 
goods suitable to the country trade, and enjoyed 
the honor of having been the first merchant in the 
village. 

The west side was not, however, to absorb all 
the business enterprise of the place, and soon a 



HARTLAND TOWNSHIP. 



371 



similar store was built and opened by Austin 
Wakeman on the east side. The house built by 
Parsliail was just east of the creek and opposite 
the mill. Soon after his arrival he induced the 
government to establish a post-office, of wiiich he 
was postmaster, the office beinir in his own hou.se. 
He liad at this time a near neighbor in a Mr. Lewis, 
who came about the same date, and built a log 
house within sight of his own home. The hamlet 
having made a courageous beginning soon grew 
in size, until a neat little village is the result. It 
has never been incorporated, its size not warrant- 
ing such a procedure. It now contains a post- 
office, of which J. S. Griswold is postmaster; two 
stores, containing a general stock and kept by 
Griswold & Norbert and W. & I. Hetcheler; a 
shoe-shop, by Albert White; four blacksmith- 
shops, owned by George Hasper, Ezra Chamber- 
lain, Robert Bryant, and Henry Shaver; a foundry, 
of which E. Chamberlain is proprietor, which man- 
ufactures plows, sleigh-shoes, and castings of all 
kinds for agricultural use, and has a considerable 
patronage from the neighboring farmers ; a wagon- 
shop, kept by Orlando Gait ; a paint-shop, kept 
by Irving Johnson ; and a cheese-factory, which is 
not managed after the ordinary method of a stock 
company, but is owned and controlled by Jacob S. 
Griswold, who was a native of Chemung Co., N. Y., 
and emigrated with his father to Hartland in 1836. 
He entered mercantile life at the age of twenty-one, 
and in 1853 purchased land and devoted himself to 
farming pursuits, making the raising of fine stock 
a specialty. The beeves shipped by Mr. Griswold 
were conceded to be the finest ever raised in the 
county. He has also been the postmaster at Par- 
shall ville since 1857, with the exception of two 
years. Mr. Griswold takes an active interest in the 
growth of the township, and has held many respon- 
sible offices. 

Parshallville also boasts a graded school. The 
building is a frame one, located upon an eminence 
from which is obtained a commanding view of the 
surrounding country. It is under the direction of 
Harrison Dunham, with Miss Nellie Britton as 
assistant. A plat of the village has never been 
made, all descriptions being dependent upon meas- 
urements and boundaries for accuracy. 

The Parshallville Mills are located upon the site 
of those formerly built by Isaac Parshall, on North 
Ore Creek, and are owned by Walker & Browning, 
who both being occupied with their farming inter- 
ests, intrust their management to the head miller, 
John Symons. The building was erected b)' Daniel 
Townley, in 1871, ami purchased by the present 
firm in February, 1877. It derives its power from 
the creek upon wiiich it is located, and employs 



four run of stone in its grinding process. Its 
ordinary capacity is fifty barrels per day. Much 
feed is ground at the mills, and a large share of 
custom patronage is also afforded them. 

THE li.MTIST CHURCH, P.\RSH.\LLVH.I.E,* 

held its first meeting in the log house of James S. 
Webber, now residing at East Saginaw, on Feb. 25, 
1837, of which Rev. Nehemiah Lamb was chosen 
moderator, and Rev. Aroswell Lamb (son of Rev. 
Nehenn'ah Lamb) clerk. At that meeting it was 
voted to unite in conference, and Articles of Faith 
and a Church Covenant were adopted. 

At the second meeting, held March 25, 1837, 
ten persons gave in their letters as follows : Rev. 
Nehemiah Lamb, Rev. Aroswell Lamb and Phcebe 
Lamb, his wife, Isaac Parshall and Seraphina, his 
wife, James S. Webber and PhcEbe, his wife, and 
Levi, Rebecca, and Elizabeth Andrus. James S. 
Webber was chosen permanent clerk, Rev. Nehe- 
miah Lamb, permanent moderator, and Rev. Aros- 
well Lamb, assistant, to serve in the absence of his 
father. 

The conference was recognized as a regular 
Baptist Church, April 26, 1837, by a council rep- 
resenting the churches of Highland, Walled Lake, 
and Farmington, together with the Rev. Mr. Jones, 
of the township of Rose, and the Revs. Nehemiah 
Lamb and Aroswell Lamb, of Hartland. 

On the same day Patience, Rhoda, and Content 
Lamb, Elizabeth Roberts, Betsey Townley, and 
James L. Andrews were received as members, in- 
creasing the number to 16. 

Levi Andrus was chosen deacon April 29th, 
and Mrs. Westervelt was baptized June 25th, in a 
small brook running across the farms of James S. 
Webber and Rev. Aroswell Lamb, a dam having 
been made near the line on sections 8 and 9. She 
was the first person ever baptized by a Baptist 
minister in the town of Hartland. 

Between April 26, 1837, when the church was 
recognized, and June 27, 1841, 70 persons were 
added to the church, as follows : 

By Letter . — H.innali Lamb, Caroline Washburn, Alanson Olds, 
J.me Olds, Orson Stephens, Grace S. Stephens, William D. 
Snnpp, Elizabeth Snnpp, James Mills, Azuba Bryan, Amos K. 
Albright, John J. lilackmer, Harvey R. Stephens, Hannah 
Ann Gale, Solomon Gne, Joanna Gue, Elanor Pcrr)', Rebecca 
Bunsey, Lavina Hills, Marietta Albright, Samuel Cole, Pru- 
dence Cole, Eli Cranston, Sena Mason, Palmer Cr.anston, 
M.ary Cranston, Elizabeth Cranston, Mary Angas, Emily 
Clark, Polly Roberts, Joseph Cole, Elizabeth Cole, Barbara 
Wall, Catharine Van Camp, John Garfield, Mary Gartield, 
Bethawa Littlefield, Hannah Ann Stephens; total, 38. 

By Baptism. — Rnxana Westervelt, Susan Rolierts, Job L Bul- 
lock, Nelson Roberts, Harvey R Stephens, Debborah Ann 

* Furnished by the pnstor. 



372 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Haynes, Nathan Cole, Lucetlia Townley, Esther M. Cole, 
Benjamin R. Townley, George Townley, Andrew Townley, 
Malon Van Camp, William L. Webher, Ira Erastus Thayer, 
John Blackburn, Eliza Townley, Mary Mason, Martha Van 
Camp, Isaac T. Cole, Austin Burnett, Eliza Beach, Ada J. 
Cole, Elizahelh Cassada, Peter Rese, Israel Parshall, Daniel 
Townley, Minerva Parshall, Delia Chamberlin, Fanny E. Van 
Camp; total 30. 
Added by Experience. — Beriah G. Smith and Betsey Smith, who 
came from the Seventh-Day Baptists ; total 2. 

Adding the 16 original members who were first 
recognized as a Baptist Church, we have a grand 
total of 86 persons. During the same period two 
persons — Patience Lamb and Deacon Levi An- 
drews — died; 12 persons were dismissed by letter, 
and I excluded, leaving a membership of 71, on 
June 27, 1841. 

Rev. Nehemiah Lamb remained in Hartland 
more than a year after the organization of the 
church, co-operating with his son, Rev. Aroswell 
Lamb. 

After his removal, Rev. A. Lamb continued in 
charge of the church until the summer of 1856, 
making a continued pastorate of nearly nineteen 
and one-half years. 

During this time, however, owing to the feeble 
health of the pastor, Rev. J. H. Rasco was called 
to his assistance for one year, and a young man, 
not ordained, named Stark, assisted him for a 
period of several months. 

Unfortunately, the records were burned a few 
years since, and no official record of the progress 
of the church from June, 1841, to the date of the 
fire is at hand. Thus it is not practicable to 
obtain details of the history for a period of nearly 
thirty years. 

It may be said, however, that for many years the 
divine service was held in the Smith school-house, 
on section 5, in Hartland. Later the services were 
transferred to the school-house at Parshallville, and 
were there held until the present church edifice 
was completed in 1855. 

In the erection of the church edifice, a very sub- 
stantial brick structure, 36 by 50 feet in size. Dea- 
con Isaac Parshall was a leading spirit. 

Being a man of means and energy, he hired the 
workmen, purchased the material, personally super- 
vised every part of the work, and paid the bills, 
with the exception of about $300 or $400, until 
the work was completed. 

When finished — it having been erected upon his 
own land — he deeded the property to the trustees 
of the church and society, and the seats — having 
been sold at public auction — he deeded to the indi- 
viduals who purchased them. The sale of seats 
realized an amount nearly sufficient to repay the 
deacon for his outlav. 



The Rev. A. Lamb was born in Prattsburg, 
N. Y., in April, 1810, and removed to Farmington, 
Mich., in 1821 or 1822. About a year later he 
settled on a farm near the east line of Livonia, in 
Wayne County, and officiated in the Redford Church 
four years, when, in the latter part of the year 
1836, he exchanged his land in Livonia for the 
farm on section 8, in Hartland, on which he lived 
for twenty years. 

During his pastorate of the church in Hartland, 
now known as the Parshallville Church, he received 
only a partial support from his ministerial labors ; 
but by careful management and personal labor on 
his farm, combined with teaching, he was able to 
rear his family and improve his fann, so that, upon 
his removal in 1866, he left one of the most attract- 
ive homes in the township. After a pastorate of 
nearly twenty years he left the church with a mem- 
bership of 145 and a fine church edifice, practically 
out of debt. His field of labor was very large, 
extending from Linden and Fenton on the north 
to White Lake on the east, Brighton on the south, 
and Oceola and Deerfield on the west and north- 
west. Shortly after his resignation at Hartland he 
was called to the charge of the Baptist Church at 
Salem, Washtenaw Co., where he continued to 
labor until his death in March, i860. 

The church has been in charge of the following 
persons as pastors or stated supplies since Mr. 
Lamb's pastorate, 1856: Rev. Mr. Adams, 1856- 
57, one year; Rev. Mr. Atwood, term not certain, 
probably two years; Rev. Mr. Conklin, stated sup- 
ply for some months ; Rev. J. H. Rares, for one 
year; Rev. H. Stowitts, from 1862 or 1863 to 1865; 
Rev. P. C. Dayfoot, from 1805 to 1868; Rev. Wm. 
White, from 186S to 1870; Rev. S. Gardiner, from 
1S70 or 1871 to 1872; Rev. Mr. Lyon for a few 
months; Rev. Samuel Smith, from 1873 to 1875; 
Rev. D. Gastellow, from 1876 to 1879; Rev. Isaac 
W. Lamb, began in May, 1879. 

The church and society now own a fine brick 
edifice with about an acre of land attached, and 
twelve good stalls in their shed. The society have 
also a parsonage with a half-acre of ground 
attached, which was the gift by will of Deacon 
Parshall. 

When the first general effort was made to endow 
Kalamazoo College in 1863, the Hartland Church 
raised more than $i6oo for that purpose, of which 
Deacon Parshall and his estimable wife, since de- 
ceased, gave Si 100. 

The church has been from its beginning hearty 
in its support of the various missionary, educa- 
tional, and other benevolent Christian enterprises. 

Its present officers are : Pastor, Rev. Isaac W. 
Lamb ; Deacons, M. D. Bracle, S. E. Dean, Vin- 



HARTLAND TOWNSHIP. 



373 



cent Parsliall ; Clerk, Wells Aver}-; Treasurer, 
Marie Bracle. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

There is also in Parsliallville a flourishing 
Methodist Episcopal Church with a large mem- 
bership, and owning a church edifice which cost 
about S2000. Its present pastor is Rev. E. Dawe. 
Repeated efforts on the part of the historian to 
obtain facts with regard to it have met no 
response. 

CIVIL LIST. 

The following is a list of the township officers : 

1836. — Eli Lee, Supervisor; Josiah T. CIarl<, Township Cleric; 
Erastus J. Smith, Treasurer; Norman Brainanl, Samuel 
Mapes, Dennis Whalen, William Kinney, Justices of the 
Peace; Josiah T. Clark, James Whalen, School In- 
spectors. 

1837. — Elias Lee, Supervisor; John G. Horton, Township Clerk ; 
Erastus J. Smith, Treasurer; Orman Holmes, Norman 
Brainartl, Dennis Whalen, Isaac Cornell, Justices of the 
Peace ; Orman Holmes, James Whalen, Josiah T. Clark, 
School Inspectors. 

1838. — John J. Blackburn, Supervisor; John G. Horton, Town- 
ship Clerk; William E. Huntley, Treasurer; Norman 
Brainartl, Austin Wakeman, Justices of the Peace; 
Amos F. Albright, Edwanl Davidson, James Whalen, 
School Inspectors. 

1839. — Eli Lee, Supervisor; John G. Horton, Township Clerk ; 
Amos F. Albright, Treasurer ; John J. Blackburn, Justice 
of the Peace; John Roberts, Amos F. Albright, James 
Whalen, School Inspectors. 

1840. — Eli Lee, Supervisor; George J. Griffin, Township Clerk; 
Orman Holmes, Treasurer; Orman Holmes, John J. 
Rice, Justice? of the Peace ; Edward J. Davidson, Menzo 
W. .Smith, George J. Griffin, School Inspectors. 

1841. — lohn Muilge, Supervisor; John G. Horton, Township 
Clerk; Freeman Near, Treasurer; Austin Wakeman, 
Justice of the Peace; J.imes Whalen, Samuel T. Mudge, 
Edward J. Davidson, School Inspectors. 

1842. — John G. Horton, Supervisor; Horace B. Hubbard, Town- 
ship Clerk; William E. Huntley, Treasurer; Norm in 
Brainard, Justice of the Peace; Samuel T. Mudge, Ed- 
ward J. Davitlson, George J. Griffin, .School Inspectors. 

1843. — George J. GriflTni, Supervisor; John J. Rice, Township 
Clerk; William E. Huntley, Treasurer ; Ira C. Hatha- 
way, Justice of the Peace ; Josiah T. Clark, Robert 
Crouse, School Inspectors. 

1S44. — John G. Horton, Supervisor; John J. Rice, Town.ship 
Clerk; John Wood, Treasurer; Orman Holmes, Justice 
of the Pe.ace; Hiram Mapes, .Samuel T. Mudge, School 
Inspectors. 

1845. — William E. Huntley, .Supervisor ; Moses B. Hess, Town- 
ship Cleik; John Wood, Treasurer; John J. Rice, Jus- 
tice of the Peace ; Charles Ross, Josiah T. Clark, School 
Inspectors. 

1846. — John G. Horton, .Supervisor; George J. Griffin, Township 
Clerk; John Wood, Treasurer; Ledward Flint, Justice 
of the Peace; Henry S. Worthington, Jacob S. Griswold, 
School Inspectors. 

1S47. — John Wood, Supervisor; David Rich, Town Clerk; Er.as- 
lus J. Smith, Treasurer; Hiram Mapes, Justice of the 
Peace; Edward Davidson, School Inspector. 

1848. — ^John Wood, Supervisor; George J. Griffin, Township 
Clerk ; John G. Horton, Treasurer; Orman Holmes, 
Justice of the Peace; Robert Crouse, School Inspector. 



1S49. — David Rich, Supervisor; David Atwood, Township Clerk ; 
Orman Holmes, Treasurer; John J. Rice, O. B. Cham- 
bers, Justices of the Pe.ice; George J. Griffin, Iliram 
Mapes, School Inspectors. 

1S50. — John Wood, Supervisor; David Atwood, Township Clerk; 
Orman Holmes, Treasurer; Rufus Tenney, William 
Smith, Justices of the Peace ; Henry Worthington, 
School Inspector. 

1851. — John Wood, Supervisor; II. Mercer, Township Clerk; 
Iliram R. Scollard, Treasurer; David Rich, Ledyard 
Flint, Henry Griswold, Edward Davidson, Justices of the 
Pe.ice; Samuel T. Mudge, School Inspector. 

1852. — John Wood, Supervisor; Charles II. K. Warren, Town- 
ship Clerk; Hiram R. .Scollard, Tieasurer; Edward 
Davidson, Justice of the Peace; Henry Brockway, 
Charles Ross, .School Inspectors. 

1853. — Jo-iah Whalen, Supervisor ; Henry S. Worthington, .School 
Inspector; Nelson Stevens, Townshi[i Clerk ; Hiram R. 
Scollard. Treasurer. 

1854.- — George J. Griffin, Supervisor; Albert L. Hathaway, Town- 
ship C.erk; Samuel Mapes, Jr., Treasurer; Calvin 
Townley, Adnah Lewis, Justices of the Peace; Charles 
H. K. Warren, School Inspector. 

1S55. — George J. Griffin, Supervisor; Albert L. Hathaway, 
Township Clerk; S. A. Stuart, Treasurer; Henry Gris- 
wold, lleniy S. Worthington, Justices of the Peace; 
Charles Ross, School Inspector. 

1856. — Orman Holmes, Supervisor; Albert L. Hathaway, Town- 
ship Clerk; Stephen A. Stuart, Treasurer; Daniel 
Rich, William C. Ferry, Justices of the Peace; C. H. 
K. Warren, .School Inspector. 

1S57. — O. B. Chand)ers, Supervisor; Albert L. Hathaw.ay, Town- 
ship Clerk; Jacob Carl, Treasurer ; Edward Davidson, 
Justice of the Peace; William M. Hayford, School In- 
spector. 

1858. — ^Jacob S. Griswold, Supervisor; Albert L. Hathaway, 
Township Clerk; Jacob Carl, Treasurer; Nelson Ste- 
vens, L. L. Armstrong, Justices of the Peace ; W. S. 
Smith, School Inspector. 

1S59. — Henry P. Crouse, Supervisor; Albert L. Hathaway, 
Township Clerk; Earl E. Walton, Treasurer; D.aviil 
B. Mason, Sil.as Bullard, Justices of the Peace ; Frank 
Sweet, School Inspector. 

i860. — Henry P. Crouse, Supervisor; Albert L. Hathaway, 
Township Clerk; John Wallace, Treasurer; David 
Rich, Stephen Hungerford, Elisha G. Smith, Justices of 
the Peace; John B. Tyrrell, School Inspector. 

1861. — Lorenzo S. Armstrong, Supervisor; Sanford Hildebrant, 
Township Clerk; John Wallace, Treasurer; Elisha G. 
Smith, Ephraim llubbell. Justices of the Peace ; Frank 
Sweet, School Inspector. 

1S62. — O. B. Chambers, Supervisor; Albert L. Hathaw.ay, 
Township Clerk; Hugh Cullen, Treasurer; Ephraim 
llubbell, George A. Whitehead, Justices of the Pe.ice; 
Newton T. Kirk, Schoi>l Inspector. 

1S63. — Ira Knight, Supervisor; Henry Crouse, Township Clerk ; 
Wm. F. Lemen, Treasurer ; Lyman Bishop, Van R. 
Durfee, Hiram R. Scollard, Justices of the Peace; Mor- 
gan L. Andrus, School Inspector. 

1864. — Ira Knight, Supervisor; Henry Crouse, Township Clerk ; 
Charles H. Mercer, Treasurer ; Van R. Durfee, Justice 
of the Peace ; Charles Rose, .School Inspector. 

1S65. — Giles Ross, Supervisor; Joseph Blinston, Township Clerk; 
Samuel Mapes, Treasurer; James Gleason, Justice of the 
Peace ; William M. Hayford, School Inspector. 

1866. — ^John Wood, Supervisor ; John B. Crouse, Township Clerk ; 
Hiram R. Scollard, Treasurer; Furman B. Clark, Jus- 
tice of the Peace ; Newton T. Kirk, School Inspector, j 

1867. — Jacob S. Griswold, Supervisor; Newton T. Kirk, Town- 
ship Clerk; Thomas N. Jones, Treasurer ; John Dun- 



374 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



i868.- 



1S71.-J 



1S72.- 



ham, Justice of the Peace; Allen C. Wright, School In- 
spector. 

-Henry P. Grouse, Supervisor; Wilkes S. Stuart, Town- 
ship Clerk; Amos J. Bebee, Treasurer; Elisha G. 
Smith, William T. Seaman, Justices of the Peace; Al- 
bert L. Hathaway, School Inspector. 
1869. — Henry P. Grouse, Supervisor; Wilkes S. Stuart, Town- 
ship Glerk; Peter McKeever, Treasurer ; James Gleason, 
Justice of the Peace; Orman Holmes, J. W. Worthing- 
ton, School Inspectors. 
1870. — John Wood, Supervisor; Wilkes S. Stuart, Township 
Glerk ; Henry Nichols, Treasurer; Benjamin R. Town- 
ley, Justice of the Peace; Justin W. Worthington, 
School Inspector. 

-Justin W. Wortliington, Supervisor; William M. Ghani- 
hers. Township Clerk ; Peter Fahey, Treasurer; O. B. 
Chambers, R.ibert McCall, Justices of the Peace; Wil- 
liam H. Ilayford, School Inspector. 

-George W. Stark, Supervisor; James C. Campbell, Town- 
ship Clerk; Charles H. Stevens, Treasurer; John Dun- 
ham, Chauncey A. Weaver, Justices of the Peace ; Justin 
W. Worthington, School Inspector. 

-]ustin W. Worthington, Supervisor; Major H. Lemen, 
Township Clerk; Jacob S. Griswoki, Treasurer; James 
Gleason, Justice of the Peace; Harry S. Myers, .School 
Inspector. 

-Lorenzo L. Armstrong, Supervi-or ; Z. E. Chambers, 
Township Clerk ; Asa Parshall, Treasurer; Herman W. 
Clark, Justice of the Peace; William M. Hayfortl, (. 
W. Worthington, Schtiol Inspectors. 

-Lorenzo L. Armstrong, Supervisor; Herman W.Clark, 
Township Clerk; Wilkes S. Stuart, Treasurer; Jacob 
S. GriswoKI, Nathaniel Ethridge, Justices of the Peace; 
Harry S. Myers, Superinteuileut of Schools; Newton 
T. Kirk, School Inspector. 

-Lorenzo L. Armstrong, Supervisor; Frank J, Binlsall, 
Township Clerk; Squire Verselius, Treasurer; John 
Dunham, Justice of the Peace; Hariy S. Myers, Super- 
intenilenl of Schools; Newton T. Kirk, School Inspec- 
tor. 

-Lorenzo L. Armstrong, Supervisor ; John Campbell, Town- 
sliip Clerk; Sc|uire Verselius, Treasurer; John Wood, 
Justice of the Peace ; Harvey S. Myers, Superintendent 
of Schools; Newton T. Kirk, School Inspector. 
1878. — Justin W. Worthington, .Supervisor; Major H. Lemen, 
Township Clerk ; Jacob S. Griswold, Treasurer; Richard 
Marvin, Justice of the Peace; R. C. Sellman, Superin- 
tendent of Schools; John J. Boyd, School Inspector. 

-Hiram B. Thompson, Supervisor ; Lemuel Hurlbcrt, Town- 
ship Clerk; Jacob S. Griswold, Treasurer; Jacob S. 
Griswold, Justice of the Peace; John J. Uoyd, Superin- 
tendent of Schools; William M. Hayford, School In- 
spector. 



IS73-- 



1874-- 



1875 



1876.- 



1S77. 



1S79- 



RIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



CHARLES SMITH, 

one of tlie piotieers of the southern part of the 
town of Hartland, was born in Grimesville, Berks 
Co., Pa., Aug. 28, 1 8 1 1 . He was the son of Chris- 
tian and Ann Smitii. Up to tiie age of seventeen 
he worked on his father's farm, at which time he 
was apprenticed to tlie trade of a weaver, which 



avocation he followed until he came to Michigan, 
in 1834. He worked for Luther Boyden, of Wash- 
tenaw County, for three years, when he settled in 
Hartland, where he located one hundred and si.xty 
acres of land. There he resided until his death, in 
1875. In 1837 he was married to Miss Ann Smith, 
who was born in Cherry Valley, Otsego Co., N. Y., 
April 14, 1821. Tliey raised a family of eight 
children: Sarah J., Laura A., Reuben C, William 
A., Charles A., Addie A., Frank L., and Elea- 
nor A. 

Mr. Smith was a successful farmer, and as a 
neighbor and friend was fully appreciated by all 
who knew him. His wife is in every respect a 
splendid type of the women of the early days, and 
did her part in developing tlie farm on which slie 
now resides, which is one of the best in Hartland. 



ELISHA G. SMITH 

was born Nov. 25, 1826, in Tioga Co., Pa. He 
was the only son of William Smith and Leah 
Griswold, who reared a fatnily of five children. 

The elder Stnith was probably a native of Penn- 
sylvania, and was born May 10, 1786. When 
twenty-one years of age he went to Smithfield, 
Bradford Co., Pa., where he purchased and im- 
proved a new farm. After a residence tiiere of 
several years he removed to Tioga County, and 
engaged in lumbering, marketing his product in 
Philadelphia. The business proving unremunera- 
tive, he decided to come to Michigan, and in 1836 
purchased the farm upon which he afterward 
resided. Returning to Pennsylvania, he came, 
with his family the following spring, and made a 
permanent settlement. He was highly esteemed 
for his sterling integrity and industrious habits; 
was a man of strong religious convictions, and a 
prominent member of the Methodist Church. He 
was magistrate of Hartland for many years, and 
held many other positions of trust. He died in 
Flint, Dec. 20, 1852. 

Elisha G. Smith was possessed of many strong 
points of character, and inherited from his father 
many of his distinguishing traits. He was ener- 
getic, industrious, and possessed of more than an 
ordinary amount of business ability. Upon the 
death of his father he succeeded to his business, 
which he managed successfully. April 20, 1853, 
he was married to Miss Cordelia M. Marsh, of 
Pleasant Valley, where she was born April 19, 
1833. They reared a family of eight children, 
seven of whom are living. E. G. Smith died in 
Hartland in 1870. 





ELISHA G.SMITH 



MRS.ELISHA G.SMITH. 





WILLIAM SMITH 



CHARLES SMITH. 



HARTLAND TOWNSHIP. 



375 



LE GRAND CLARK, 

son of Elislia and Lydia (Root) Clark, was born 
in Johnstown, Montgomery Co., N. Y., Nov. 2$, 
1814, and was the second child in a family of three 
boys and three girls. Elisha, Jr., was born March 
25, 1785. Lydia, his wife, was born in 1784. He 
was a shoemaker by trade, and died when Le 
Grand was but fourteen years of age. But little is 
known of his history, further than that he was a 
man of sterling integrity and highly respected. 
His father, Elisha, Sr., was a native of Old Mil- 
ford, Conn., where he was born April 15, 1746. 
He married Parthenia Lewis. 

Le Grand, by the death of his father, was thrown 
upon his own resources, and up to the age of 
twenty-three was the head of the family. At this 
time he was married to Miss Catharine Vrooman, 
and moved to Victor, Ontario Co., N. Y., where he 
remained three years. 

In 1842, Mr. Clark came to Hartland and pur- 
chased the farm where he now resides, and which 
at present consists of two hundred and fifty-four 
acres. Eight years after his removal to Michigan 
his wife died, and in 1853 he was again married, to 
Miss Abigail G. Bussey. She was born in Mace- 
don, Wayne Co., N. Y., Sept. 26, 1834. 

Mr. Clark has been a successful farmer and is 
considered a valuable citizen. He is a Baptist in 
his religious convictions, and a prominent member 
of the church of that denomination in Hartland. 



JACOB S. GRISWOLD. 

Among the early pioneer families of the town of 
Hartland the Griswolds are entitled to prominent 
mention. Henry Griswold, father of the subject 
of this narrative, was a native of Chemung Co., 
N. Y., where he was born in the year 1800. He 
married Elizabeth Snell, and reared a family of 
eight children, Jacob S. being the eldest. In 
1836 he came to Livingston County, and, being 
favorably impressed with the soil and the natural 



advantages, he purchased a farm in the town of 
Hartland. Returning to New York he disposed of 
his property, and the following spring emigrated 
with his family. He at once commenced the im- 
provement of his farm, upon which he resided un- 
til his death, which occurred in 1877. He was a 
thrifty, industrious farmer, and a man of excellent 
principles. Jacob acknowleged obligation to his 
father in his labor until he attained his majority, 
when he started in life as a clerk in the store of 
Austin & Wakeman, with whom he remained si.K 
years. In 1849 he established himself in trade at 
Parshallville, where he now resides. In his busi- 
ness operations Mr. Griswold has been successful. 
In 1853 he purchased a farm and engaged in dairy- 
ing and raising stock, in connection with his mer- 
cantile business. In 1875 he built a cheese-factory 
and commenced the manufacture of cheese. 

In 1851, Mr. Griswold was married to Miss Es- 
ther, daughter of Ezra Mason, one of the pioneers 
of Rochester, N. Y., having settled there previous 
to the war of 1812. He was a miller by trade, 
but in the later part of his life became a farmer, 
which business he followed until his death. He 
was highly esteemed for his integrity and ability. 

The life of Mr. Griswold has been comparatively 
uneventful. In his youth he was subjected to the 
privations and hardships of pioneer life, and early 
learned lessons of industry, economy, and self-re- 
liance, which were eminently serviceable to him in 
after-life. He has not only obtained a prominent 
position among the leading business men of the 
county, but has won the esteem and confidence of 
his townsmen, who have elected him to various 
positions of trust, the duties of which he has faith- 
fully discharged. In 1858 he was elected super- 
visor of Hartland, and again in 1867. He has been 
postmaster of Parshallville since 1857, with the ex- 
ception of two years. 

Mr. Griswold is a man of marked liberality and 
of much public spirit. He has taken a deep interest 
in the development of his town and county. So- 
cially he is genial and courteous, and his hospitality 
is proverbial. 



OCEOLA TOWNSHIP. 



The township of Oceola lies near the centre of 
Livingston County, and is bounded north by 
Deerfield, east by Hartland, south by Genoa, and 
west by Howell. It is exclusively an agricul- 
tural township, having no village within its limits, 
and its improvements are second to none in the 
county. Elegant farm-dwellings, substantial and 
comfortable barns and out-buildings, and well-kept 
fields are evidences of the prosperity of its inhabi- 
tants. The soil is adapted to all its requirements, 
and the yield of grains and fruit is generally most 
satisfactory. Timber exists in considerable quan- 
tities. The water-courses are few, and frequently 
become dry during continued drouths. The sur- 
face of the township is generally rolling, and 
capable of e.xcellent drainage. In places the ele- 
vations are almost worthy the name of hills, and 
many beautiful and picturesque locations abound. 

In an early day game existed in this township 
in abundance, in common with all the region sur- 
rounding, and it was but a question of sure aim to 
the settler whether or not he should have a bounti- 
ful supply of fresh meat. The rifle was the neces- 
sary companion of the axe, and the crash of the 
falling tree was heard in unison with the report of 
the weapon from which sped the leaden messenger 
of death towards the noble antlered buck. The 
deer, which once were plenty, have long since dis- 
appeared, yet various portions of the State in 
which they yet abound have become familiar to the 
sons of pioneers, who, like their fathers, enjoy the 
sports of the chase. 

LAND-ENTRIES. 

The following list includes all who entered land 
in what is now known as the township of Oceola, 
according to the Tract Book at the Register's 
office in Howell. The sections and years in which 
the entries were made are given : 

Section i. — 1835, Israel Parshall, Guy N. Roljerls ; 1836, Rus- 
sell Morton, Ezekiel Paye, John Van Tuyl, Thomas Van 
Tuyl; 1837, Henry Tripp. 

Section 2. — 1835, Samuel Griswokl, John Stevens; 1836, Jacob 
Snell, Peter Martin, Thomas Van Tuyl, John Stevens, John 
A. Van Camp. 

Section 3. — 1836, Daniel VV. Leroy, Joseph Merrill, Jacob Snell, 
Jacob Long, Rodney C. Boutwell, Israel C. Parshall, B. B. 
Kercheval. 

Section 4. — 1836, William Page, Samuel While, Gairet Martin. 
376 



Section 5. — 1836, William Page, Allen C. Hodges, John B. 
Franklin, Cornelius Neisse. 

Section 6. — 1836, William J. Hamilton, Roswell Barnes, Con- 
rad Moore, William B. Eager. 

Section 7. — 1836, Job W. Durfee, Charles Van Keuren, William 
B. Eager; 1S48, John Curran. 

Section 8. — 1835, Asa Parker, Thomas K. Parshall; 1836, John 
M. Coe, Isaac Munson, William W. Johnson, Robert Ed- 
wards; 1837, Moses Beidleman. 

Section 9. — 1835, Joseph Whitaker, Norman Spellar, Jabez 
Mead; 1836, Jabez Mead, Joseph Willis, Samuel White, 
John M. Coe, Robert Edwards. 

Section 10. — 1835, Henry S. Chaplin, Benjamin EUlred; 1836, 
Daniel W. Leroy, Wm. Peat)ody, Asa Parshall, John Crane. 

Section ii. — 1836, Joseph S. Gibbs, Patrick Tobin, Ann Gris- 
wokl, Samuel Griswold, Asa Parshall, John P. Bush, Valen- 
tine H. Ketchum. 

Section 12. — 1834, George Petere; 1835, John T. Brown, Ben- 
jamin Griswold; 1836, Ira Knight, Elislia Griswold. 

Section 13. — 1832, William E. Redding; 1834, Charles K. 
Graves; 1835, Thomas K. P.arshall, Charles K. Graves, 
Archibald Nelson, Jonathan N'^'son, Guy N. Roberts, Wil- 
liam P. Shannon ; 1S36, Nathan Jenks, Nehemi.ah Boutwell. 

Section 14. — 1835, Harley H. Graves, Hosea Root, Archibald 
Nelson, Benjamin Eldred; 1836, Russell Blood, Norman 
Spellar, Harvey H. Nefif, Caroline Austin. 

Section 15. — 1835, Polly Fuller, Benjamin Eldred; 1836, Jonas 
G. Potter, Francis Mittleberger ; 1837, George W. Sutton; 
1839, G. Thompson, David Blood; 185 1, John L. Lewis. 

Section 16 (school lands). — 1848, J. H. Ferguson; 1850, 
William Holmes, H. McKeever; 1S51, R. A. Ferguson, B. 
P'eeley; 1853, L. C. Crittenden, W. P. Holmes, Robert 
Holmes, Isaac Haywood, J. B. Lee; 1854, F. McDonough, 
P. McKinney; 1856, William Holmes; 1862, P'rancis Mc- 
Donough, Jr. 

Section 17. — 1836, William Barber, John F. Lawson, Friend 
Burt, Charles Van Keuren. 

Section 18. — 1836, Stephen J. Miller, Volney Hinnian, Ezra J. 
Mundy, Charles Van Keuren, John Crane. 

Section 19. — 1836, Flavins J. B. Crane, Jonas M. Wheeler, Vol- 
ney Hinman. 

Section 20. — 1835, Charles Pinckney, Samuel H. West; 1836, 
James Hughson, Thomas M. Howell, Gabriel Dean; 1837, 
George W. Walker. 

Section 21. — 1S36, Obed Durfee, Anson Nelson, Aniasa B. Nel- 
son, Andrew Riddle, Pomeroy Easton, John K. Buel. 

Section 22. — 1835, Joseph H. Rumsey, James G. Ruuisey, Jesse 
B. Rumsey; 1836, Artenias .S. Hardy, Amos B. Root ; 1851, 
George W. Armstrong; 1854, Barnard Judge. 

Section 23. — 1835, OrviUe Murdock, John P. Springsteen, Wil- 
liam H. Johnston, Ephraim Hardy; 1836, Artemas S. Hardy. 

Section 24. — 1835, Orville Murdock; 1836, Peter Y. Browning, 
Charles McDonald, Edmund A. Brush, William P. Shannon, 
Nathan Jenks, William A. Clark, Sarah Murdock. 

Section 25. — 1835, Reuben Moore; 1836, Peter Y. Browning, 
Orsamond B. Wood, Clark C. Boutwell, Flavins J. B. Crane, 
Charles A. Wallace, Horace R. Hudson. 

Section 26. — 1836, Peter Y. Browning, Harvey Rhodes, Pome- 
roy Easton, Clark C. B Boutwell, Connor Bergen, Jesse B. 
Rumsey, Robert Chambers. 



OCEOLA TOWNSHIP. 



377 



Section 27.— 1835, Ellis I.utlicr, Joel 1!. Rumsey; 1836, 1.ibcrly 
Judd. 

Section 28. — 1838, Philesler Jessup, Joseph II. Pinckney, Ellis 
Luther, Milnn Glover; 1836, Joseph H. Rumsey, Andrew 
RiiKUe, Artemas S. Hardy, Joel B. Rumsey. 

SliCTloN 29. — 1835, Henson Walker, Milan Glover; 1836, Gar- 
diner Mason, Jonas M. Wheeler, William C. Rumsey, Emily 
L. Kumsey, Solomon Saumlcr^; 1S37, James A. I licks, 
Samuel T. Buel. 

Section 30. — 1835, Addison Lackor, Rensselaer Lacker, Moses 
Thompson, Mary Thompson; 1836, Gardiner Mason, Jonas 
M. Wheeler, William C. Rumsey, Emily L. Rumsey, Charles 
A Jeffries; 1837, John Lowe. 

SEcnoN 31.— 1835, Riifus Nicols, John Eraser, Jacob S. Sorter, 
Paul D. Cornell, Alonzo Cornell, Alexander Eraser; 1836, 
Joseph H. Steel, Henry Hawkins, Van Rensselaer Hawkins; 
1S48, Morris Thompson. 

Section 32. — 1835, John Walker; 1S36, William Talman, Joseph 
H. Steel, Jacob W. Moore; 1837, I'hilester Jessup, Oison 
Elliott; 1839, .Samuel Colborn. 

Section 33.— 1835, John Walker, Epliraiin Hardy; 1836, Ben- 
jamin Earl, Noah Briggs, Joseph Whilaker, John W. Roen, 
John Erench, Robert Whitacre, Riley Earl, Philester Je-.sup. 

Section 34. — 1835, Ellis Luther, Ephraim Hardy; 1836, William 
H. Phillips, Noah Briggs, Joseph Whitacre, Connor Bergen; 
1837, Alonzo Wilcox, W'illiani II. Kimball, Washington 
Jackson; 1854, William Barb .ur, Noah Briggs. 

Section 35. — 1836, John St<ine, John Thuirvahter, M irtin George, 
Flavius J. B. Crane, Connor Bergen, Edward Nichols. 

Section 36. — 1836, Erastus Kellogg, (iustav Baetcke, Solomon 
Guc, Samuel Harned. 



SETTLEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT. 

Regarding the first settlement in tiie territory 
now known as Oceola township there is some 
dispute, but from all evidence obtained the version 
given by Thomas K. Parshall, still living in the 
township, is thought to be the true one, and is as 
follows : 

H. H. Graves came into the township Aug. 31, 
1834, and became its first settler. Henry Neff (or 
Harry, as he was more familiarly known) followed 
in November of the same year. These two per- 
sons, with their families, were the only settlers in 
the township until the 1st day of June, 1835, which 
witnessed the arrival of Thomas K. Parshall. On 
the 4th of the same month the latter settled, with 
his family-, in a log shanty, covered with elm-bark. 
J. T. Brown arrived in August of the same year 
(1835), and John Stevens came soon after. The 
latter built the first shingle-roofed log house in the 
township. 

During the winter of 1835-36 the five families* 
then living in the township occupied one small 
house and a log shanty, with its covering of elm- 
bark. Sept. 5, 1835, Mr. Neff's son, Jerome Neff, 
was born, his being the first birth of a white child 
in the township. The first death was that of a 
child named Catharine Stevens, daughter of John 
Stevens, which occurred Nov. i, 1835, soon after 



* See statement of Walker et al. settlement. 



Mr. Stevens arrived. Mr. Parshall's father-in-law, 
Capt. Jeremiah Casady, dieil in February, 1837. 

Perhaps the first couple married in town were 
William Dean and wife, — her name not recollected. 
This was in the spring of 1838; the ceremony was 
performed by Thomas K. Parshall, Esq., and the 
occasion was the first of the kind upon which he 
had been called to ofificiate. 

McKinstry Sanders, from the town of Lee, 
Oneida Co., N. Y., formerly of Martinsburg, Lewis 
Co., moved to Michigan from the former place in 
May, 1836, and located in La Salle, Monroe Co. 
In October following he moved to Oceola, and 
purchased a farm a mile north of the present home 
of his son, Nathan M. Sanders. The elder San- 
ders now lives in the village of De Witt, Clinton 
Co., Mich. His sons, Nathan M. and George, 
are the only ones of his children at present living 
in Oceola. Mr. Sanders resided in this town over 
thirty years. Nathan M. Sanders purchased land 
in Kent County, went to it, and built a shanty upon 
it in 1842. At the same time he owned the place 
where he now lives, and finally disposed of his 
Kent County land. He has recently transferred 
a portion of this place to his sons, Albert T. and 
John F. Sanders. 

McKinstry Sanders was noted for his proficiency 
in the chase, and on one occasion, when coming 
home with si.xty pounds of flour on his back, saw 
as many as fifty deer on the way. He was one of 
a quintette of "mighty hunters," composed of him- 
self, Charles P. Bush, of Genoa, Elias Sprague, 
Nicholas P'rink, and Henson Walker, Jr., and tliese 
wrought destruction in the ranks of the four-footed 
denizens of the forest. To Walker many of the 
settlers were often indebted for choice morsels of 
venison, which came in time of need. 

Roswell Pettibone, a native of Vermont, and later \ 
a resident of Genesee Co., N. Y., came to Michi- ^ 
gan as early as 1828, and settled at Ypsilanti, Wash- 
tenaw Co. His wife came to the same county in 
1829, from Seneca Co., N. Y., with her brother and 
mother, — Mrs. Sarah Terhune, a widow. She was 
married to Mr. Pettibone at Ypsilanti, where they 
lived until 1843, when they removed to the town- 
ship of Genoa, Livingston Co., and settled on a 
place lying on the Grand River road. In 1853 
they came to the farm they now occupy, which is 
that formerly owned by Philester Jessup, and after- 
wards the property of a Mr. Pruden. Mr. Petti- 
bone's son, James L. Pettibone, who is a native of 
Washtenaw County, resides on a farm west of his 
parents. The place on which the family located in 
Genoa was purchased of a man named Guthrie; 
upon it a log house had been built and an acre or 
two cleared when they took possession. 



48 



378 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



In the fall of 1835 four men from Ontario Co., 
N. Y., came into the township and entered land on 
sections 28 and 29. These were Henson Walker, 
Philester Jessup, Joseph Pinckney, and Ellis Lu- 
ther. They all built shanties, and Mr. Walker set- 
tled with his family almost immediately, the others 
locating during the winter. Mr. Jessup afterwards 
became the first clerk of Livingston County. In 
the spring of 1S37, Mr. Walker's daughter, Cassa 
Ann, was born, being one of the first white children 
born in tlie township. She became the wife of 
Edward Pettibone, and is now living in Ypsilanli, 
where her husband died. 

When the Walker family first came to Michigan 
it stopped a few montlis at Salem, Washtenaw Co. 
The elder Walker located his land in Oceola, and 
his son, John Walker, located the place where 
another son. Richard Walker, now lives. John 
Walker did not settle, but went back to Washte- 
naw County, of which he is still a resident. He 
sold his place to his brother George, who made 
the first improvements upon it, and occupied it six 
or seven years. The latter also now lives in Wash- 
tenaw Count)'. Of the nine children — seven sons 
and two daughters — who came to Oceola with their 
parents, — Henson Walker and wife, — three sons, 
Richard, Thomas, and Robert, yet live in the town- 
ship; one son, Henson, Jr., lives in the Salt Lake 
Valley, in Utah. The elder Walker died many 
years since. His widow is living with one of her 
daughters, in Ypsilanti. 

Jesse Mapes, an early .settler in the north part of 
town, built one of the first frame houses erected in 
the township. The first was probably built by 
John T.Brown, and was standing in 1836. Mapes 
at first occupied a small temporary shanty for a 
short time. 

William Barbour, from Orange County. Vt. (pre- 
viously from Massachusetts), came to Oceola in 
1836, and purchased land in sections 33 and 34, 
which he still owns. Returning East, he moved 
back with his family in the fall of 1837, and settled 
upon his place. Mr. Barbour, who was himself a 
mechanic, concluded it was useless to waste time 
in building a log house, and therefore erected a 
frame edifice. The lumber was sawed mostly at 
Thompson's mill, north of Howell, from whitewood 
logs cut on his (Barbour's) own place. As there 
was no snow, they were drawn to the mill on bare 
ground. Mr. Barbour subsequently built one of 
the first frame barns in the township, securing help 
tp raise from a distance of six or seven miles. Mr. 
Hardy's frame barn had been previously erected, 
and perhaps one or two others. Mr. Barbour's 
father, Zebulon Barbour, quite an aged man, came 
to Oceola with his son, and aided him in building 



his house. He owned no land here, and has been 
dead over twenty years. Mr. Barbour stopped for 
a short time, when he came, with Benjamin Earl, 
his nearest neighbor, across the line in Genoa. 
Mr. Earl was a cousin to Riley Earl, still living in 
Genoa. A Mr. Benjamin, brother of Nelson Ben- 
jamin, now of Genoa, was then living in Oceola, or 
came very soon after, and William Palmer, still a 
resident of the southeast part of the township, came 
the same year. 

Noah Briggs, from the town of Groton, Tomp- 
kins Co., N. Y., brought his family to Washtenaw 
Co., Mich., in June, 1835, locating in the town- 
ship of Pittsfield, afterwards in Superior, a short 
distance north of Ypsilanti. During the following 
winter he located land in Oceola, upon which he 
moved with his family in the fall of 1S38. In 
March of the same year he had moved into the 
county and rented a house of William Placeway, 
in the northeast corner of Genoa, where the latter 
kept a log tavern. During the fall Mr. Briggs 
built a log house on his own place, into which he 
moved. The farm was subsequently purchased by 
his oldest son, Anson C. Briggs, who now lives in 
Howell, while another son, H. G. Briggs, owns the 
property. Mr. Briggs, Sr., aided Joseph Whitacre 
in building a log house in the summer of 1838, on 
a tract adjoining his own, and lived with him until 
he could complete a house for himself, having 
stayed but a few weeks in Genoa. Mr. Whitacre 
has one son, David, living in Howell. 

William C. Rumsey, who had originally settled 
in Green Oak, sold out in that township in June, 
1836, and in the fill of the same year built a log 
house upon the place he had previously purchased 
in Oceola (sections 29 and 30), and moved into it in 
November. The land he owned in this town was 
all taken from the government except 80 acres, 
which he purchased from second hands. In the 
winter following his settlement he prepared timber 
for a saw-mill, which necessary institution was 
built and in running order in June, 1837. The first 
lumber sawed in it was taken by Charles Van Keu- 
ren, who yet lives in town. Mr. Rumsey contin- 
ued to operate his mill until 1847, ''^ March of 
which year he moved to Howell, having the pre- 
vious autumn been elected register of deeds for 
Livingston County. The property was not dis- 
posed of for some years, and the saw-mill was kept 
up until the amount of water in the small stream 
which furnished the power had lessened to such 
a degree that it was deemed impracticable to con- 
tinue it longer. The frame dwelling which Mr. 
Rumsey now occupies in Howell was built in the 
spring of 1847, and occupied by him in June of the 
same year. The hardwood lumber used in its con- 




RrsiDENCE o'r EDWARD BROWNING, OCCOLA.Mich 




Residence^ ROBERT WALKER , Oceola, (jvrNGsroN Co.Mich. 



OCEOLA TOWNSHIP. 



379 



struction was principally sawed at his mill in 
Oceola. Mr. Riiniscy held the position of regis- 
ter for four years, and was subsequently elected 
county treasurer, the duties of which office he 
performed an equal length of time. 

Daniel Whittaker (name also spelled Whitaker), 
from Wayne Co., N. Y., came to Michigan as early 
as 1S33-34. In 1835 his son, Joseph, entered land 
in Oceola, and the family moved upon it in the fall 
of either that year or 1836. The place is now 
owned by William Whitaker aiul Thomas Walker. 
The Whitaker family was a large one, there being 
fifteen children. Of these, William and Daniel are 
yet residents of the township, and Ezra lives in 
Howell. 

John Powers, the present clerk of Oceola town- 
ship, although not numbered among the early set- 
tlers of this town, is still a pioneer of the State, 
having come with his father, Edward Powers, from 
the State of Vermont in 1838 or 1839, and settled 
in the township of Highland, Oakland Co. His 
residence in Oceola dates only from the year 1866. 
The place now occupied by Mr. Powers was early 
owned by Anson Nelson, who settled upon it in 
the fall of 1836 or early in 1837. He is yet living 
with a son in Le Roy, Ingham Co., and has passed 
the age of eighty-nine years. 

Charles Van Keurcn, a native of Ulster Co., 
N. Y., visited Oceola in June, 1836, and purchased 
land. In the spring of 1837 — having returned 
East — he started from New York City with his 
family, consisting of his wife, three sons, one 
daughter, and his nephew, Tjerick Van Keurcn, 
for the new home in the West. Upon arriving at 
Buffalo, the ice was found to be so plenty in the 
harbor that boats could not push through. The 
family remained in the cit}, while Mr. Van Keuren 
and his nephew sought other means of reaching 
their destination. Proceeding to Cattaraugus 
Creek, they found the way clear, and taking a 
steamer at that point, the two soon found them- 
selves in Detroit. The remaining portion of the 
journey was accomplished on foot. A shelter was 
necessary, and a phenomenal dwelling was erected, 
consisting of a few poles set up in cone shape, and 
covered with marsh hay. They had stopped for a 
night or two with Louis Norton, who lived on the 
farm adjoining to the north. The latter had come 
in the winter just preceding. He had a large 
family of children. On the 4th of July, 1838, Mr. 
Norton, who had taken a job of clearing in what is 
now the Batcheler neighborhood, was killed by 
lightning while at his work in that vicinity. His 
body was discovered in the evening by Mrs. Hutch- 
inson, who was returning to her home in Howell 
township, with her husband, from some place at 



which they had been making a " Fourth of July 
visit." 

Mr. Van Keurcn and his nephew at once began 
building a log house, and help was so scarce that 
they were three days getting it raised. It was not 
yet completed when Mr. Van Keuren went after 
his family, with which he returned in August fol- 
lowing. 

When Mr. Van Keuren purchased his land in 
this town (1836), Capt. Jeremiah Casady was lay- 
ing up his log house, and when the former re- 
turned with his family the worthy captain had been 
called from earth, and his widow and her family 
were occupying the place. A inan named Knee- 
land lived a short distance west, in Howell town- 
ship. 

William McFail settled south of the Van Keuren 
place in 1837, shortly before the latter arrived. 

William B. liager came with Mr. Van Keuren 
in June, 1836, and entered land north of the latter's 
place, where his son, Jacob M. Eager, now lives. 
Five men had started together from Buffalo, but only 
the two above named were able to get through. 

Among other early settlers were Jabez Mead 
and Dan. l-'uller, the latter making the first im- 
provements where Thomas Parks now lives. These 
were living in town in 1837, on the road extending 
eastward from the Van Keuren place. Messrs. 
Chapman and Gibbs were also eariy arrivals. 

Andrew Ferguson came about 1840 to the place 
now owned by Samuel Tomion, and made the 
first improvements upon it. Roswell Barnes and 
Montgomery Adams lived in the northwest corner 
of town, the former on section 6, and the latter on 
section 5. Both were respected citizens. Their 
stay in the town was of but a few years' duration. 
Adams is now a resitlent of Genesee County. 

One of the oldest orchards in the township is 
that on the farm of Charles Van Keuren, which 
was set out in 1839, and is still in good bearing 
condition. Most of the early settlers planted 
orchards as soon as possible, and this township 
is not behind its sisters in the production and 
quality of its fruit. The first potatoes raised by 
Mr. Van Keuren were mostly too small for use, 
yet he sorted out about twenty bushels of excellent 
ones, and from this it will be seen that the \irgin 
soil was not backward in producing a large yield 
of whatever was intrusted to its covering. 

Asa Parker, from Genesee Co., N. Y., emigrated 
to Michigan as early as 183 1, and settled in the 
township of Lyons, Oakland Co. Several years 
later, probably in 1835 or 1836, he moved to 
Oceola and located on the farm now owned by 
Francis Eager, near the present residence of his 
son, Danford Parker. Edwin Batcheler says he 



380 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



visited Mr. Parker's house in 1836, and saw in it a 
floor of hewed logs.* 

Daniel O. Taft, from the State of Massachusetts, 
came to Oceola about 1842-43, and settled on the 
place now occupied by his son, Noah Taft, where 
he spent his remaining days. His death occurred 
in May, 1871. Danford Parker's wife is his 
daughter. Another son, James Taft, also lives in 
the north part of the township. Both Mr. Taft 
and Asa Parker were engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits while they lived here. 

Harvey Parks came to Michigan, in 1S36, from 
Madison Co., N. Y., and settled in the township of 
Mundy, Genesee Co. In 1849 he removed to 
Oceola, where he died. Part of his family still 
lives in town. 

Sallu Riddle, from Genesee Co., N. Y., came to 
this township in the spring of 1839, purchased 
from second hands the farm now owned by his 
son, Lucius E. Riddle, on section 15, and built 
the log part of the house yet standing. He then 
returned for his family, and brought them back in 
October of the same year. Although not the 
original purchaser from government, Mr. Riddle 
made the first improvements upon his place. 

John VV. Botsford, now living east of Riddle's 
Corners, settled about 1840 

Amos Walterhouse came to Detroit in the fall 
of 1835, stayed in the township of Dearborn, 
Wayne Co., until the spring of 1836, and then 
settled in Highland, Oakland Co. In January, 
1842, he moved into Oceola. He is a native of 
New Jersey, and came to Michigan from Genesee 
Co., N. Y. 

Archibald Nelson, brother to Mrs. Sallu Riddle, 
came to this township in 1835 with his father, 
Jonathan Nelson. The former came to the State 
in 1832, locating in Farmington, Oakland Co. In 
1835 he entered land in Oceola, and settled upon 
it probably in the fall of the same year, cutting his 
own road through from Highland. 

Russell Blood, from Alexandria, Genesee Co., 
N. Y., came with his family to this township in 
October, 1836. During the time from the pre- 
ceding June they had lived at Ann Arbor, Wash- 
tenaw Co. Mr. Blood located upon the place 
where Amos Walterhouse now lives. He died 
on the 22d of February, 1851, and his widow sub- 
sequently became the wife of Mr. Walterhouse. 

Peter Y. Browning settled on the place where 
his widow now lives in 1836 or 1838, and became 
one of the prominent citizens of the township. 
Samuel and Edwin Batcheler, from East Douglas, 



* Other authority thinks Mr. Parker rlid not move into Oceola 
unlil nine or ten years after his settlement in Lyons. 



Worcester Co., Mass. (natives of Rhode Island), 
came to Michigan in 1833, arriving in Detroit on 
the 17th of May, and pushing on to Commerce. 
Oakland Co., the ne.xt day. In that town they 
settled. In the fall of 1836 they sold their prop- 
erty and purchased land in Oceola, upon which 
they moved in February, 1837. Samuel Batcheler 
lives on a part of the old farm, and Edwin's son, 
Benjamin F. Batcheler, occupies the other part. 
The latter served in the Federal army during the 
Rebellion, first as a private in the 26th Michigan 
Infantry, and afterwards as first lietitenant and 
acting captain in a colored regiment. His grand- 
father was a soldier in the Revolution. 

The land owned by the Batchelers in Oceola 
was bought of Hosea Root, who had entered it 
the same year, but made no improvements upon 
it. Pldwin Batcheler at present resides in the 
township of Marion, south of Howell. His wife 
came to Michigan in 1839 with her first husband, 
Salmon Adams, who had settled at Grass Lake, in 
Jackson County, in 1835 or 1836. Mr. Adams 
purchased land in Marion the same year from 
Flavins J. B. Crane, purchasing also in Oceola at 
the same time. He lived at Grass Lake until 
1839, when he went East and was married, bring- 
ing his wife back with him to that place. In 1841 
they moved" to Iowa, where they remained two 
years. In December, 1843, they returned to Grass 
Lake, and in July, 1844, moved to Oceola, where 
they resided until 1847, when they settled upon 
the land in Marion which Mr. Adams had bought 
in 1835 or 1836, it being the same now occupied 
by Mr. Batcheler. Mr. Adams died Sept. 15, 1850, 
and his widow subsequently became the wife of 
Mr. Batcheler. 

Charles P. Hardy came to the township of 
Oceola in the fall of 1837. After a residence here 
of three years he removed to Du Page Co., 111., 
where he yet lives, in the township of Milton, near 
Prospect Park, formerly called Danby. 

Mr. Hardy's father, Ephraim Hardy, entered 
land on section 23, in 1835. Early in 1836 he 
moved upon it with his family, Joel and Joseph 
Rumsey coming with their wives at the same time. 
A log house (not of the best kind) was built on 
Joseph Rumsey's land, in February, 1836, and 
occupied for a time by all three families, or until 
other dwellings could be erected. Mr. Hardy 
worked at intervals upon his own log house, and 
had it finished and ready for occupancy late in the 
suinmer. He had taken pains to clear some 
ground and plant potatoes, etc., for future use, be- 
fore hurrying much with his house. The old 
building is yet standing, on section 23, opposite 
(north of) the present residence of his son, Ephraim 





J.W. BOTSFORD. 



MRS. H/^NWAH BOTSrORD. 




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i^^ 5,* H* - - •^'^«-. ^^•*-.^f*-^-^i\^.i'°-^"tfi?W.^l'*"*-"* . 




Residence or J W BOTSFORD Oceola Michigan 



■■^-■■S'wsrs'Si^'iiS^?^'*^^*' 




Re^idl^oE l J U BOTSFORD 




Residence or P. v. M. BOTSFORD, Oceola, Michigan. 



OCEOLA TOWNSHIP. 



^8 1 



J. Hardy. It is i8 by 24 feet in dimensions, and 
was at first covered with " ribs and shakes" — terms 
which all pioneers well understand. The family 
consisted of Mr. Hardy and his wife, two sons, — 
Ephraim J. and Cephas, — and one daugliter. Jo- 
seph Rumsey's wife was also a daughter of Mr. 
Hardy. At that time there were no other families 
living in their immediate neighborhood, the near- 
est being three or four miles away to the southeast, 
and a few others about the same distance to the 
northeast. Mr. Hardy died Oct. 12, 1838, and his 
was the first death which occurred in this part of 
town. He was at first buried on his own farm, and 
subsequently removed to the Riddle cemetery. 

Ephraim J. Hardy, who was eighteen years old 
when he came here with his father, has made the 
township and the old farm his home since that 
time. He is the only one of his father's family 
now living in town, and he and his brother, Charles 
P. Hardy, of Illinois, are the only surviving mem- 
bers of that family. E. J. Hardy has voted at 
every election since he became of age. 

Oceola Centre post-office was established late 
in the year 1840, after the Presidential election, on 
a mail-route established at the same time between 
Howell and Pontiac, via Milford. Hiram Good- 
rich was the first postmaster. Jesse Rumsey 
(brother to Joseph) was at the same time keeping 
a small store near the present school-house site in 
District No. i. The store was opened that same 
summer, and an effort was made to remove the 
post-office to it, but the wrong shade of the store- 
keeper's politics caused the failure of the scheme. 
Those who have succeeded Mr. Goodrich in the 
office are Joseph Rumsey, L. C. Crittenden, John 
G. Horton, Peter Y. Browning, Edward Browning, 
and the present incumbent, Ephraim J. Hardy, 
who took charge in the spring of 1861, soon after 
the inauguration of President Lincoln. 

Andrew Riddle, the father of Mrs. William Mc- 
Pherson, of Howell, came from Scotland, and 
settled in the village named in June, 1836, and 
started the first blacksmith-shop at that place. He 
brought his family with him ; one of his sons is 
now in business in Detroit. In the spring of 1S37, 
Mr. Riddle moved to Oceola township, and not 
long afterwards built a blacksmith-shop one and 
a half miles west of Ephraim Hardy's place. His 
son, Andrew, subsequently carried on the shop. 
About 1855-56, Ephraim J. Hardy also built a 
blacksmith-shop, which has been abandoned but a 
few years. 

Hollon N. Lewis and William Palmer, living in 
the southeast part of the township, are among its 
oldest residents. The latter settled in 1837, and 
the former a little earlier. A Mr. Hecker settled 



in the same neighborhood quite early ; he lost two 
sons during the great Rebellion of 1861-65. 

Harry Neff, who has been previously mentioned, 
built up a considerable trade with the Indians when 
he first settled, selling them whisky and other 
articles, and taking furs in exchange. 

Harleigh H. Graves, the first settler, was the first 
justice of the peace in the township, holding the 
office by appointment from the Governor before the 
town was organized. His place was on the east 
line of the township, near John T. Brown's, and is 
now the property of Mr. Owen. 

George Wright,* whose sister was Harry NefTs 
wife, lived in town for a short time, but owned 
no land. He was a young man, possessed a good 
education, understood various languages, and was 
a close student. 

William E. Redding, who entered land in Oceola 
in 1832, did not settle until about 1836, during 
which year he helped the Batchelers build their 
house. 

Among other early settlers in this town were 
H. G. W. Fry, from New York, September, 1842; 
Abram Switz, from New York, May, 1847 ; E. Kel- 
logg, 1846; Jacob Snell, purchased land in 1836; 
F. Hetchelcr, .settled in 1845. 

The list of township officers accompanying this 
sketch contains the names of many of the pioneers 
and prominent citizens of the township, of whom 
the greater proportion have made their last long 
journey and entered upon the scenes beyond the 
dark river. The mention of their names must 
bring to their surviving friends and neighbors a 
flood of recollections of the days when all were 
struggling with their might to carve from the for- 
est homes for themselves and a heritage for those 
who should follow. Those who were then in 
their prime have nearly all passed from mortal 
gaze, and the youth of forty years ago is the mid- 
dle-aged man of to-day, — his locks streaked with 
the silver that the brush of time alone can paint, 
and his mind awake to the solemn fact that ere 
many years he, too, must join the shadowy throng 
which has preceded him to the unknown hereafter 
and give place to the advancing generation. 

The following alphabetical list comprised the 
residents of Oceola township in 1844: 

Alvord, Americus V. Browning, Peter Y. 

Bcrjjin, D.iniel. B.itcheler, Olis. 

Berlin, Ritrick. Balcheler, E. 

Bergin, Michael. Batchcler, S. 

Bergin, Conner. Blood, Russell. 

Beaujeau, Eusebius. Botsford, John W. 

Barbour, William. Brown, John T. 

Briggs, Noah. Brown, John T., Jr. 

Bennett, Abraham. Beidelman, Christian. 

* This name is also given as William Wright. 



382 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Bennett, Joseph H. 
Booth, William. 
Barron, Richard. 
Chambers, James. 
Colburn, Samuel. 
Colburn, Robert. 
Curdy, James. 
Cole, Joseph. 
Chaplain, Henry S. 
Conklin, Barnard. 
Casady, Jeremiah. 
Dean, William. 
Donahue, Patrick. 
Durfee, Benjamin B. 
Earl, Riley. 
Fail, Elijah R. 
Friiik, Nicholas. 
Franklin, F. .S. 
Ferguson, Andrew. 
Ferguson, John H. 
Fry, Henry L. 
Goodrich, Hiram. 
Glover, Luther M. 
Glover, Samuel S. 
George, Henry. 
Graven, William. 
Griswold, Reuben. 
Griswold, Frederick. 
Griswold, Samuel. 
Holt, Barzilla. 
Harker, William. 
Hardy, E. J. and C. 
Hardy, Artema.s S. 
Hodges, Norman W. 
Haidy, Francis. 
Hardy, Francis S. 
I lodges, Allen C. 
Helcheler, John. 
Kellogg, D.ivid. 
Knight, Ira. 
Knight & Roberts. 
Lewis, HoUon N. 
McGuire, Thomas. 
McFail, John B. 
McKenny, Patrick. 
McKeever, Francis. 
Murdock, Orville. 
Mapes, Samuel. 
Mapsrs, Elisha G. 



Mason, David B. 
Mason, Hiram. 
Martin, Peter. 
McGivney, John. 
McFail, William. 
Merrill, Horace. 
Merrill, Warren. 
Miller, Stephen J. 
Nelson, Jonathan. 
Nelson, John. 
Neff, Hany H. 
Pinckney, Thomas. 
Parshall, Thomas K. 
Parshall, Israel. 
Parker, .\sa. 
P.ilmer, William. 
Rhodes, Harvey. 
Runisey, Joseph H. 
Riddle, Andrew. 
Root, Amos B. 
Rumsey, Joel B. 
Riddle, Sallu. 
Roberts, Guy N. 
Reese, Henry. 
Roberts, Mehetabel. 
Rumsey, William C. 
Steel, Joseph H. 
Sanders, Nathan M. 
Stone, John. 
Sanders, McKinstry. 
Snell, Jacob. 
Sulton, Lewis C. 
Taft, D. O. 
Tubbs, Samuel K. 
Van Camp, Mahlon. 
Van Camp, John A. 
Van Camp, .^zariah H. 
Van Keuren, Charles. 
Walterhouse, Amos. 
Whitncre, Joseph. 
Walker, Henson. 
W.dker, George W. 
Wliitney, Lyman. 
Wakely, JoTin. 
Whiiaker, Daniel. 
Whitaker, Joseph. 
Whitaker, Daniel, Jr. 
Whitaker, James. 



Noiman W. Hodges and Francis Hardy paid in 
the )ear given the highest taxes in the township, 
those of the former amounting in all to $13.73, and 
of the latter to $15.37, the amount paid by others 
seldom ranging above four or five dollars. The 
total ta.xes for the township in 1844 were but 
$612.49. 

TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.— CIVIL LIST. 

By an act of the Legislature of the State of 
Michigan, approved March 11, 1837, "All that 
portion of the County of Livingston, designated in 
the United States survey as township three north, 
of range five east," was set off and organized into a 
separate township by the name of B\ron, and it was 
directed that "the first township-meeting therein 
shall be held at the house of Hiram Goodrich." 



The territory included had previously formed a part 
of the township of Howell. On the 6th of March, 
1838, the name was changed from Byron to Oceola, 
which name it has since retained. The change was 
made because another townshij) named Byron ex- 
isted in the State. 

From the original book of records the following 
entry, describing the first town-meeting in Byron, 
is transcribed : 

" At a meeting of the legal voters of Tow.iship number 3 north. 
Range number five east, held at the house of Hiram Goodrich, 
Samuel Mapes was elected Moderator; Artimus Nelson, Clerk, 
protem.; Thomas K. Parshall, Phileslerje^sup, Joseph H. Runisey, 
Inspectors."* 

At this meeting it was voted " that there shall 
be a Town Bounty of Three Dollars per head on 
Wolves caught and killed by an Inhabitant of the 
Town of Byron, in said township." 

The following township officers were elected, 
viz.: Supervisor, Jacob Snell; Town Clerk, Arti- 
must Nelson; Assessors, John Van Tuyl, Russell 
Blood, Joseph H. Rumsey ; Collector, Elisha Gris- 
wold ; Directois of the Poor, E|)hraim Hardy, Ellis 
Lutiier; Commissioners of Highways, Peter Y. 
Browning, Peter Martin, John Stone ; Constables, 
Elisha Griswold, Israel Parshall ; Justices of the 
Peace, Jacob Snell, Thomas K. Parshall, William 
C. Rumsey ; School Commissioners, John Stone, 
Jacob Snell, Ellis Luther; School Inspectors, Sam- 
uel Mapes, William C. Rumsey. 

At a special election held June 6, 1837, Ephraim 
Hardy was chosen director of the poor, and Phil- 
ester Jessup, John Stone, and John Van Tuyl, 
school inspectors. Before the election for 1838 the 
name of the township had been changed to Oceola. 

The following list shows the officers of that 
township from 1838 to 1879, inclusive: 

183S. — .Supervisor, Jacob .Snell; Town Clerk, Joseph H. Rum- 
sey; Assessors, Ritssell Blood, John .Stone, Samuel 
Mapes; Collector, Artcmas S. Hardy; School Inspec- 
tors, William C. Rumsey, Philester Jessup, John Van 
Tuyl ; Justice of the Peace, Joel B. Rumsey. 

1839. — Supervisor, Jacob Snell ; Town Clerk, Joseph H. Rum- 
sey ; Treasurer, Jacob Suell; Justice of the Peace, 
Edwin Batcheler; Assessors, Henry D. Benjamin, A. S. 
Hardy, Samuel Martin ; Collector, Reuben Griswold ; 
.School Inspectors, H. D. Benjamin, Joseph H. Kumsey, 
Jacob Snell. 

1S40. — Supervisor, Jacob Snell; Town Clerk, Joseph H. Rum- 
sey; Treasurer, Jacob Snell; Justices of" the Peace, 
Thomas K. Parshall, Jacob Snell ; Assessors, Joseph A. 
Pinckney, Samuel Martin, Thomas K. Parshall; Collec- 
tor, Reuben Griswohl; School Inspectors, H. D. Benja- 
min, J. B. Runisey, Hiram Mason. 

1S41. — Supervisor, Roswell B.irnes; Town Clerk, Joseph H. 
Rumsey; Treasurer, Roswell Barnes; Justice of the 
Peace, Amos Slader; Assessors, A. S. Hardy, Ira 
Knight, Joel B. Rumsey; Collector, Reuben Griswold; 
.School Inspectors, H. Mapes, Amos S. Slader, Allen C. 
Hodges. 



1837- 



f So spelled by himself on the records. 



OCEOLA TOWNSHIP. 



383 



1842. — Supervisor, William C. Runisey; To%vn Clerk, Russell 
Blood; Treasurer, Peter Y. Browning; Justices of the 
Peace, William C. Rumsey, Roswell Barnes; School In- 
spectors, H. Mapes, John Mason, Charles Vaii Keuren. 

1843. — Supervisor, William C. Rumsey; Town Clerk, Russell 
Blood ; Treasurer, Reuben Griswold ; Justice of the 
Peace, Thomas K. Parshall ; School Inspectors, Joel B. 
Rumsey, Henry L. Fiy. 

1844. — Supervisor, William C. Rumsey; Town Clerk, Russell 
Blood; Treasurer, Edward Browning; Justices of the 
Peace, Norman Hodges, Patrick Bergin ; School In- 
spector, John Nelson. 

1845. — Supervisor, William C. Rumsey; Town Clerk, Joseph H. 
Runisey; Treasurer, Joel B. Rumsey; Justice of the 
Peace, Benjamin B. Durfee; School Inspector, David 
B. Mas.m. 

1S46. — Supervisor, William C. RuM)scy; Town Clerk, John R. 
Mason; Treasurer, Samuel K. Tuhlis; Justice of the 
Peace, William C. Rumsey ; School Inspector, William 
P. Glover. 

1847. — Supervisor, Samuel K. Tulihs; Town Clerk, Russell 
Blood; Treasurer, John W. Botslord ; Justices of the 
Peace, Samuel Mapes, Stephen J. Miller; School In- 
spector, David Mason. 

1848. — Supervisor, S. K. Tuhhs; Town Clerk, Russell Blood; 
Treasurer, John W. Botsford; Jnstice of the Peace, 
Patrick Bergin; .School Inspectois, John R. M.ason, 
Kelly S. Franklin. 

1S49. — Supervisor, Benjamin B. Durfee; Town Clerk, Lyman 
Whitney; Treasurer, Ira Knight; Justices of the Peace, 
Henry W. Fry, John G. Horton ; School Inspector, 
John G. Horton. 

1S50. — Supervisor, Samuel K. Tubbs ; Town Clerk, Albert Rid- 
dle; Treasurer, Francis McKeever; Justices of the Peace, 
Hollon N. Lewis, Kelly S. Franklin ; School Inspector, 
John R. Mason. 

1851. — Supervisor, Samuel K. Tubbs; Town Clerk, David B. 
Ma'oii ; Treasurer, Ebenezer Cole ; Justice of the Peace, 
Kelly S. Franklin; School Inspector, .\lbert Riddle. 

1852. — Sujiervisor, Samuel K. Tubbs; Town Clerk, Kelly S. 
Franklin; Treasurer, Francis McKeever; Justices of 
the Peace, Edward Browning, Jacob M. Eager; School 
Inspector, John R. Masi>n. 

1853. — Supervisor, Beniamin B. Durfee; Town Clerk, John G. 
Horton; Treasurer, Ebenezer Cole; Justices of the 
Peace, B. B. Durfee, Albert Riddle; School Inspector, 
Wells B. Fox. 

1854. — .Super\'isor, Samuel K. Tublis; Town Clerk, Martin E. 
Miller; Treasurer, Albert Riddle; Justices of the Peace, 
William Barbour, Myron Curdy ; School Inspector, Jo- 
seph Blinstoii, 

1855. — .Supervisor, Kelly S. Franklin; Town Clerk, Albert Rid- 
dle; Treasurer, Martin E. Miller; Justice of the Peace, 
Kelly S.Franklin; School Inspectors, David R. Mason, 
James Parker. 

1856. — Supervisor, Kelly S. Franklin; Town Clerk, Albert Rid- 
dle; Treasurer, M. E. Miller; Justice of the Peace, Ed- 
ward Browning; School Inspector, Jason H. .Scott. 

1857. — Supervisor, Samuel K. Tubbs; Town Clerk, Albert Rid- 
dle; Treasurer. M. E. Miller; Justices of the Peace, 
Charles Van Keuren, Joseph Blinston ; School In- 
spector, David B. Mason. 

1858. — Supervisor, Kelly S. Franklin; Town Clerk, Albert Rid- 
dle; Treasurer, Barnard Conklin ; Justice of the Peace, 
Giles 15. Armstrong; School Inspector, Calvin B. Shear. 

1S59. — Supervisor, Albeit Riddle ; Town Clerk, Joseph Blinston ; 
Treasurer, B. Conklin; Justice of the Peace, Thomas 
K. Parshall ; School Inspectors, James D. Botsford, 
Martin E. Miller. 

1S60. — Supervisor, Samuel K. Tubbs; Town Clerk, Joseph Blin- 



ston ; Treasurer, John C. Roberts ; Justice of the Peace, 
Joseph Blinston; School Inspector, James McLean. 

1861. — Supervisor, Albert Riddle; Town Clerk, Josephus Lare; 
Treasurer, Aaron Holt; Justice of the Peace, Kelly S. 
Franklin ; School Inspector, Gordon Snell. 

1862. — Supervisor, Albert Riddle; Town Clerk, Josephus Lare; 
Treasurer, Anthony Scully ; Justice of the Peace, David 
Powell; School Inspector, John Franklin. 

1863. — Supervisor, .\lbert Riddle; Town Clerk, Joseph Blinston; 
Treasurer, Anthony Scully; Justice of the Peace, J.imes 
D. Botsford; School Inspector, Thomas Naun. 

1864. — Supervisor, Albert Riddle; Town Clerk, Joseph Blinston 
(resigned, and M. E. Miller appointed); Treasurer, 
Francis S. Hardy ; Justice of the Peace, Kelly S. 
Franklin; School Inspector, James D. Botsford. 

1865. — Supervisor, Clark Perce; Town Clerk, Theodore W. Wis- 
ner ; Treasurer, Francis S. Hardy ; Justice of the Peace, 
Kelly S. Franklin ; School Inspector, James D. Botsford. 

1866. — Supervisor, Clark Perce ; Town Clerk, T. W. Wisner ; 
Treasurer, FVancis McDonough, Jr. ; Justices of the 
Peace, David Powell, Jason H. Scott; School Inspec- 
tor, Clark Perce. 

1867. — Supervisor, James D. Botsford; Town Clerk, Lucius E. 
Riddle; Tre.isurer, Francis McDonough, Jr.; Justices 
of the Peace, James D. Botsford, John A. Van Camp; 
.School Inspectors, Martin E. Miller, Josephus Lare. 

1868. — Supervisor, James D. Botsford; Town Clerk, Luciss E. 
Riddle ; Treasurer, James Casady ; Justices of the Peace, 
Elijah B. Hosley, Benjamin R. Townsley; School In- 
spectors, William J. Hazard, D.avid F. Van Sickle. 

1S69. — Supervisor, William J. Hazard; Town Clerk, L. E. Rid- 
dle ; Treasurer, Janies Casady ; Justices of the Peace, 
M. E. Miller, D. S. Curdy, .Vdam Lare; School In- 
spector, Thomas J. Tu!)bs. 

1870. — Supervisiir, William J. Hazard; Town Clerk, James Cas- 
ady; Treasurer, John Brophy; Justices of the Peace, 
Josephus Lare, M. E. Miller, T. R. Pardee; School In- 
spectors, James D. Botsford, Lucius E. Riddle. 

:87I. — Supervisir, Horace G. W. Frey ; Town Clerk, James Cas- 
ady; Treasurer, Jeremiah Balcheler; Justice of the 
Peace, James M. Cook ; School Inspector, Cass Hooker; 
Drain Commissioner, John W. Botsford. 

1872. — Supervisor, Vincent Parshall; Town Clerk, James Casady; 
Treasurer, Richard E. Parshall; Justice of the Peace, 
Elijah B. Hosley; School Inspector, Adelbert Hetch- 
eler; Drain Commissioner, Thomas J. Parks. 

1S73. — Supervisor, Elijah B. Hosley ; Town Clerk, James Casady ; 
Treasurer, Miner Bergin; Justices of the Peace, M. E. 
Miller, George M. Frey; School Inspector, Richard D. 
Bergin ; Drain Commissioner, John W. Botsfonl. 

1874. — Supervisor, E. B. Hosley; Town Clerk, James Casady; 
Treasurer, S.imuel Tomion ; Justice of the Peace, Augus- 
tus C. Fox, Sr. ; School Inspectors, Josephus Lare, Ben- 
jamin Frey; Drain Commissioner, John W. Botsford. 

1875. — Supervisor, John W. Botsford; Town Clerk, Jeremiah 
Batchclcr ; Treasurer, Samuel Tomion ; Justices of the 
Peace, J. D. Botsford, Anthony Scully ; Township Su- 
perintendent of Schools, Richard D. Bergin ; School 
Inspector, Jose|)hus Lare; Drain Commissioner, Robert 
R. Warren. 

1876. — .Supervisor, Vincent Parshall; Town Cleik, Jeremiah 
Batcheler ; Treasurer, Danford Parker ; Justice of the 
Peace, Benj. F. Andrews; Township Superintendent of 
Schools, W. G. Smith ; School Inspector, Josephus Lare ; 
Drain Commissioner, R. R Warren (two years). 

1S77. — Supervisor, H. L. Van Camp; Town Clerk, David Pow- 
ell ; Treasurer, Thomas E. BaiTon; Justice of the Peace, 
Franklin E. Milk-r; School Superintendent, P. V. M. 
Botsford; School Inspector, Benjamin Frey. 

187S. — Supervisor, Homer L. Van Camp; Town Clerk, David 



3S4 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Powell ; Treasurer, Thomas Barron ; Justices of the 
Peace, Anthony Scully, Jeremiah Batcheler ; School Su- 
perintendent, T. S. S. Curdy; School Inspector, Benja- 
min Frey ; Drain Commissioner, Patrick Feeny. 
1879. — Supervisor, Horace G. W. Frey; Town Clerk, John 
Powers; Treasurer, Stephen J. Miller; Justice of the 
Peace, Lewis C. Crittenden ; School Superintendent, 
Thomas S. S. Curdy; School Inspector, Benjamin Frey; 
Drain Commissioner, Bela Scott. 

OCEOLA GRANGE, No. 164, PATRONS OF HUS- 
BANDRY, 

was organized about 1873. Its first Master was 
E. R. Merrithew. A building from a locality near 
by was moved, and used as a grange hall. After 
an existence of several years the grange became so 
much reduced in numbers that it was finally dis- 
continued. 

THE RIDDLE CEMETERY 

is the principal one in the township to which it be- 
longs. The spot was selected by Ehjah Riddle 
(father of Sallu Riddle), who came here about 
1840 or 1 841, and he was the first person buried 
in it. Others who had died previously, and been 
buried in various parts of town, were taken up and 
removed to the cemetery when it was made ready 
for use. Among the pioneers and aged people 
buried here are the following, viz.: 

Harvey Parks and wife; the laltcr dieil in 1869. 

Peler Y. Browning, die'd June 21, 1S73, ageil 78 years. 

John Holmes, died Jan. 20, 1877, aged 63 years. 

Sarah, his wife, died March 9, i868, aged 65 years. 

Jacob Westervelt, died Feb. 8, l866, aged 88 ye,irs. 

Elisha Stockwell, died May 21, 1855, aged 82 years. 

Charle> Chambers, died May 29, 1863, aged 80 years. 

Mary B., his wife, died Jan. iS, 1S63, aged 86 years. 

Alba Sheppard, died Dec. 5, 1866, aged 79 years. 

Henson Walker, died Nov. 20, 1853, aged 66 years. 

Sheldon Beebe, died Dec. 8, 1857, aged 71 years. 

Hannah, his wife, died Aug. 7, 1855, aged 58 years. 

Celestia, wife of T. K. Parshall, died May 21, 1857, aged 48 years. 

Hannah, wife of Sam'l Brown, died Oct. 13, 1S46, aged 68 years. 

Andrew Ferguson, died Nov. 7, 1865, aged 73 years. 

Betsey, his wife, died July 14, 1853, aged 52 years. 

Harriet, wife of E. J. Hardy, died April 5, 1859, aged 36 years. 

Rebecca, wife of E. J. Hardy, died Jan. 25, 1876, aged 51 years. 

Artemas S. Hardy, died Sept. 29, 1S46, aged 36 years. 

Evoline, his widow, and wife of Rev. J. G. Horton, died Aug. 6, 

1858, aged 37 years. 
Ephraim Hardy, died Oct. 12, 1838, .aged 59 years. 
Clarissa, his wife, died Nov. 25, 1869, aged 83 years. 
Cephas Hardy, died Sept. i, 1851, aged ^^ years. 
Susan, wife of Amos Walterhouse, died April 24, 1 85 1, n^ed 46 

years. 
Sallu Riddle, died Feb. 17, 1863, aged 59 years. 
Oliva, his wife, died Aug. 24, i860, aged 54 years. 
Elijah Riddle, died Oct. 10, 1842, aged 70 years. 
Joseph H. Runisey, died Oct. 17, 1S52, aged 48 years. 
Mary Ann, his wife, died Sept. 29, 1852, aged 40 years. 
Abigail, wife of Edwin Batcheler, died March 31, 1854, aged 35 

years. 
Otis Batcheler, died April 19, 1855, aged 62 years. 
Samuel Wisner, died Jan. 8, 1864, aged 73 years. 



Hannah, his wife, died Feb. 6, 1865, aged 72 years. 
Rev. John G. Horton, died July 30, 1S70, aged 58 years. 
Paulina, his wife, died Dec. 25, 1867, aged 50 years. 

SCHOOLS. 

The first school in the township now known as 
Oceola was taught in the summer of 1837, in a 
log school-house which was built that year on 
land owned by Andrew Riddle,* in what is now 
School District No. i, then known as the " Runi- 
sey District." The same land is now the prop- 
erty of Daniel Whitaker. This first school was 
taught by Fidelia Persons, and was quite largely 
attended, as the neighboring settlers had generally 
large families. Especially was it the case with 
Daniel Whitaker, who was the father of fifteen 
children. There were pupils also from the families 
of Samuel Glover, Joseph and Joel Rumsey, Ellis 
Luther, Henson Walker, Joseph Pinckney, Mc- 
Kinstry Sanders, and probably that of Ephraim 
Hardy. This was the first school district organ- 
ized in the township, and still retains the original 
number, — one. A frame school-house was subse- 
quently built three-fourths of a mile east of the 
site of the old one. For some time the school in 
the " Rumsey district" was the nearest one which 
children from the western portion of town could 
attend. Some of Charles Van Keuren's family 
went to it in 1838. His daughter, Mi.ss Martha 
Van Keuren, who had enjoyed the educational 
advantages of New York City, could not easily be- 
come accustomed to the ways of a backwoods 
school, and it was very much of a novelty to her. 
The log school-house was occupied by Daniel 
Whitaker as a dwelling after its abandonment for 
school purposes. 

On what is now the Browning Place a log 
school-house was built in the fall of 1837, and 
was very likely the second one erected in the 
township. One of the earlier teachers — although 
probably not the first — was Miss Mary Nelson. 

The log school-houses of the pioneer days exist 
at present but in the memory of those who helped 
to raise them, or attended beneath their roofs the 
primitive schools which there were taught. The 
buildings of the old model and material long ago 
gave place to the more modern edifices, and neatly- 
painted school-houses now exist in the majority of 
districts. From the report of the township school 
inspectors for the year ending Sept. 2, 1878, the 
following table is made, showing the condition at 
that time of the various schools in the township : 

Numlier of whole districts 6 

Number of fraciional districts 3 

Number of children of school age 345 

* Mr. Riddle was a Scotchman, and, as previously stated, the 
father of Mrs. William McPherson, of Howell. 






%f*^*^_|*|#»J 







RESIDENCE if E.J. dE. W. HARDY, ^ 

BREEDERS or REGISTERED MERIN.j 



ii 







iLA CENTRE, LIVINGSTON CO., MICH. 

P a SHORT HORNED CATTLE 



SK-ETCHED FROM LI rr 





PETER V. BKOWNING. 



MRS. PETER V. BROWNING. 



PETER Y. BROWNING. 



The eentleman whose name heads this article 
was one of the most prominent of the early settlers 
in Oceola township. He was born in the State of 
Connecticut, in 1794. His father, a farmer, moved 
at an early day with a large family to Dutchess 
Co., N. Y. The son, who lived and worked with 
his father on the old farm for a number of years, 
was married in November, 1820, to Miss Sarah 
Ann Cramer, daughter of his nearest neighbor. 
He shortly after moved to Kinderhook, N. Y., 
where he stayed one year with his brother. He 
then hired a farm for seven years, but only re- 
mained four years upon it, after which he gave its 
control into the hands of his brother-in-law. He 
soon after leased six hundred acres in Livingston 
Manor, Columbia Co., and engaged for four years 
in an extensive dairy business. He finally pur- 
chased a farm in Henrietta, and lived upon it three 
years. The " Michigan fever" at last attacked him, 
and after selling his farm he came through, with a 
wagon, to this State, purchased four hundred and 
fifty acres of wild land from the government in 



Oceola township, and built a log house. At that 
time the town contained but few settlers. After 
purchasing his land he had but little left, but in 
the course of time was greatly prospered. Town- 
ship offices were given him, — treasurer, etc., and 
he was also an early postmaster. At his death, in 
June, 1873, he left his widow in very comfortable 
circumstances, and she is managing the affairs of 
her fine farm of over two hundred and seventy-five 
acres, with her children all living around her. Her 
daughter married Mr. Armstrong, and is living 
in the township. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Browning are the 
following, viz. : 

Edward, born Aug. 23, 182 1. 

Jacob C, born May 14, 1824. 

Ellen B., born May 14, 1826. 

Robert B., born Sept. 15, 1828. 

Jereml\h, born Nov. 11, 1830. 

John, born March 23, 1833; died at San Fran- 
cisco, Cal., Sept. 22, 1870. 

Joseph, born Jan. 13, 1838. 



OCEOLA TOWNSHIP. 



38s 



Auenil.iiice (luring year 306 

Nuinl)er of school-houses (frame) 9 

Value of property .•. $2880 

Number of male teachers employed 7 

Number of female teachei-s employed 12 

Amount paid male teachers $630.25 

Amount paid female teachers 590.00 

Total receipts for the year $2212.39 

Amount on hand Sept. 2, 1878 261.31 

Total expenses, less amount on hand $1951.08 

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

Probably the first sermon preached in the town- 
sliip of Oceola was that dehvered in May, 1836, 
at the house of Henry Neff", by Mrs. Neff's brother, 
WiUiani Wright. In the spring of 1838 the first 
denominational meetings in town were held by the 
Presbyterians, at the log house of Ephraim Hardy, 
Rev. Mr. Clark officiating. He was a young man 
who then lived in the township of Green Oak. 
The Presbyterians have at present no society in 
town. Rev. William Page, a Presbyterian divine, 
purchased land in Oceola in 1836. He is said to 
have been the first Presbyterian preacher who de- 
livered a sermon in Howell. 

The first Methodist class in the township was 
formed at the Browning school-house, in May, 
1840. In the northern portion of town the inhab- 
itants for a number of years joined with others 
and held meetings two miles north, in Deerfield ; 
but finally, about 1850, they organized a separate 
Methodist class, and convened for worship in the 
school-house in the Parker and Taft neighborhood. 
Here their meetings were held until 1873, during 
which year their present neat frame church edifice 
was erected, the dedication occurring in the month 
of August. Among the early ministers who 
preached here were Revs. Horton, May, Westiake, 
Kilpatrick, and Millard. The present pastor is 
Rev. Mr. Birdsall, who has charge also at "The 
Bogue," in Cohoctah, at Deer Creek, in Deerfield, 
and in the Green neighborhood, west from the 
church. The membership of the Oceola society 
is about 20. 

UNION CHURCH, OCEOLA CENTRE. 

The Congregational and Methodist denoinina- 
tions had for some time held meetings in this 
vicinity, occupying the school-houses. In Feb- 
ruary, 1870, a gathering was held at the house of 
Ephraim J. Hardy, and the subject of building a 
church was brought up. It met with such a favor- 
able reception that a committee was the next day 
appointed, with executive powers, and the building 
was soon begun. Upon the lOth of July following 
it was dedicated, free from debt, and from that time 
the society — Union, and not denominational — has 
had a surplus in its treasury. The two societies 
49 



which had been previously organized — Congrega- 
tional and Methodist — furnished the greater portion 
of the building fund, but were aided largely by out- 
siders, and the structure, although owned by a 
Union society, was dedicated as a Methodist I^pis- 
copal church. It is a fine frame building, at present 
occupied regularly by the Methodists, who have a 
membership numbering about 40. The pastor is 
Rev. Mr. Lyon, of Hartland, which is also in liis 
charge. 

A Catholic society has existed for a number of 
years in the eastern part of town, and has a church 
and cemetery at the line between Oceola and Hart- 
land, east of Oceola Centre post-office. 

On section 31 the manufacture of brick and 
drain-tile is carried on to considerable extent by 
J. Brayton. The quality of his wares is said by 
those competent to judge to be excellent. 

Among the many who have furnished valuable 
information to the writer in this township are 
Thomas K. Parshall, Nathan M. Sanders, Mrs. 
Roswell Pettibone, Richard Walker, Ezra Whita- 
ker (of Howell), Charles Van Keuren and family, 
Lucius E. Riddle, Amos Walterhouse and wife, — 
the latter formerly Mrs. Russell Blood, — Archibald 
Nelson, Samuel and Edwin Batcheler, P2phraim J. 
Hardy, Charles P. Hardy (of Du Page Co., III.), 
Anson C. Briggs (of Howell), William Barbour 
and William C. Rumsey (both of Howell), and 
numerous others, to all of whom sincere acknowl- 
edsfments are tendered. 



BIOGR.VI'IIICAL SKETCHES. 



EPHRAIM J. HARDY. 

Proininent among the business men and pioneers 
of the township of Oceola, is found the gentleman 
whose name appears above. He is one of a family 
of six children, and was born in Sudbury, Rutland 
Co., Vt., in 1 8 17. His father, Ephraim Hardy, led 
the life of a farmer. He was a strictly moral man, 
although he never united with any religious so- 
ciety. In November, 1835, he removed with his 
family to Michigan, and entered one hundred and 
sixty acres of land in what is now Oceola town- 
ship. A log house was built, into which tiie 
family moved in the spring of 1836, after having 
remained in Washtenaw County during the winter. 
The removal took place May ist. The log house 
is yet standing, in a fair state of preservation. Six 
families settled in the township the same spring, yet 
the neighbors of Mr. Hardy were of considerable 



386 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



distance from his place.* Living so far in the wil- 
derness, the family was necessarily subject to many 
trials and some discomfort. To get milling done 
it was necessary to go with an ox-team to Ann 
Arbor. In the matter of worldly possessions they 
were, however, better off than many of the pioneers 
of the region, for their live stock numbered thir- 
teen head of cattle, five sheep, and three hogs. 
The elder Hardy died at the age of fifty-eight 
years, and of his children but two are now living, 
— Ephraim J., on the old farm, and Charles, in Du 
Page Co., 111., where he removed at an early day. 

On the 22d of December, 1841, Ephraim J. 
Hardy was married to Miss Harriet Haines, who 
died in 1859, after becoming the mother of seven 
children, of whom but two are now living. July 
10, 1859, Mr. Hardy was married to Miss Rebecca 
Haines, whose death occurred Jan. 25, 1876. In 
March, 1878, he a third time entered the matri- 
monial state, being then wedded to Miss Esther 
Murray. Mr. Hardy owned at one time nearly 
seven hundred acres of land, but has divided it 
among his children. 

'' In 1848 or 1849 he began to breed and deal in 
fine-wooled sheep, starting with a choice herd pur- 
chased in Vermont. He was careful to buy none 
but the best, and with one exception has bred only 
the Spanish Merinos. He has had in flock at one 
time as many as seven hundred, and in the autumn 
of 1879 was the owner of three hundred. His 
sheep have generally been awarded most of the 
premiums at the various places where they have 
been exhibited, and his farm has also taken the 
first premium as a model for general improvements 
and excellence. In 1874, Mr. Hardy began deal- 
ing in short-horn cattle, and has at present eight 
thoroughbreds in his herd. For some years pre- 
viously his cattle were of a choice grade. 

Politically, Mr. Hardy is a Republican, having 
espoused the cause of that party at its birth in 
1854, and has been a faithful supporter of its prin- 
ciples to the present day. He has occupied vari- 
ous positions of prominence in his townshipf and 
county. In 1861 he was appointed postmaster at 
Oceola Centre, and continues to discharge the 
duties of the office. For a number of years he 
was Commissioner of Highways, and assisted in 
laying out most of the roads in the township. His 
father's house was among the first built in Oceola, 
but few families having previously settled. 

Mr. Hardy was one of the original board of di- 
rectors of the Livingston County Agricultural 
Society, and has been one of its main-stays in the 



* See hislory of township, 
•j- See list uf township officers. 



years which have since elapsed.J He was for a 
number of years its president. He was also one 
of the organizers of the Livingston County Mu- 
tual Fire Insurance Company, and was chosen its 
first president, serving eight years ; and his admin- 
istrition of its affairs was most judicious and bene- 
ficial to the company. 

As a citizen, Mr. Hardy ranks among the most 
respected in his neighborhood and throughout the 
region of his acquaintance. His residence is situ- 
ated opposite (south of) the time-worn log dwell- 
ing built by his father, which has received the buf- 
fetings of the storms of forty winters. 



J. A. VAN CAMP. 



Mr. Van Camp was born in Kingwood township, 
Hunterdon Co., N. J., in 1808. At the age of six- 
teen he went to the State of New York and hired 
to Thomas Burt, who owned a farin and a black- 




j. A. 



Photo, by Brown, Howell. 

VAN CAMP. 



smith-shop. After a short time he went to Spring- 
port and engaged at blacksmithing. While work- 
ing at his trade in Ulysses, Tompkins Co., N. Y., he 
was married, on the 14th of December, 182S, to 
Miss Catharine Cole. In 1835 he removed with 
her to Michigan, and after a short stay in Oakland 
County, removed to Green Oak, Livingston Co. 
He made most of the iron-work in the old Wood- 
ruff mill, and while there he earned money enough 
to purchase forty acres of land. He finally sold out 

J Mr. Hardy and Mr. Tully, in the days when the agricultural 
society was but in its infancy, and its receipts were comparatively 
inadequate to cover expenses, gave their own notes for its support. 
The stock business of Mr. Hardy, especially that in which his 
sheep figure, is quite extensive, and he is well known among first- 
class breeders and dealers. 



OCEOLA TOWNSHIP. 



387 



and built a small house and shop at the toll-gate, 
vvlicre he made most of the iron-work for Peck & 
Campbell. He at length went to Detroit, and pur- 
chased one hundred and ten acres of land in the 
township of Oceoia, on which he is now living. 
Subsequent purchases have increased the size of 
his farm to two hundred and seven acres. 

Mr. Van Camp was- perhaps the pioneer black- 
smitii in the county of Livingston. Politically he 
is a Democrat ; althougli many times the choice of 
his townsmen as the person to fill various offices, 
he would onl)' accept that of Highway Commi.s- 
sioner. 

WILLIAM HAZARD. 

Mr. Hazard, who is a native of Steuben Co., 

N. Y., came with his father, Chester Hazard, to 

Genoa township in 1836. With the exception of a 

year spent at school before leaving New York, he 




Photo. l>y Brown, Howell. 
WILLIAM HAZARD. 

resided with his father until 1856, assisting in the 
management of the latter's farm. In the year 
named he was married to Miss Cynthia Wait, of 
Howell, and this couple are the parents of three 
children, — one son and two daughters, — all living 
at home. In 1869, Mr. Hazard was elected super- 
visor of liis township, and held the position three 
years. He is at present Superintendent of the 
County Poor, and has continued in that capacity 
five years. In his own township he has held every 
office except that of treasurer. Politically, Mr. 
Hazard is a Democrat. 



ROBERT WALKER. 
This gentleman, born in the State of New York, 
in 1 83 1, came with his father to Oceoia township, 
in 1835. When of sufficient age to begin to ac- 



quire an education, he attended the district school 
during a few months in the winter. He remained 
at home until twenty-five years of age, and after 
the death of his father was married to Miss Fidelia 
Cole, daughter of one of the pioneers of Green 
Oak township. A sliort time later he purchased 
forty acres of wild hmd, upon which he built a 
cheap dwelling. A new house was in 1871 des- 
troyed by fire, since which he has built another at 
a cost of fifteen hundred dollars. Mr. and Mrs. 
Walker are the parents of four children, of whom 
all except the oldest daughter, — married to Mr. W. 
Eager, — are living at home. Mr. Walker is now 
the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and forty 
acres well improved. 



RICHARD WALKER. 
Henson Walker, the father of the above named 
person, was born in the State of Maryland about 
1789, and was a farmer. In 1809 he moved with 
his family to the State of New York, and rented a 
farm near Clifton Springs. After moving from 
place to place for a few years, he finally emigrated 
with his family of eight children to Michigan. 
After staying a few months in Washtenaw County 
he moved into Livingston, and settled in Oceoia 
township, where he built first a shanty and then a 
log house. This was in the winter of 1834-35.* 
Richard Walker purchased eighty acres of land 
for himself, and remained with his father until 
twenty years of age, when he went to Washtenaw 
County and worked with his brother three years 
on shares. He then returned to Livingston, and 
for five years was employed by Mr. Buckland. He 
was married to Miss Elizabeth Goeway, who bore 
him five children. She died after they had been 
married fourteen years, and September 3, 1865, he 
was married to Mrs. Caroline Cash, by whom he 
has had four children, she having by her first hus- 
band one son. Mr. Walker has at present an ex- 
cellent farm, containing two hundred and twenty 
acres. 

EDWARD BROWNING. 
Edward Browning was born in Kinderhook, N. 
Y., in August, 1821, and in the fall of 1836 came 
with his father to Livingston Co., Mich. The 
family consisted of seven children, and settled in 
Oceoia. A log house was erected for their ac- 
conmiodation. Edward Browning remained with his 
father about twelve years, and was then married to 
Miss Helen Beebe, the daughter of an old settler. 
For nearly twenty years they continued to live in 
the old log house. Three children were born to 



' Sec history of Oceoia township. 



388 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



them, of which number but one — a son — is living; 
he married Miss Wealthy Kellogg, and all live in 
the same home. Mr. Browning was the fourth 
person to hold the office of postmaster* in the town- 
ship, being appointed under President Buchanan, 
and continuing in the position four years. His 
farm — which first included eighty acres, earned by 
him in seven j^ears' work for his father — now com- 
prises four hundred acres, of which forty belong 
to his son John. The latter also owns a half inter- 
est with T. A. Walker — another early settler — in a 
flouring-mill at Parshallville. The farm is one of 
the best in the township. Wool-growing and 
wheat-raising are extensively engaged in by Mr. 
Browning. John, the son, has two children, a son 
and a daughter. 



ROBERT BROWNING. 

This gentleman was born in Dutchess Co., N. 
Y., Sept. 15, 1828, and accompanied his father, 
Peter Y. Browning, to Livingston Co., Mich., in 
1836, coming by wagon through Canada. He 
was one of six children who were with their par- 
ents in that journey. The family occupied the log 



house which was built for them on the farm in 
Oceola township. Robert Browning remained on 
the home farm until after he was twenty-one years 
of age, and in 1852 started for the golden land of 
promise, California. On his arrival at Omaha, he 
was taken sick and could go no farther. His 
parents, learning of his illness, went after him and 
brought him back to his home. In the spring of 
1853, he and his brother John started on a much 
longer journey, their objective point being for 
Australia. There they remained several years, 
and Robert, after they had returned to this coun- 
try, spent four years in Nevada and California, 
visiting also Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Washing- 
ton Territory, and finally returned home, leaving 
his brother in San Francisco, and worked on the 
old farm for three years. Aug. 22, 1870, he was 
married to Miss Delia Delano, youngest daughter 
of Israel Delano, a pioneer of Hartland township, 
in which the daughter was born. He purchased 
one hundred and forty acres from his father and Mr. 
McGuire, built a house, and now resides with his 
family near the old home. Mr. and Mrs. Brown- 
ing are the parents of one daughter, who is living 
at home. 



TYRONE TOWNSHIP. 



In the extreme northeast corner of Livingston 
County, bordering upon the counties of Genesee 
and Oakland, lies the township of Tyrone, which 
contains the highest rolling lands and presents 
more of the elements of the picturesque in its nat- 
ural scenery than any other portion of the county 
to which it belongs. The beautiful rolling lands 
of Oakland, which have made that county famous 
in Michigan for its romantic and picturesque land- 
scapes, extend over the line into this county, and 
in this northern tier of towns, gradually subside 
into the level lands of Conway and of the adjoin- 
ing county of Ingham. In the northeastern part 
of Tyrone these knolls rise to the dignity of hills. 
The highest point of ground within the limits of 
the township, where the rise of the swells and 
knolls finally culminate in a bold, rounded hill, is 
at a place known as " The Bluff," which lies on the 
northeast corner of section 15. It is a high, wooded 
knoll running east and west, and thickly covered 

* Said also to have Iieen second postmaster, instead of fourth. 



with a growth of oak-trees and saplings. From 
its summit the most extensive view in this vicinity 
is afforded, embracing parts of four counties, — 
Livingston, Oakland, Genesee, and Shiawassee. 
It is asserted by some that this is the highest point 
in the southern peninsula, but a comparison with 
other points disproves this, for in Osceola County 
the surface rises several hundred feet higher than 
here, and in the town of Reading, in Hillsdale 
County, is the highest land in the State south of 
the Saginaw and Grand River Valleys. 

The surface of the town is somewhat difficult to 
describe correctly, because it is so varied in its 
character. The eastern and northern parts are 
the most rolling, and the western and southern 
parts the least uneven. The roughest part of the 
town is about the centre, where the hills rise more 
abruptly and to a greater height. The soil, like the 
surface, is greatly diversified and very irregular in 
its distribution, consisting of all varieties, from 
lightest sand to heavy clay, found mi.xed and 
intermingled in all parts of the town. As a rule. 



TYRONE TOWNSHIP. 



389 



the knolls are made up of a light sandy and grav- 
elly loam, while the lower lands have a clayey 
loam or alluvial soil. The lands of this town were 
of the kind known as timbered openings, with a 
little scattered timbered land in some parts, and 
considerable marsh and tamarack swamp in the 
vicinity of the water-courses. 

In the north part of the town is a chain of small 
lakes, the waters of which are discharged through 
a common outlet, wiiich forms a tributary of North 
Ore Creek, and through that stream reaches the 
Shiawassee River, in Genesee County. These 
lakes are all very similar in character, resembling 
in general features most of the lakes of Southern 
Michigan, having a sandy or muddy bottom, and 
being generally surrounded by a marsh of greater 
or less width. The first of them lies in the east 
central part of section 13. Its waters pass into 
Sackner's Lake, which covers some 20 or 30 acres, 
and lies across the line partly in section 12, but 
mostly in section 13. Another small lake on 
section 12 receives the outlet of these lakes and 
unites their overflow with its own. From it the 
stream passes in a northwesterly and then in a 
westerly direction until it reaches another lake, on 
the north line of section 10. From this the stream 
passes through two small lakes in section 3, and, 
bending southward, reaches the north end of Run- 
yan Lake, near the northeast corner of section 9. 
This lake is the largest one in the town, and also j 
possesses the most picturesque features. Lying 
almost wholly in section 9, it reaches across the 
line into section 10 at two points, and covers an area 
of about 160 acres. Its shores are quite bold in 
some places, and the surrounding marsh is less 
extensive than about most of the other lakes. In 
the south part are two pretty little islands that add 
very much to its beauty. From Runyan Lake the 
stream passes through the south part of section 
4, and enters Hoisington Lake near the south 
quarter line of section 5. This lake is of about 
the same size as Sackner's Lake. The stream 
leaves it at a point nearly opposite its entrance 
and runs westerly across sections 5 and 6 till it 
enters Laird Lake, near the south centre of the 
section. Aside from those already mentioned 
there are six other small lakes, — one on section 
9, one on section 24, one on section 25, one on 
section 34, and two, known as Corey's Lakes, on 
section 22. 

The stream we have described is the second in 
size in Tyrone, the most important stream being 
North Ore Creek, which, rising in some of the 
towns to the southward, enters this town from 
Hartland at the village of Parshallville, on the 
southeast corner of section 31, and running in a 



somewhat irregular northwesterly course through 
sections 31, 30, 19, and 18, passes into the town of 
Deerfield, about one hundred rods south of the 
northwest corner of the last-named section. Its 
course is through a narrow, marshy valley, bor- 
dered by hills, and is marked by a nearly continu- 
ous growth of tamarack. It derives its name from 
the fact that many of the springs along its course, 
more especially those near its source, are more or 
less impregnated with iron, giving their waters 
in many cases quite a tinge of dull-red color. 
Another creek rising in the same locality, possess- 
ing the same peculiarities, and running southward, 
was first christened Ore Creek, so that this stream, 
to distinguish between them, is called North Ore 
Creek. The only other stream of any size in this 
town is called Cornell Creek, after Isaac Cornell, 
who first built a mill upon its banks, and takes its 
rise in the southeast part of the town. Its course 
is generally westerly, though it makes quite a de- 
tour to the north, and leads through sections 34, 
27, 28, 33, and 32, to the North Ore Creek, which 
it joins a few rods south of the west-quarter line 
of the last-named section. 

At the time when this town was first settled by 
the whites, Indians were quite numerous in the 
vicinity at almost all seasons of the year, but only 
as they roamed the forest in pursuit of game, or 
fished upon the placid bosoms of the lakes. Their 
villages were miles away to the north and south, 
and when visiting this part of their domain they 
usually traveled in small companies of one or 
more families. They were perfectly friendly in 
their relations with the whites, and fished, hunted, 
traded, and associated with them upon the best of 
terms. Perhaps the best preserved relic of the 
race in this town is the Indian mound upon the 
firm of M. M. Hillman, in the north part of sec- 
tion 5. It is a circular mound some 18 or 20 feet 
in diameter, and has an elevation of 4 or 5 feet 
above the general surface. Upon it a number of 
oak-trees are growing, and since the time of settle- 
ment no stroke of mattock or spade has been 
permitted to desecrate the spot, but it has been 
suffered to remain in its original form, save as the 
destructive touches of time and the elements may 
have changed or modified its outlines. Sherman 
Stevens, of Pontiac, one of the earliest of the 
Indian traders of this section, said that the mound 
was the burial-place of a famous Indian chief 
whose name and deeds have now long been for- 
gotten. Lying, as it did, near the separation of 
the Detroit and Huron trails, it was frequently 
visited by parties of Indians, who invariably ap- 
proached it with reverence, and were peculiarly 
reticent regarding its nature and use. They were 



39° 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



always grateful to Mr. Hillman for his care of the 
spot. 

We have referred to the Indian trails which 
crossed this town. They were numerous, but 
most of them were minor trails leading along the 
most eligible routes between the different lakes 
and hunting-grounds. The principal one was the 
one known as the Shiawassee trail, leading from 
Shiawassee town to Detroit. Along this the 
Indians used to travel when going to Detroit on 
their way to Canada to draw the annuity paid 
them by the British government. It entered 
Tyrone at a point about three-eighths of a mile 
east of the northwest corner of section 5, and fol- 
lowed a nearly southeast course till it left the town 
near the east quarter-post of section 13. At a 
point a few rods west of M. M. Hillman's house, 
on section 5, the trail divided the branch trail, 
taking a northeasterly course to Fenton, and con- 
tinuing to the foot of Lake Huron. From this 
point of separation the main trail was called the 
Detroit trail, and the other the Huron trail. The 
course of the former has been preserved by the 
survey, at an early day, of what is known as the 
Shiawassee or White Lake road, which follows the 
old trail very closely. Another trail, known as 
the Ann Arbor trail, left the Detroit trail near its 
intersection with the quarter line in the south part 
of section 4, which followed a southwest course 
till it reached the east line of section 8, where it 
turned and ran directly south till it passed into 
Hartland. The course of these trails was usually 
well defined, and notwithstanding the fact that 
forty years have elapsed since their general use 
was abandoned, traces still remain in some locali- 
ties which enable the expert woodman to designate 
their former position. 

SETTLEMENT. 

The town of Tyrone remained in the possession 
of the wild animals and Indians until the spring of 
1834, when the tide of emigration began to set to- 
wards this Western land, and scores, hundreds, and 
thousands of Eastern men and their families were 
borne upon its swelling waves to the spots upon 
which they were to rear homes for themselves and 
their descendants. Below is given a list of the 
persons who took up land in Tyrone from the gov- 
ernment; those who actually settled in the town 
being designated by an asterisk (*) to distinguish 
them from non-resident owners. The entries of 
land in this town, the names of the purchasers, their 
several places of former residence, the size of their 
purchases, and the date when entered will be found 
in the following list, compiled and copied from the 
tract-book of Livingston County. The first por- 



tion comprises those persons who made purchases 
upon more than one section, and is as follows : 

Charles Neer and Dyer Throoj"), Saratoga Co., N. Y., June 16, 

1836, 31745 acres on section i, 80 acres on section 11, and 

440 acres on section 12. 
Phineas H. Smith, Orange Co., N. Y., June g, 1S36, 80 acres on 

section 2, and So acres on section 1 1. 
Henry Isaacs, Hillsborough Co., N. H., June II, 1836, 557.83 

acres on section 2, and June i, 1836, 480 acres on section 10. 
Henry and Van Rensselaer H.awkins, Genesee Co., N. Y., June 

14, 1836, section 25, 640 acres, and June 27, 1836, 120 

acres on section 3, 160 acres on section 8, and 200 acres on 

section 32. 
Jirah Hillman,* Lewis Co., N. Y., May 10, 1836, 96.36 acres on 

section 4, and 49.45 acres on section 5. 
William Beamer,* of this county, Dec. i, 1853, 40 acres on section 

9, and Nov. 18, 1854, 40 acres on section 5. 
Isaac Morton,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 9, 1836, 184.92 acres 

on section 7, and May 17, 1836, 80 acres on section 18. 
Darius Lamson, Wayne Co., Mich., Aug. 3, 1S36, 320 acres on 

section 27; Sept. 24, 1836, 80 acres on section 11, .and Oct. 

25, 1836, 80 acres on section 11. 
William Thomson,* Seneca Co., N. Y., April I2, 1836, 160 acres 

on section 13, and 160 acres on section 24. 
Henry Druse, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 18, 1836, 80 acres on 

section 14, and i6o acres on section 26. 
Bennett D. Tripp, Wayne Co., N. Y., June 27, 1836, 160 acres 

on section 14, 120 acres on section 15, and 360 acres on sec- 
tion 22. 
Benjamin B. Kercheval, Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 29, 1836, 35.54 

acres on section 31, and Dec. 17, 1S36, So acres on section 14. 
James Love,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., July i, 1835,80 acres on 

section 27, 40 acres on section 28, 40 acres on section 33, 

and 40 acres on section 34. 
Francis Morse, Livingston Co., N. Y., May lo, 1S36, 80 acres on 

section 20, and May 16", 1836, 80 acres on section 17. 
Heni7 and Morris M. Seabott, Cayuga Co., N. Y., May 21, 1836, 

So acres on section 17, and 640 acres on section 21. 
William N. Austin,* Orleans Co., N. Y., May 5, 1836, 80 acres on 

section 20, and M.ay 29, 1S36, 80 acres on section 19. 
David L. Babcock,* this county, Oct. 2, 1836, 80 acres on section 

19, and Oct. 29, 1836, 80 acres on section 20. 
James McKeone,* Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 26, 1836, 40 acres on 

section 30, and Nov. 14, 1836, 109.32 acres on section 19. 
James Murphy,* Wayne Co., Mich., Nov. 26, 1836, 40 acres on 

section 19, and 40 acres on section 30. 
John J. Dickson, Wayne Co., N. Y., June 6, 1S36, 240 acres on 

section 20, 89 acres on section 22, and 129 acres on section 29. 
Jacob Chrispell,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Dec. 29, 1835, So acres 

on section 29, and Feb. 20, 1S39, 40 acres on section 20. 
Cyrus F Kneeland and Henry Ball, Monroe Co., N. Y., June 13, 

1836, 80 acres on section 22, and the whole of section 23. 
Hiram Bellows, Franklin Co., Vt., June 14, 1836, 80 acres on 

section 24, and 320 acres on section 36, and June 25, 1S36, 80 

acres on section 22. 
Ira Bellows, Monroe Co., N. Y., June 14, 1S36, 320 acres on 

section 24, 320 acres on section 36, and June 25, 1S36, 160 

acres on section 22. 
John A. Wells,* Wayne Co., Mich., Sept. 17, 1835, 320 acres on 

section 26, and 640 acres on section 35, and Sept. 23, 1836, 

120 acres on section 27. 
Isaac Cornell,* this county, March 20, 1835, 40 acres on section 

28, 80 acres on section 29, and 120 acres on section 32. 
Henry A. Cojnell,* this county, March 20, 1835, 40 acres on 

section 33, and Sept. 23, 1S36, 80 acres on section 30, and 40 

acres on section 32. 
George H. Blumberg, Oakland Co., Mich., April 9, 1863, 80 acres 

on section 32, and 40 acres on section 33. 





l)A\in COI.WELL. 



GEORGE CORNELL. 



DAVID COLWELL 



was born in the town of Richfield, Otsego Co., 
N. Y., Jan. 21, 1800. He was the son of Daniel 
Colwcll and Thankful Paine, both natives of Rhode 
Island. They emigrated to Otsego previous to 
their marriage, which took place about the year 
1799. When David was eighteen months old his 
father moved to Ontario County and settled near 
Geneva, where he died in l8:y. But little is known 
of his history further than that he was a farmer, 
lived a comparatively uneventful life, but was a 
remarkable man physically, — a giant in stature, his 
usual weight being three hundred and si.xty pounds. 
When sixteen years of age David was appren- 
ticed to the trade of cloth-dressing, which occu- 
pation he followed many years. In 1825 he went 
to Allegany Co., N. Y., where he built a mill and 
established himself in his business. The project 
proving unremuncrative, he removed to Coshocton, 
where he resided until his emigration to Michigan. 
His first visit to the Peninsula State was made in 
1834, at which time he purchased the farm upon 
which he now resides. Returning to New York 
he followed his business until 1836, when he came 
on with his famil)-, which consisted of his wife and 
six children, Davi'd G., of Fenton, being the eldest. 
Since that time he has been a resident of the town 
and one of its prominent pioneers. The life of 
Mr. Colwell has been devoted strictly to the cares 
of his business and his family. It is in keeping 
with the self-abnegation of such men that they re- 
tire to the background and quietly look on as the 
great and varied interests, of which they laid the 
foundation, grow in prominence and utility. In 
May, 1824, Mr. Colwell was married to Hannah A., 



daughter of John Gilbert, Esq., of Benton, Ontario 
Co., N. Y. She was born in Fayette, Seneca Co., 
N. Y., in August, 1803. They have reared a family 
of eight children, five of whom are living, viz.: 
David G., Thankful A., wife of A. B. Donaldson, 
of Fenton ; Hannah A., now Mrs. William Owen ; 
Elvira E., wife of ¥.. H. Dickerman; Mary A., 
wife of Benjamin Byron. John P. died at the 
age of twenty-two years. Mr. Colwell is now 
in his seventy-ninth year, and apparently hale 
and hearty. For forty-three years he has been 
identified with the interests of Tyrone, and is well 
worthy of the position he holds among the founders 
of Livingston County. 

GEORGE CORNELL, 

whose name is mentioned in the history of Tyrone 
as one of its early settlers, and who has been promi- 
nently identified with the town, was born in Wash- 
ington Co., N. Y., Nov. II, 1812. 

At the age of sixteen he started out in life for 
himself without a cent of capital. He worked at 
farming and as a teamster until the fall of 1 834, when 
he came to Tyrone and entered a tract of eighty 
acres of land, opposite that of his brother Isaac. 

In 1836 he was married to Miss Eliza Williams, 
by whom he has had five children, two sons and 
three daughters. 

Mr. Cornell is one of Tyrone's best citizens, a 
man universally respected for his sterling qualities. 
He has well performed his part in the development 
of the town, and his record as a citizen and a 
neighbor is untarnished. He is a worthy member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



TYRONE TOWNSHIP. 



391 



Chester Wilson, Orleans Co., N. Y., June 3, 1S36, 40 acres on 
section 33, and 240 acres on section 34. 

Tlie second portion of the list is, for conveni- 
ence, given by sections, and includes the persons 
who made purchases on one section onl}- : 

SECTION I. 

Acres, 

Joseph C. Blake, Monroe Co., N. Y., June 3, 1836 80 

Egbert Hoftman, Monroe Co., N. Y., June 4, 1836 80 

Moses Warren Scott, Saratoga Co., N. Y., June 25, 1836.. 159.66 

SECTION 3. 

George Dibble,* Lapeer Co., Mich., March 18, 1834 88.05 

Daniel D. Runyan,* Oakland Co., Mich., Feb. 19, 1836... 80 

Catharine Runyan,* Oakland Co., Mich., April 23, 1836.. 40 

Melvin Dorr, Oakland Co., Mich,, June 16, 1836 So 

Marshall J. Bacon, Wayne Co., Mich., Aug, 2, 1836 163.80 

Isaac S, Taylor,* Oakland Co,, Mich,, May — , 1837 So 

SECTION 4, 

Julian Bishop, Genesee Co., Mich., July 9, 1835 86.49 

Vincent Runyan, Oakland Co., Mich., July 16, 1835 80 

Isaac Ayres,* Oakland Co., Mich., Nov. 9, 1835 40 

Robert Ayres,* Oakland Co., Mich., Nov. 9, 1835 80 

Consider Warner, Genesee Co., N. V., Feb. 20, 1836 86.49 

Harriet Liryan, Genesee Co., Mich., May 7, 1836 40 

David Colwell,* Steuben Co., N. Y., June 4, 1836 80 

John Thomas, Wayne Co,, N, Y,, Sept, 23, 1836 80 

SECTION 5, 

Elisha Lamed,* Allegany, Co,, N, Y,, Nov, 18, 1835 49-45 

Elijah Crane, Wayne Co,, Mich,, March 4, 1836 103.42 

Hiram M. Rhodes,* Oakland Co., Mich., June 4, 1836.,,. So 

Anna Rhodes,* Oakland Co,, Mich., June 4, 1836 80 

Delos Davis, Wayne Co,, Mich., Sept. 23, 1836 So 

Jonathan Irwin,* Livingston Co., Mich,, Jan, 30, 1837 80 

Ebenezer Sterns, Yates Co,, N, Y,, March 9, 1837 l2o 

SECTION 6. 

Jefferson H. Downer,* Oakland Co,, Mich,, Oct. 9, 1835.,, 53 62 

Elisha W. Postall, Macomb Co,, Mich.. Jan. 2, 1836 53.62 

Elijah Root, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Fell. 19, 1836 S2.44 

Ebenezer J. I'enniman, Wayne Co., Mich,, March 4 and 

18, 1836 82,44 

William Hyatt,* Oakland Co., Aug. 2, 1836 So 

N. A, Littlefield,* of this county, Jan, 14, 1854 80 

William Owens, of this county, June 13, 1854 40 

SECTION 7, 

Washington D, Morton, Washtenaw Co., Mich,, May 9, 

1836 3'-9 

Jona'n L, Wolverton,* Steuben Co,, N, Y., June 20, 1S36 160 

Elijah Clough, Jr,,* Onondaga Co., N. Y., June 28, 1S36., 160 

SECTION 8. 

George F. Roberts, Cayuga Co., N, Y,, June i, 1836 160 

Heni7 D, Garrison, Wayne Co., Mich,, Oct, 26, 1S36 320 

SECTION 9, 

Elisha Beach, Oakland Co., Mich,, Jau, 6, 1S36 80 

WiUard S, FcUsham, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 29. 1S36 120 

Isaac Throop, Jr., Genesee Co,, Mich., June 30, 1836 40 

Joseph AUbright, Ohio, Dec. 17, 1836 80 

D.avid Murphy,* of this county, Oct. 25, 1839 40 

William Smith, of this county, July 6, 1S46 40 

John W, Mapes,* of this county, May 2, 1850 40 

Daniel Odell, Genesee Co., Mich., Nov. 30, 1852 40 

Christopher Rogers,* of this county, Nov. 23, 1853 40 

Nancy F, Biggs, of this county, Sept, 4, 1855 40 

SECTION 10. 

Sanford Billings,* Oakland Co., Mich., March 5, 183S, 

and January 9, 1839 80 

Almerin Smith, Wayne Co., N. Y., Oct. 17, 1839 40 

Matthias T. Talmadge,* of this county, Nov, 15, 1854.,,, 40 



SECTION II. 

Acres. 

Charles Wright, Niagara Co., N, Y,, M.iy 28, 1836 So 

William Duiniing, W.iyne Co,, N, Y,, Feb, 20, 1838 80 

Seth N, Howell,* Oakland Co,, Mich,, March i, 1838 80 

Leonard Brooks, Genesee Co., Mich., March 3, 1855 80 

SECTION 12. 

Henry Larneil,* Y.ates Co., N. Y,,M.iy 25, 1836 40 

Philip Brewer, Ni.agara Co., N. Y., May 28, 1836 160 

SECTION 13. 

Ezra Th.iyre, Oakland Co., Mich., May 2, 1836 40 

John Blair, Seneca Co., N, Y., June 13, 1836 320 

Elias B. Holmes, Monroe Co., N, Y,, June 14, 1836 120 

SECTION 14, 

David N, Blood, Monroe Co,, N, Y,, June 18, 1836 80 

William R, Mudge, Monroe Co., N. V,, Dec, 16, 1836.... 80 

Levi Stockwell, Oakland Co., Mich,, May 17, 1839 80 

William B. Stockwell, Oakland Co., Mich., May 17, 1839, 80 

SECTION 15, 

EUery Shaw, Wayne Co,, Mich,, M.iy 17, 1S36 200 

John O'Neil,* Wayne Co., Mich., Nov. 21, 1836 80 

Michael Healey,* Wavne Co., Mich., Nov. 21, 1S36 80 

Abram Cook, Wayne Co., N. Y., Nov. 26, 1836 80 

Edward Hopper,* this county, Oct. 11, 1839 40 

Norton L. Miller, Macomb Co., Mich., Oct. 13, 1854 40 

SECTION 16, 

Thomas Love,* June 12, 1847 80 

A, E. Cranston,* June 16, 1S49 40 

Brount & Bailey, June 4, 1850 80 

J, N, Barnes,* Nov, 13, 1850 80 

C, B, Thomas,* Nov. 15, 1850 40 

D. W. Love,* July 26, 1853 80 

Jacob Love,* Sept. 20, 1S53 40 

D. Canfield,* Oct. 10, 1853 40 

William Van Wagner,* Oct. 24, 1853 40 

Peter Schad, Jr.,* June 2, 1854.. 40 

William Schad,* Aug. 23, 1854 40 

Stephen W. Downer,* Oct. 24, i860 40 

SECTION 17. 

John Westfall,* Cayuga Co., N. Y., May 17, 1836 160 

Henry Seabott, Cayuga Co., N. Y., May 21, 1836 160 

James Kearns, Oswego Co., N. Y., June 27, 1836 80 

Moses Taggart, Genesee Co., N. Y., June 27, 1836 80 

SECTION 18. 

John C. Morse, O.akland Co., Mich., May 5, 1836 160 

Nancy Morton,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 9, 1836 80 

Edwin Soonberger, Monroe Co., N. Y., June 16, 1836 80 

Dillis De.xter,* Monroe Co., N. Y., Jidy i, 1836 80 

John Fish, 0.>kUncl Co., Mich., Dec. 5, 1836 68.48 

Sam'l G. Sutherland, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 3, 1837 33.22 

Adam B. Bailey,* of this county, May 25, 1838 33-22 

SECTION 19. 

David Bangs, Monroe Co., N. Y., May 5, 1836 269,44 

David Bangs, Monroe Co,, N, Y,, Nov, 14, 1836 40 

SECTION 20, 

Philo Joyner, Berkshire Co,, Mass,, June 16, 1836 So 

Hugh R, Hogle,* of this county, Nov. 15, 1838,, .^ 40 

SECTION 22. 

Daniel Blood, Monroe Co., N, Y., June 18, 1836 160 

SECTION 24, 

James Bellows, Monroe Co,, N. Y,, June 14, 1836 80 

SECTION 26, 

Wllll.im P. Alv.>rd, Wayne Co., Mich., Sept. 22, 1836 160 



392 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



SECTION 27. 

Acres. 

William D. .Snapp * Cayuga Co., N. Y., May 30, 1836.... 80 
Peler H. Link * Oakland Co., Mich., June 11, 1836 40 

SECTION 28. 

George Cornell,* Livingston Co., N. Y., Oct. 31, 1834 So 

William H. Berry,* Shiawassee Co., Mich., Feb. 18, 1835 40 
Joseph M. Becker,* Oakland Co., Mich., March 20, 1835 80 

Eli Conklin,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 18, 1835 120 

David Austin,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 18, 1835.... 200 
James Willis, Oakland Co., Mich., Dec. 2, 1836 40 

SECTION 29. 

Shadrach S. Austin, Orleans Co., N. Y., May 5, 1836 120 

Mercy Chrispell,* W.ishtenaw Co., Mich., June 8, 1836... 80 

James E. Chrispell,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 8, 1836 40 

George Allen, Madison Co., N. Y., June 17, 1836 120 

SECTION 30. 

Joseph Chamberlin, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 3, 1836... 6856 
Nathaniel C. Austin,* Orleans Co., N. Y., May 5, 1S36... 120 
Nathaniel C. Austin,* Orleans Co., N. Y., Oct. 29, 1836.. 40 
Philo H. Munson, Livingston Co., N. Y., June 6, 1S36... 69.04 

James Agan,* Wayne Co., Mich., Nov. 14, 1836 120 

George Abbott, Wayne Co., Mich., June 21, 1837 40 

SECTION 31. 

Major Curtis,* Oakland Co., Mich., Jan. 4, 1836 40 

Thales Dean, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. 11, 1836 35-54 

Jas. E. Chrispell,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. 25, 1S36.. 40 

Solomon Lewis,* W.ayne Co., Mich., April 6, 1836 160 

William Winter, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 3, 1836 So 

Anson Pettibone, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 4, 1S36 229.24 

SECTION 32. 

David Curtiss,* Oakland Co., Mich., March 17, 1S36 40 

Joseph Tireman, Wayne Co., Mich., May 9, 1836 160 

SECTION 33. 

Louisa Wakeman,* Oakland Co., Mich., March 29, 1S36.. i5o 

Austin Wakeman,* Oakland Co., Mich., March 29, 1S36.. 40 

Isaac De Graft", Cayuga Co., N. Y., May 30, 1836 160 

Charles Colton,* of this county, May 30, 1836 40 

George Babcock, Livingston Co., N. Y., June 6, 1S36 So 

SECTION 34. 

William Dawson,* Oakland Co., Mich., Dec. 19, 1834 80 

Robert D.awson,* Oakland Co., Mich., April 6, 1836 80 

Willard Daniels, Oakland Co., Mich., April 21, 1836 40 

John J. Blackmer, Monroe Co., N. Y., April 27, 1836 160 

From this list it will be seen that the first entries 
were generally made by actual settlers, and that 
the great rush of the speculators to obtain land in 
Tyrone did not occur until the summer of 1836. 
George Dibble, March i8th, George Cornell, Oc- 
tober 31st, and William Dawson, December 19th, 
were the only purchasers in 1834, and they all 
made settlement, — Cornell in the fall of that year, 
and the others in the following spring. In 1835 
fifteen persons made purchases, and thirteen of 
these became residents of the town, and were real 
pioneers. These were William H. Berry, in Feb- 
ruary ; Joseph M. Becker, Isaac Cornell, Henry 
A. Cornell, in March; James Love, in July; John 
A. Wells, in September; Jefferson H. Downer, 
in October; Isaac Ayres, Robert Ayres, David 
Austin, Eli Conklin, Elisha Larned, in November; 
and Jacob Chrispell, in December. In 1836 there 



were one hundred and thirty-one entries, including 
most of the available land, and bringing a flood 
of settlers. In 1837 there were five entries; in 
1838, five; in 1839, six; in 1846, '47, '49, one 
each; in 1850, four; in 1852, one; in 1853, six; 
in 1854, seven; in 1855, two; and in i860, one. 
There is now in the town a small remnant of gov- 
ernment land, — which, like the Irishman's fartn, is 
mostly under water, — 40 acres on section 9, 80 
acres on section 7, and 200 acres on section 6. 

The first white resident of the town was George 
Cornell, who has passed forty-five years of his life 
within its limits, and still remains a citizen of the 
town with whose history his name is so intimately 
connected. The family of Cornell, from whom he 
and his brothers, who afterwards settled here, were 
descended, was of English origin, and first settled 
in this county in the State of Rhode Island. A 
succeeding generation located in the town of White 
Creek, in Washington Co., N. Y., from whence 
their descendants removed to Chautauqua County, 
and settled in the town of Ripley. The three 
brothers, George, Isaac, and Henry A., came to 
Michigan in September, 1834, in search of a place 
in which to settle. In their wanderings, in com- 
pany with a brother-in-law, Joseph M. . Becker, 
they came to the timbered openings of Tyrone, 
and were all well pleased with their looks. They, 
however, returned without entering any of the land, 
I-saac and Henry A. going back to New York, 
while George and Becker stopped at the latter's 
home in Highland, Oakland Co. In October, 
George Cornell and Joseph M. Becker again visited 
the town, and each made a selection of an eighty- 
acre lot. George went to Detroit, and entered his 
land on the last day of that month, while Becker 
did not make his entry until the following spring. 
After his return from Detroit, George and Mr. 
Becker came and put up a rude log shanty on his 
place, and this furnished him a home through the 
winter while he was cutting rails and preparing 
some of his land for the plow, he paying occasional 
visits to his brother-in-law's house in Highland, 
and bringing back each time a goodly supply of 
provisions. 

Though Mr. Cornell was at this time the only 
white resident of the town (unless, as some assert 
was the case, George Dibble was then living here), 
he was not the only resident. On section 34 was 
a marsh of considerable extent, on which each year 
was produced a heavy growth of rank grass, which, 
though quite unfit for feeding to horses, yet fur- 
nished a kind of hay that cattle could live upon 
through the long cold winters, when the snow 
covered the earth and prevented them from graz- 
ing. Near Orchard Lake, in Milford, Oakland Co., 





HON. JOHN KENVON. 



MRS. JOHN KENYON. 



HON. JOHN KENYON. 



Among the truly representative men of the town of 
Tyrone, few, if any, have been more intimately asso- 
ciated with its material development than Judge Ken- 
yon. He not only witnessed the transition of a thin 
settlement into a highly prosperous agricultural section, 
but in his own person typifies so admirably the agencies 
that wrought many of those changes, that no history of 
Livingston County would be complete without some 
sketch of liis life, labors, and character. 

Mr. Kenyon was born in the town of Queensbury, 
Washington Co., N. Y. , July 28, 1806. He was the 
son of John and Mary Kenyon, who were the parents 
of a family of ten children, — five sons and five daughters. 
Mr. Kenyon, the elder, was a member of the Society 
of Friends, and a strict observer of the tenets of his 
religious faith, the precepts of which he early taught 
his children. No doubt this instruction exerted a 
marked influence over their future lives, and to it, in 
a large measure, their enviable positions in business 
and society may be attributed. When John was a 
child the family removed to the town of Scipio, 
Cayuga Co., N. Y., where he resided until his emi- 
gration to Tyrone in 1840. His early life, like that 
of most successful men, was one not only of close 
application, but of self-reliance and self-denial. His 
father being a farmer, John's work on the farm in sum- 
mer was alternated by the usual term at the district 
school in winter. When twenty-three years of age he 
married Miss Julia Purdy, of the town of Sem]ironius. 
She was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer Co , N. Y., July 
9, 1807. Five children were born to them, namely: 
Cordelia, Isaac O., Frank P., Rachel, and Mary S. 

He early resolved to follow farming as a life voca- 



tion, believing it of all the trades and profe.ssions to 
be the most conducive to health and happiness. That 
he was eminently successful in his chosen calling, his 
finely cultivated fields and commodious buildings attest. 
His farm which he purchased on coming into the county 
was then entirely new, as was the larger part of the 
town at that time. Here he resided until his death, 
which occurred in 1874. 

Mr. Kenyon figured quite conspicuously in State and 
county politics. In 1849 he was elected to the repre- 
sentative branch of the Legislature, serving on the im- 
portant committee of " State affairs." In 1854 he 
was elected to the State Senate. For nine years he 
represented Tyrone upon the Board of Supervisors, in 
which body he was fully appreciated for his sound 
judgment and sage counsels. Honesty and a laudable 
ambition to succeed were prominent traits in the char- 
acter of Judge Kenyon ; in fact, they were the essential 
means of his success. He evinced excellent judgment 
in all his transactions, and sterling honesty was the 
basis of his operations. This is high testimony, and 
while to those who were not acquainted with him it 
may seem peculiarly the language of eulogy, it will be 
readily recognized by his friends as a plain, uncolored 
statement of the strong points of his character. 

Mr. Kenyon never enjoyed the advantages of a lib- 
eral education, but being naturally intelligent, and en- 
dowed with a large amount of common sense, industry, 
perseverance, and ambition, he succeeded in building 
a reputation as wide-spread as it was enviable; indeed, 
it may be truly said that his entire career was one 
worthy the emulation of the young, and a fitting 
example for all men to follow. 



TYRONE TOWNSHIP. 



393 



was a Mormon settlement, and tliey had quite a 
large lot of cattle to provide for. So in the fall of 
1833 they .sent a drove of cattle to this locality in 
charge of two brothers named Teeple, and their 
families. They built. a small log house near the 
north line of the section, and lived there during 
tliat winter, returning to Orchard Lake in the 
spring, leaving the house empty through the fol- 
lowing summer. This house, which was the first 
dwelling erected in Tyrone, was about 14 by 20 
feet in size, and covered with a trough roof Soon 
after Mr. Cornell began to live in his shanty, a 
colored man by the name of William H. Berry 
came from Shiawassee County with his wife and 
two children, aged about si.xandten years respect- 
ively, and moved into this vacant house, where 
they lived until the following spring, when they 
removed into a house they had hired Harrison 
Coburn to build for them, on a farm of 40 acres 
in the southeast corner of section 28, which they 
had purchased of the government in Februars'. 

In the spring of 1835 the little settlement was 
augumented by the arrival of the families of Joseph 
M. Becker, William Dawson, and Henry A. Cor- 
nell, and another settlement was started in the 
north part of the town b}' George Dibble and 
Daniel D. Runyan. Later in the season Isaac Cor- 
nell and James Love were added to the number. 
From tliat time on the settlements were rapidly 
multiplied, and in a few years extended to all [)arts 
of the town. We have not the space necessary to 
give a detailed sketch of all these settlers who took 
up new farms, and with axe and plow, and a liberal 
use of time and muscle, brought them into a pro- 
ductive state, neither have we been able to secure 
the facts indispensable to such an undertaking. 
We are able, therefore, to give but a brief history 
of a few of the pioneers of this town, taking them 
as near as may be in the order of their .settle- 
ment. 

George Cornell was, at the time of his set- 
tlement here, a single man, and lived with his 
brother Henry A. until, in 1836, he married Eliza 
Williams, of Hartland, and set up household gods 
of his own. He is still living in Tyrone, having 
removed in 1867 from the old homestead to his 
present fine farm on section 32. He has reared a 
family, and established them in homes of their own, 
and has lived the life of an honest, upright, just 
and generous Christian citizen, in a manner to win 
the confidence, respect, and love of all who know 
him. He has been prominently connected with 
the Methodist Church in this vicinit)', and has done 
much to advance its interests in the community. 

Henry A. Cornell was for many years a respected 
and honored resident of Tyrone, holding the offices 
5° 



of constable, assessor, supervisor, and treasurer at 
different times, and died in the winter of 1848, 
while serving his seventh term and sixth consecu- 
tive term in the last-named position. He left a 
wife and two sons, all of whom still survive him, 
his widow and son, Alonzo, residing in Tyrone, 
and the other son living in Ohio. 

Isaac Cornell, the oldest of the three brothers, 
came from Chautauqua County in the spring of 
1835, in company with Henry A., traveling with 
their own conveyances. The snow was very light, 
and as the " breaking up" was not yet at hand the 
wheeling was very good. They arrived on the 
loth day of March, and Henry A. moved into his 
brother George's shanty, while Isaac left his family 
at Highland till he had built a house on the farm 
he purchased of the government on the 20th 
of that month. He then moved on to his place 
near the northeast corner of section 32, and is still 
occupying the place. He is a recognized leader 
a:nong the Seventh-Day Adventists of this region, 
anil a man of exemplary character. 

The exact time of George Dibble's settlement is 
not known, but it was either in the fall of 1834 or 
spring of 1835. He remained hereabout ten years 
and then moved to Shiawassee, where- he is still 
living. 

Joseph M. Becker, with his wife (formerly Eliza 
Cornell) and one child, came from Ripley, Chau- 
tauqua Co., N. Y., to Michigan in the fall of 1S33, 
and settled in the town of Highland, in Oakland 
County. They lived there until the spring of 1835, 
and then moved to their home in this town on sec- 
tion 28, where they arrived about the 17th of April. 
He built a house on the south end of his lot, about 
forty rods west of the quarter-post. He was a shoe- 
maker by trade, and his services were in great de- 
mand among the settlers, who were glad to exchange 
work with him, and were not always careful to 
e.xact an equal amount of time. He was the first 
supervisor of the town, and was re-elected at the 
expiration of his first term. In 1862 he removed 
to Fenton, and a couple of years later returned to 
Tyrone. In 1S67 he again moved to Fenton, where 
he still resides. But two of his children are now 
living, and they are both residents of this town, — 
Peter on the homestead and Wallace on section 26. 

William H. Berry wa-s- a man of a very rov- 
ing disposition, and did not long remain in this 
town. He made frequent Sittings from one point 
to another, and finally brought up in Pontiac, where 
he became permanenll)' located, through the inter- 
vening hand of death. The place on which he 
settled is now owned and occupied by Peter 
Ru.sscU. 

William Dawson was a native of Cambridge, 



394 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Washington Co., N. Y., and came from Scipio, 
Cayuga Co., N. Y., to Troy, Oakland Co., Mich., 
in the fall of 1831, and made his home with his 
brother-in-law, Elias Daniels. While living there 
he formed the acquaintance of Miss Henrietta Per- 
kins, a native of the town of Locke, Cayuga Co., 
■ N. Y., who came to Michigan with her brotlier, 
Benjamin L. Perkins, from Springwater, Livingston 
Co., N. Y., and hired out to work for Mr. Daniels. 
Thrown together in constant companionship, their 
mutual liking grew into the more ardent passion of 
love, and on the 26th of February, 1832, they were 
united in the bonds of matrimony, and went to live 
on a farm they hired to work on shares. In the 
fall of 1S34, Mr. Dawson came to the town of 
Highland, where Michael Beach was living, and 
got him to accompany him in a search for land. 
They struck out to the westward, and in this town 
found a piece of land that seemed to possess all 
the natural advantages desirable, it having some 
timber and some opening, a stream to furnish 
water, and a marsh to furnish hay, and getting a 
description of it, they returned home, Mr. DaWSon 
continuing on to Detroit, where he entered the 
land on the 19th day of December. Another ad- 
vantage of the land thus selected was that on it 
was situated the cabin built by the Mormons, which 
would furnish shelter while the work of clearing and 
breaking up was going on. The colored family of 
Berrys had been living there about two weeks at 
the time of Dawson and Beach's visit. On the 
20th of April, 1835, the Dawson family, consisting 
of father, mother, and two children, — -a daughter 
of two years and a son a few months old, — reached 
their new home, and moved in with the Berrys, 
who were not ready to move out because of the 
unfinished condition of their house. So for a 
period of about two weeks the two families occu- 
pied the same habitation. In the spring of that 
year Mr. Dawson planted an acre of corn, a few 
potatoes, and sowed a small piece of buckwheat. 
He also raised a few roots to feed his stock, which 
at that time consisted of one cow, one yearling, and 
a yoke of oxen. Following the usual course of 
the settlers in developing his farm, Mr. Dawson 
continued to reside in Tyrone until the fall of 1856, 
when he removed to Rockford, Floyd County, la., 
where he lived five years, and then went to Du- 
buque. From the latter place he returned to Ty- 
rone in 1864, and purchased the farm on section 
13, where he now resides. Mr. Dawson had five 
sons who enlisted in the Union army during the 
Rebellion, — a fact upon which a well-founded 
pride is felt by the members of the family. Fred- 
erick enlisted in the regulars in 1862, and served 
in the campaign of that year against the Indians 



in Minnesota and Iowa. After a service of five 
years he was mustered out, and now lives in Sa- 
vannah, Andrew Co., Mo. Pliny B. enlisted in the 
3d Iowa Infantry in June, 1861, was mustered out 
on account of ill health in 1862, and is now living 
in this town. Alphonso D. enlisted in the 12th 
United States Infantry, was stationed at Fort Ham- 
ilton, New York, and afterwards served in the Army 
of the Potomac. At the battle of Yellow House, 
in August, 1S64, he was taken prisoner and sent to 
Andersonville to endure the inhuman tortures there 
inflicted upon helpless, unarmed prisoners until he 
was exchanged in March, 1865. He died March 
31, 1865, from the effects of the inhuman treatment 
he had received at the hands of his captors. Wil- 
liam E. enlisted in February, 1864, in the 7th Iowa 
Infantr)-,and served in the Department of the West. 
In the campaign arounii Atlanta, on the 4th of 
August, 1864, he was wounded so badly as to ne- 
cessitate the amputation of his left arm below the 
elbow. He was mustered out in January follow- 
ing, and is now living in Rush Co., Kan. Arnold 
W. also enlisted, but the regiment being more than 
full, his company was disbanded, and before it was 
reorganized as a battery of artillery he was sent 
home sick. He is now living in Rockford, la. 

James Love was formerly from Chili, Monroe 
Co., N. Y., but came to this town from Whitmore 
Lake, Washtenaw Co., in July, 1835, settling on 
the northeast corner of section 33, about twenty 
rods south of the school-house, which has always 
been known as " Tiie Love School-house." He 
was a pensioner of the war of 1812, and lived here 
a number of years. After his death the family 
became scattered, and none of his immediate 
descendants are now living here. 

Daniel D. Runyan settled on section 3 in the 
spring of 1836, building his log house near the 
southwest corner of the section. By some acci- 
dent or disease he had become crippled, and had 
but a very imperfect use of his limbs, and to eke 
out the scanty living he was able to get by his 
farming operations he opened his shanty as a tav- 
ern, and dispensed liquors there with more pecu- 
niary profit to himself than moral gain to his 
customers. Runyan's tavern became quite noted 
throughout the region, and, report says, was fre- 
quently the scene of almost brutal drunken orgies, 
which gave it a rather unsavory reputation among 
the more moral and respectable classes of the com- 
munity. Runyan kept the inn until his death, 
which occurred about 1848-50, and it was then 
continued by his widow, who was said, in a bad 
sense of the phrase, to have been the best man of 
the two, and was known as " Aunt Kate's." She 
survived her husband about ten years, and then 



TYRONE TOWNSHIP. 



395 



died ill this town. One son i.s still living, and 
resides in Troy, Oakland Co. 

Jacob Chrispell and his son, James E., with their 
respective families, settled in the southwest part 
of the town in 1836. Tiie former was a mill- 
wright, and worked at his trade and at carpenter- 
work a good deal. He died several years ago. 
The latter is still living on his original homestead. 

Eli Conklin was the first blacksmith in the town. 
He came in 1836, and built a house and shop on 
the north line of section 28, about fort)' rods west 
of the quarter-post. Here he worked at his trade, 
shoeing horses and o.ven, sharpening plowshares, 
repairing broken implements, and doing the thou- 
sand and one jobs that always gravitate towards 
the blacksmith-shop, and enlivened the hours of 
labor, which sometimes reached well into the night, 
with story and song. Mr. Conklin remained in 
Tyrone till about the year 185 1, when he removed 
to the neighboring town of Rose, in Oakland 
County, where he resided until his death, which 
occurred Sept. 26, 1876. 

Clark Dibble settled first in Fcnton, where he 
built the first saw-mill in the vicinity, and from 
there came to Tyrone in 1836, and settled on sec- 
tion 4, about eighty rods west of Runyan's tavern, 
on the Shiawassee road. He at once opened a 
public-house for the entertainment of travelers, of 
whom many were daily passing along the Shia- 
wassee road, which was a thoroughfare for emi- 
grants and speculators going to the Grand River 
region. He was a man of good business tact and 
ability, but of a very generous, liberal nature, 
which prevented his accumulating wealth. He 
was one of the first justices of the peace of the 
town, and was re-elected in 1840. His death oc- 
curred in June, 1842, and resulted from an accident. 
In company with Lauren Riggs he visited the 
woods to cut some timber suitable to be made into 
cradle-fingers, and while pursuing their way they 
scared up a vvoodchuck, which sought refuge in. 
a hollow oak-tree growing on a side-hill. They 
proceeded to fell the tree, and in falling it split off 
a large splinter, which (lew and struck Mr. Dibble 
with such force as to fell him to the ground. The 
body of the tree also rolled over him, crushing 
him badly. His companion with much difficulty 
succeeded in freeing him from the tree, and pro- 
cured assistance to get hini to his home; but his 
injuries, which were mostly internal, proved fatal, 
and he died from them a day or two after the acci- 
dent occurred. 

One of the most prominent families of the town 
has been the Cranston family, the first members of 
which came to Tyrone in 1837. Caleb Cranston, 
the father of all the others who settled here, was a 



grandson of John Cranston, who was one of the 
early Governors of the State of Rhode Island. His 
father, Samuel, was a soldier of the Revolution, 
and in 1793 emigrated with his family to Delaware 
Co., N. Y. In 1829, at the age of forty years, 
Caleb moved to Wayne Co., N. Y., and lived there 
till he came to Michigan. His children were niife * 
in number, and were named Eli D., David E., 
Sarah J .Gilbert D., Palmer B., Herman I., Betsej^ 
Orrin, and Martin. Orrin died in New York, and 
all the others came to this town in the following 
order: Eli D., Gilbert D., and Herman I., in 1837; 
Palmer B., in 1838; and Caleb, with Betsey and 
Martin, in 1839. David Iv was the last one to 
remove here, and did not come till about 1844. 
All of the children were married, either beiore 
coming here or afterwards. Eli D. and Gilbert D. 
married sisters, — Elizabeth and Louise Chase; Sarah 
J. and Betsey married brothers, — Joseph and Wil- 
liam Corey, and settled in this town; David E. 
first married Mary E. Davis, and his second wife 
was Miss Ann E. Smalling; Herman I. married 
Adaline Guptill ; Palmer B. married Emeline 
Love; and Martin married Abby Chapin. Of 
these children none are now living in Tyrone, 
all of them having died or removed. Caleb was 
an ardent Methodist, and a man of irreproachable 
character. He died, June 30, 1872, at the ripe age 
of eighty -three years, and was thus spoken of in 
his obituary notice: "He was a man of strict 
honesty, kind to all, and a keen sympathizer with 
those in suffering. A true, generous citizen and 
devoted Christian, whose traits of character made 
him respected and beloved by all who knew him." 
He was twice married, his first wife, Abby Davis, 
dying in New York, and his second wife, Mary 
Thayer, dying in this town, Sept. 18, 1866, at the 
age of eighty years. 

Charles Colton, of Cayuga Co., N. Y., an uncle 
of William Dawson, settled in this town in October, 
1837, and resided here till his death, about fifteen 
years ago. 

Isaac Morton was a native of the Green Mount- 
ain State, and came from Williston, Chittenden Co., 
Vt , to this State in the early fall of 1831. In com- 
pany with iiis brother-in-law, William Tyler, he 
traveled by team to Burlington; from thence to 
Whitehall, by steamer, on Lake Champlain; then 
by the Champlain and Erie Canals to Buffalo, 
where they again embarked on a steamer which 
landed them in Detroit, where they once more 
started their teams and reached their destination 
in the town of Saline, Washtenaw Co., in the 
month of September. He lived there a little 
more than si.x years, and then, in December, 1837, 
moved to his place in the west part of section 7, 



396 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



where he has since resided. Tlie journey from 
Ann Arbor was made over muddy roads through 
a driving rain-storm, and the oxen had hard work 
to pull the load through ten miles of distance in a 
day's time. The route he followed led him along 
the west bank of North Ore Creek, and when he 
arrived at the section line which, followed east, 
would bring him to his land with but one and a 
half miles' travel, he found the stream so badly 
swollen by the rains as to be impassable. Fol- 
lowing along its course till he came to a place of 
crossing, and then around other swamps and water- 
courses until he could get past them, he traveled 
thirteen miles before reaching his new home. 
Since that time Mr. Morton has remained a resi- 
dent of Tyione, and engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits, except that lie has at times traveled circuit 
as a preacher of the Protestant Methodist Church. 
His wife died about a year ago, and he is waiting, 
at the end of a long, well-spent, and useful life, 
the summons that shall reunite them in the better 
land that lies be}'ond the grave. 

Jonathan L. Wolverton was for many years one 
of the prominent men of the town. He came, in 
the spring of 1837, from the town of Tyrone, 
Schuyler Co., N. Y., and settled on the southeast 
quarter of section 7, where he built a house a few 
rods west of the section corner. For many years 
the corners and school-house located there bore 
his name, and it is not now by any means obsolete. 
In politics he was a Democrat, and this agreeing 
with the sentiment of the majority in the town he 
was frequently called to official positions. He was 
one of the first justices of the peace, and held the 
office for a period of nine years, being re-elected 
in 1839 and in 1843. He was also overseer of the 
poor for a number of years. About fourteen years 
ago he sold his farm and moved to Fenton. Five 
or six years later, having unfortunately lost his 
property, he went to Ingham County, where he is 
now living with his son Lewis. Two of his sons 
— Sylvanus and Andrew J. — are still residents of 
Tyrone. 

Joseph B. Jackson came from Seneca Co., N. Y., 
in the spring of 1837, and settled on the southwest 
quarter of section 8, which he bought of Henry 
and Van Rensselaer Hawkins, who had purchased 
it of the government. He brought with him a 
family of three sons and four daughters. He was 
something of a pettifogger, and was almost inva- 
riably engaged on one side or the other in every 
lawsuit in the vicinity. He eventually met with 
reverses, lost his property, and became a county 
charge for several years before his death. His 
remains were brought here for burial, and interred 
in the cemetery on a portion of what was once his 



farm. One son, Joseph B., Jr., left this town about 
1842-43, and lived several years in Cohoctah, 
where he kept a public-house. He finally ran 
away with a widow, leaving his wife and family to 
shift for themselves, and is supposed to have died 
with the cholera a short time after. None of the 
Jackson family are now residing in this vicinity. 

One of the most amiable, upright, and hsnorable 
citizens whom the town of T)'rone ever, numbered 
among its people was Dillis De.xter. Lovable in 
his nature, he possessed one of those well-rounded 
characters that command the i"espect and compel 
the admiration of all, and by careful, earnest, and 
judicious application to his studies had developed 
his capacity, and fitted himself for his duties as a 
surveyor and a School-teacher, in both of which 
fields of labor he spent a considerable portion of 
his life. Differing from the political majority of 
the town, he was yet elected to the office of town 
clerk, justice of the peace, and school inspector. 
He settled in this town in 1837, on the southeast 
quarter of section 18, which he bought of John C. 
Morse. In the fall of 1838 his brother, Amos, 
came and settled on the same place, Dillis living 
with him. In 1839 another brother, Charles, came, 
who died of consumption about a year afterwards. 
Another brother, Horace, settled in the Cornell 
neighborhood, in the south part of the town, some 
twenty-five years ago, and both he and his wife 
died of consumption several years since. Dillis 
died in this town some twelve or fourteen years 
ago, and Amos in the spring of 1879. Several of 
the descendants of these brothers ai'e still residing 
in this town. 

In the latter part of the fall of 1837, three broth- 
ers — Nathaniel C, William, and Brackett Austin — 
came from Orleans Co., N. Y., and settled on ad- 
joining farms, the first two on section 30, and the 
latter on section 29. They all removed from the 
town, Nathaniel C. returning to New York in about 
ten years, William going to Genesee County in 
about twenty years, and Brackett moving to Wheat- 
field, Ingham Co., about 1844-45. The two former 
are dead, but the latter is still living. 

William D. Snapp came from Owasco, Cayuga 
Co., N. Y., in 1838, and settled on the south line 
of section 27, where he continued to reside until 
1863-64, when he moved to a farm in the town 
of Hartland, where he died Oct. 25, 1876. His 
wife was Betsey Dawson (a sister of William Daw- 
son), and on the 7th of June, 1876, they celebrated 
their golden wedding. Mrs. Dawson is still living, 
residing with her adopted daughter, Mrs. Heman 
Clark. 

One of the oldest residents of Tyrone at the 
present time is John C. Salsbury, Esq., who has 





ISAAC CORNELL. 



MRS. ISAAC CORNELL. 



ISAAC CORNELL. 



Thi.s gentleman may be appropriately called one 
of the founders of the town of Tyrone, having 
settled where he now resides in 1834. He was 
born in the town of White Creek, Washington 
Co., N. Y., Aug. 4, 1803. He was the son of 
Joseph Cornell and Abigail Allen, who had a 
family of eight children, — five sons and three 
daughters. The elder Cornell was a pioneer in 
Wa.shington County, having emigrated from New 
Bedford, R. I., before the Revolution. The grand- 
father of our subject was a Quaker, noted for his 
piety and integrity. 

Isaac lived with his father until he was twenty 
years of age, when he went to Chili, Monroe Co., 
N. Y., where he purchased a new farm. After a 
residence of five years, he sold and removed to 
Chautauqua Co., N. Y. After several changes of 
location he decided to come to Michigan. Accord- 
ingly, in the fall of 1 834, he, in company with his two 
brothers, Henry and George, came to Tyrone and 
entered two hundred acres of land, which he now 
owns. He then went back to New York, but re- 
turned the following spring with his family. The 



Cornells were the first settlers in the south part 
of the town, and were obliged to cut their road 
from the Tenney settlement in Highland, Oakland 
County. 

Mr. Cornell has been prominently identified 
with the town of Tyrone ; he was elected its first 
justice of the peace, a position which he filled 
acceptably for five terms. 

In 1825 he was married to Miss Sarah Eaton, 
of Arlington, Vt. She was born in the town of 
Cavendish, Vt., in 1803. They were blessed with 
five children. In July, 1836, Mrs. Cornell died, 
and he subsequently married Margaret M. Larmon, 
a native of Cambridge, Washington Co., N. Y. 
She was born in October, 1819. By this union 
there were six children. 

Mr. Cornell is a self-made man, and the position 
he holds among the best men of the county is 
due solely to his own exertions. He has acquired 
by his own efforts a competency and an honorable 
reputation. In his religious affiliations he is an 
Adventist, and his eldest son is an able exponent 
of the doctrines of that church. 



TYRONE TOWNSHIP. 



397 



resided here since the month of January, 1838. 
Born in Greenville, Greene Co., N. Y., June I, 
1S13, he grew to young manhood in that health- 
giving climate until, at the age of seventeen years, 
he started with his father and family for the new 
Territory of Michigan. The family came by way 
of the canal and lake, but John came with a team 
througii Ohio, traveling in company with James 
Dedrick, his brother's father-in-law. They all 
reached Ypsilanti on the 8th day of August, 1830, 
and went from there to York, in Washtenaw Co., 
where they settled. While living there John 
married Miss Catharine Basom, their nuptials 
being celebrated Oct. 23, 1S34, and in the f.dl of 
1837 traded his property in York, with Henry 
Druse, for 240 acres of land on sections 14 and 
26 in this town. He built a house that fall, and 
sowed eight acres of wheat, and in January brought 
his family and began life as a citizen of Tyrone. 
In 1841 his wife died, and he subsequently married 
Mary A. Colton, daughter of Charles Colton, of 
this town, who died July 19, 1847. His third wife 
was Sarah E. Merrill. From the time of his settle- 
ment here Mr. Salsbury has been one of the lead- 
ing men of the town in his occupation of farming, 
as well as in political matters and the promotion 
of public interests. Elected as one of the first jus- 
tices of the peace, he held that office by virtue of 
successive re-elections for a period of twelve years, 
and by subsequent elections has increased his in- 
cumbency of that office to a total of twenty-seven 
years. He has served as overseer of the poor for 
seven years, conmiissioner of highways for five 
years, and supervisor for three years. In addition 
to his work of farming, he has done considerable 
surveying, and, acting as a land agent, has nego- 
tiated the sale of a large amount of land, both in 
this town and in other parts of the State. 

In the southwest part of the town several fami- 
lies of Irish emigrants settled at an early day. 
According to the best information now obtainable, 
John McKeone came in 1837, James McGuire, 
James Agan, and James McKeone, in 1838, and 
James Murphy in 1840. 

John McKeone was a native of county Long- 
ford, Ireland, and was there married to Bridget 
Riley, emigrating to this country in 1833, and 
settling in Williamsburg, N. Y. Hearing of the 
fertile and low-priced lands in Michigan, he came 
West in the summer of 1836 and purchased some 
land, returning East and coming on with his family 
in the fall of 1837. The family resided in Tyrone 
until 1865. when their present house was ^built, 
and they moved across the road into Deerfield. 
Their children were eight in number: Bernard 
and Charles still reside in Tj-rone; Mrs. Margaret 



Hogan in Fenton ; Bridget is a Sister of Charity in 
New Orleans, and the other living children — Mrs. 
Mary Smith and James McKeone — reside in Deer- 
field. Mr. McKeone and his wife are still living 
among the scenes of the trials and tribulations that 
marked their pioneer life. James McKeone died 
in Deerfield a few years since ; James Agan became 
disgusted with frontier life, returned to Brooklyn, 
N. Y., and died there ; James McGuire emigrated 
to the State of Te.v:as ; and James Murphy is still 
living on his homestead on section 30, where he 
now owns 260 acres of fine productive land. 

David Colwell, a native of Otsego Co., N. Y., 
came to Tvrone from Ontario Co., N. Y., in May, 
1838, settling on the farm which he still occupies, 
on the southwest quarter of section 4. 

Hiram M. Rhodes came to Tyrone early in the 
spring of 1 838, and settled on section 5, where he 
resided for about ten years. He was at one time 
a very prominent man in the town, and a political 
leader among the Democrats, who frequently 
elected him to office. He was the first town clerk, 
and held several other offices at different times. 
He removed from the town about 1848, and, having 
met with misfortunes, is now in his old age an in- 
mate of the county-house. 

Elijah Clough was a native of Springfield, Mass., 
and, in 18 14, moved with the rest of his father's 
family to Manlius, Onondaga Co., N. Y. In 1836 
he came West in search of a good place to locate, 
and traveled in company with a man who was ac- 
quainted with Horace H. Nottingham, who had 
recently settled in Deerfield, and was led by that 
circumstance to come to this part of the State. 
Being pleased with the looks of the country, Mr, 
Clough bought 80 acres in Conway, and 160 in 
this town, and returned to the East. Three years 
later he came with his mother, his sisters Sarah, 
Mary, and Ann Eliza, and his brother Warren, and 
settled on the northeast quarter of section 7. His 
mother died in less than a year, his sisters married 
and moved into adjoining counties, and, about 
1848, his brother moved to Shiawassee Count}-, 
where he is now living. In 1S44 Mr. Clough mar- 
ried Sabina Littlefield, who died in March, 1852. 
His second wife was Catharine Carmer, and his 
third wife, who is still living, was Lovina Irish. 
He has replaced his first log house with a fine 
brick residence, and increased the size of his farm 
to 248 acres. 

On the south side of the county line, on section 
5, at the point where the White Lake or Shiawassee 
road intersects it, stood what was for many years 
the most famous hotel on the line of the Shiawassee 
trail. It was known as the " Grove House," and 
was kept by Jairah Hillman, who was a model 



398 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



host. He was formerly from Lowville, Lewis Co., 
N. Y. ; located his land in this town in tiie spring 
of 1836; moved to Plymouth, Wayne Co., in this 
State, in the spring of 1837; made 40 acres of 
improvement in 1838; and in the spring of 1839 
moved on to his farm with his family of one son 
and six daughters. His house was not built with 
the intention of making it a public-house, but fas- 
tidious travelers, not satisfied with the accommo- 
dations furnished at the regular taverns, would not 
be turned away; and as soon as it was found that 
they could be accommodated there, the run of 
custom was largely increased, and travelers made 
it a point to get to the Grove House at nightfall, 
where they were sure of a hearty welcome, a 
bountiful supper, and an evening of pleasant, cheer- 
ful social intercourse. In the work of clearing the 
land of its growth of oak timber, Mr. Hillman 
selected the finest of the trees in the vicinit)' of 
his house and left them standing, to the number 
of a hundred or more. These trees added very 
much to the beauty of the place, and gave the inn 
the name it afterwards bore for so many years. 
Not the least attraction of the place in the eyes of 
the better class of people was the fact that it was 
a strictly temperance house. Mr. Hillman was an 
intelligent man, gifted with pleisiiig conver.sational 
powers, and possessed of a generous, hospitable 
spirit, all of which rendered his companionship en- 
joyable. He was a man of more than ordinary 
ability, and his success as an agriculturist proved 
conclusively that brains and " book learning" are no 
detriment to the farmer. He died at his home, July 
6, 1861, and the property, originally containing 340 
acres, was divided among his heirs, the homestead 
falling to the only son, M. M. Hillman. His wife 
(formerly Elizabeth Holladay) died in Detroit, in 
September, 1877. Of his children, M. M. married 
Miss Emily Lane, in Portage Co., O., in 1861, and 
is now living on the homestead, occupying an 
elegant residence built on the site of the " Grove 
House," which was destroyed by fire on the 5th 
of July, 1877, and is one of the leading farmers of 
the vicinity ; Mrs. Clarissa Sadler died in Fenton ; 
Mrs. Julia Earned lives in F"enton ; Caroline mar- 
ried Albert Holladay, who died in Otsego, Allegan 
Co., and is now the wife of Dr. Cole, of Luding- 
ton ; Mrs. Louisa Clement died in Detroit, in 
1865 ; Mrs. Adaline Joslin lives in Byron, Shia- 
wassee Co.; and Mrs. Delia Cook lives in Detroit. 
David L. Babcock, with his two step-sons, Har- 
vey R. and Orson B. Stevens, came to this town 
in the fall of 1837 or early spring of 1838. Bab- 
cock was a carpenter, and worked at his trade, 
besides working his farm of 80 acres on section 19. 
He removed to Lapeer County about the close of 



the war. Harvey R. Stevens was an early school- 
teacher and one of the first school inspectors of 
the town. He served in that position a number 
of years. He enlisted in the Union army in the 
time of the Rebellion, and falling beneath the 
stroke of a rebel bullet upon the field of battle, 
gave his life as a token of his patriotism and de- 
votion. Orson B. lived on section 30 until about 
ten years ago, and then removed to Greenville, 
Montcalm Co., where he died a short time since. 

One of the foremost citizens of the town, if not 
the most prominent of all, was John Kenj'on, Jr., 
well known as Judge Kenyon, a title which he 
earned by virtue of having served as side judge 
of the county court. He came from Niles, Cayuga 
Co., N. Y., in 1S40, arriving here the 2d day of 
June, and settled on section t,^, wheie he had the 
year previous purchased of a Mr. Starks the 160 
acres originally taken up by Isaac Degraff Upon 
his arrival here he at once assumed a prominent 
place among his fellow-townsmen, and was the 
ne.Kt spring elected supervisor of the town. He 
was frequently elected to office, holding the posi- 
tions of highway commissioner, justice of the peace, 
supervisor (seven terms), second or associate judge, 
Representative in the Legislature, and State Sen- 
ator, and in all deported himself creditably, and 
discharged the duties connected with thetii in a 
careful and conscientious manner. As a farmer 
he was successful ; as a business man able and 
energetic; and as a citizen public-spirited, upright, 
and honorable. Born of Quaker parentage, he 
inherited and acquired a respect and admiration 
for the principles of that sect, and though uncon- 
nected with any church organization remained a 
Friend in principle until his death, which occurred 
Nov. 12, 1874, at the age of si.xty-eight years. 

Thomas Love, from Monroe Co., N. Y., with a 
wife and five children, came to Tyrone in 1842, 
and lived for several years on a part of his brother 
James' farm. He afterwards purchased some land 
on the school section and lived there until 1S66, 
when he moved to Tawas, Iosco Co., where he is 
now living. One son, Jacob, still resides in Tyrone. 

Dexter Farnham was a native of New Hamp- 
shire, and with his wife and three children came 
to Tyrone from Grand Blanc, Genesee Co., in the 
fall of 1842, locating on section 17. He came to 
Grand Blanc from Pembroke, Genesee Co., N. Y., 
in 1836. He died in this town in July, 1876, at 
the age of sixty-nine years, having survived his 
wife by about one year. One of his sons, Mar- 
cellus, lives in Ingham County, and four — Henry, 
Hiram, John, and Robertson — are ranked among 
the most thriving farmers and respected citizens 
of this town. 



TYRONE TOWNSHIP. 



399 



Amilo Gardner came from Herkimer Co., N. Y., 
in i85i,antl bought the David Austin farm at a 
sale uncier foreclosure of mortgage. He is still 
living on the i)lace, which has, by careful and 
thorough cultivation, becotiie one of the best farms 
of the town. In 1855-56, Mr. Gardner was ap- 
pointed as postmaster, and has served continu- 
ously in that position down to the present time, 
witli the exception of a period of about three 
months in 1S61. 

Of course, this does not by any means conclude 
the h'st of settlers, but it includes all about whom 
we have been able to learn any particulars. In 
this connection we also give a copy of the tax 
roll of 1844, — t'ls earliest one now in existence, — 
omitting the names of all except the resident tax- 
payers of the town in that year. This list gives 
tlie nan)es of the actual residents and property- 
holders at that time, showing the sections on which 
their property was located, the number of acres 
owned, and its valuation. 

The list is as follows : 



Names. Section. 

Alonzo Aytrs 4 

Bradley Anjjiis 10 

Nelson Ad.ims 12 

Hiildah Auslin 4 

William Auslin ig, 30 

Daniel li. Auslin 30 

John Agan 9, 30 

Anson Austin 22 

Ahrain Bailey 3*, 2,-!, 

.Sanfoul Bdlinjjs 11 

William Heemer 4 

Davi-,1 L. Babcock 19, 20 

Joseph M. Beckei- 2S 

Dyer lieehe 27 

David CoKvcll ,....4, 9 

Caleb Cianslon 15 

David E. Cianslon 15 

Gilbcil D Cranston 15 

Eli D.Cranston 15 

James Carmer 21 

Elijah Clough 7 

William Carr 7 

Eli Conklin 28 

John Conncll 17 

Eranklin Curtis 31 

Jacob Chrispell 29 

George Cornell 28 

Henry A. Cornell 29,32, 33 

Isaac Cornell 28, 29, 32 

Almond Colton ^t, 

Humphrey Church 34 

Porter Colton T,}, 

George Dilible 3 

Dillis Dexter 18 

Jasper Dood 32, 33 

William Dawson 34 

Peter .S. Dates 27 

Dewitt Denton 2, II, 12 

Uriah Knimons 13 

Dexter Farnhani 17 

Edward Fuller 31 

JIugh Hamilton 3 

Seih M. Howell II 

Edward Hopper 15 

John B. Hamilton 9 

Michael Haley 15 

John W. HiatI 4, 5 

Jaiiali Hillman 4, 5 

Zachariah Hiatt 6 

* Town 5 noiih, range 6 east. 



Acres. 

80 

80 

160 

10 

100 

ICX) 

160 

160 

So 

80 

150 

160 

80 

60 

120 

20 

40 

50 

90 

80 

160 

146 

120 

80 

% 
160 

75 

120 

240 

40 

80 

40 

80 

240 

100 

80 

100 

400 

80 

50 

55 

43 

80 

40 

40 

80 

120 

300 

«73 



Valuation. 

S206 
200 
320 
20 
260 
320 
340 
330 
260 
160 
340 
440 
440 

"55 
300 

do 
100 

■75 
300 

'75 
600 
416 
340 
170 

25 
440 
290 

455 
950 
80 
180 
110 
242 

550 
200 
270 
274 
680 
160 
118 
1 10 

87 
160 
100 

80 

200 

300 

1000 

521 



Names. Section. 

Washington Hoisington 6 

Horatio V. Holmes 18 

Charles Hooker 34 

Lester Jennings 13 

Joseph B. Jackson 8 

John Kenyiin, Jr t,t, 

John I'. Kellogg 34 

John Kinney 27 

Myron Lovell 21 

Solomon Lewis 31 

James Love 27,28,33, 34 

Thom.as Love 33 

Edmond M. Marsh 2 

David Murphy 12 

Isaac Morton 18 

James Murphy 19, 30 

James McGuire 19 

John McKeone 19 

James McKeone 30 

Fernando Mapes 31 

JohnO'Neil 15 

Linus Pratt 15 

Mark Pratt 10 

Collins J. Pines 20 

Aaron Parks.*. 34 

Amasa Parks 27 

Philatha Parks 28 

Daniel I). Kuny.m 3i 9i 1° 

F. F. Riggs 4 

Hiram NL Rhodes 5 

Lyman E. Rhodes 5 



Peter Ru-sell. 



"ii^ 34 

Harvey K. Stevens 7, I2f 

Isaac Seymour 7, 8 

Stephen B. Street 17 

John C. Salsbiiiy 26 

William D. Snapp 27 

C)rson B. .Stevens 30 

Alonzo Slayton 27 

William .S. Taylor 34 

Isaac Wtilverlon 7 

J. L. Wolverton , 7 

John Westfall. 



Acres. 


Valuation 


82 


S210 


40 


So 


40 


85 


40 


100 


157 


500 


160 


520 


160 


680 


40 


85 


240 


5'0 


100 


280 


163 


526 


40 


80 


160 


300 


80 


160 


120 


360 


80 


220 


55 


1 8s 


55 


•65 


40 


134 


36 


72 


80 


200 


80 


220 


40 


90 


40 


80 


40 


80 


20 


52 


40 


104 


321 


700 


172 


575 


80 


224 


80 


240 


200 


508 


112 


270 


6 


12 


160 


400 


160 


410 


So 


230 


So 


200 


240 


720 


16 


60 


71 


200 


157 


474 


160 


360 


10 


30 


20 


45 


960 


2460 


40 


120 



Auslin Wakeiiian 27 

Carlton Wheeler Ty^t 

John A. WelN 26, 35 

Alfred White 28 



Total State and county tax $263.21 

Township expenses 166.32 

Township library 25.00 

School tax. District No. 8 18000 



Total S634.53 

The settlement of all new countries is attended 
with about the same amount of hard and trying 
experiences, but the early settlers on these oak- 
opening lands did not have to endure the heavy 
toil, nor the tedious waiting, nor the painful priva- 
tions that settlers in a timbered country inevitably 
meet. Tliere was scarcely a farm in the town on 
which there was not some land that could be cul- 
tivated the first season, and made to yield a por- 
tion, at least, of the provision necessary for the 
sustenance of the family. Then, too, the miry roads 
through a trackless forest had not to be endured, 
for here the oaks grew well apart, and a wagon 
could be driven through the woods in any direc- 
tion with very little inconvenience. Mills and 
markets were, as a matter of course, at first liard 
to get at, and necessitated long and tedious jour- 
neys, occupying days and sometimes almost weeks 



f Town 4 north, range 6 east. 



400 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



in their accomplishment. For general market most 
t)f the early settlers went to Detroit, — Pontiac, 
Ann Arbor, and Ypsilanti being but small places, 
where but an indifferent and limited stock of goods 
was to be found. Pontiac and other places in 
Oakland County furnished milling accommoda- 
tions, and lumber was furnished by Clark Dibble's 
mill at Fenton, which was then known as Dibble- 
ville. 

In the line of wild fruits the settlers were well 
provided for. Apple-trees and a few other kinds of 
domestic fruits were procured at Ypsilanti, and set 
out, and in a few years began to yield an abun- 
dant supply of fruit. The Cornells and Joseph M. 
Becker set out orchards in 1837 or 1838, and most 
of the settlers followed their example as soon as 
they could conveniently do so. 

The first settlers depended upon oxen almost 
entirely for the performance of their team-work, as 
the marsh hay was not fit for food for horses, and 
there was no other hay to be had at first. The 
first horse brought into the town is said to have 
been an Indian pon\- which was owned by Isaac 
Cornell. 

The first death among the pioneers was that of 
Mrs. Isaac Cornell, which occurred in July, 1836. 
She was afflicted with goitre or tumor on her neck, 
which finally grew so bad as to necessitate a sur- 
gical operation for her relief, and while on the 
way to Ann Arbor, where the operation was to 
be performed, she became suddenly worse and 
expired. 

The first birth of a white child in Tyrone was 
that of George Love, which occurred on the loth 
of December, 1835. He was a son of James and 
Evelyn (Shipley) Love, and grew to manhood in 
this town. In 1856 he was killed by a falling 
tree, while engaged in working in a pinery north 
of Flint. 

It is not known who were the first couple mar- 
ried in Tyrone, for, at first, it seems to have been 
the practice of the would-be Benedicts to seek a 
life-partner from among the fair daughters of the 
neighboring town of Hartland. At least two of 
the earliest marriages of residents of this town 
were contracted in that manner, — George Cornell 
marrying Eliza Williams in the spring of 1836, 
and Alfred White marrying Nancy Bidleman in 
1837-3S, both ceremonies being performed at the 
residences of the parents of the respective brides 
in Hartland. 

Game of all kinds was quite plentiful for several 
years after settlements were begun here, and the 
supplies of meat thus furnished formed a by no 
means small part of the pioneer's living. Most of 
the settlers were proficient with the rifle and spent 



a portion of their time in hunting None enjoyed 
this sport with greater zest" or prosecuted it with 
better success than William Dawson, and numer- 
ous tales of his prowess and adventures are re- 
lated. It was his habit to load his gun rather 
heavily, and it was said by one who had inadvert- 
ently been induced to discharge it, that it always 
kicked so that it left the shooter stunned for half 
an hour, and would, at a distance of ten yards, 
scatter over a space fifteen yards in width. It is 
hardly necessary to say that the piece which could 
do such execution in the rear was equally danger- 
ous at the muzzle, and that the deer at which it was 
aimed fell a victim to its shower of missiles. 

There were other wild animals in the forest be- 
sides the timid and harmless deer. Wolves were 
quite common, though never known to attack any 
person, and bears occasionally visited the open- 
ings, especially in the berry season. 

Among the peculiar experiences of the early 
settlers was that of the family of Henry Earned, 
now living in the town of Rose, Oakland Co. 
When they first came they found an Indian wig- 
wam standing on their land on section 12, and 
moving into it, made their home there until a log 
cabin was built for their use. 

CIVIL .'W'D POLITIC.aLL. 

In the winter of 1837-38 the citizens of town 4 
north, of range 6 east, began to think of organiz- 
ing themselves into a separate town, and circulated 
a petition for that purpose, obtaining numerous 
signatures, and forwarded it to the Legislature. 
Before the petition was sent a meeting was appointed 
for the purpose of fi.xing upon a name for the pro- 
posed town. It was held at the house of Joseph 
B. Jackson, on section 8, and, notwithstanding the 
inclemency of the weather (the snow being leg 
deep and a cold storm prevailing), was quite largely 
attended. William Dawson proposed the name of 
Ripley ; William D. Snapp preferred Owasco ; 
Jonathan L. Wolverton mentioned Tyrone; and 
some one else selected Wheatland ; all being taken 
from towns in New York in which the ones who 
proposed theni had formerly lived. The name of 
Tyrone was finally settled upon, and was ratified 
by the Legislature. It was taken from a town 
of that name in Schuyler Co., N. Y., which is said 
to have derived its name from county Tyrone, 
Ireland, from whence a number of its early settlers 
came. 

The earliest records of the township relations of 
Tyrone are found in the acts of the Legislature of 
1835, when, by an act approved by the Governor, 
March 26, 1 835, it was attached to the town of High- 
land for purposes of township government, in con- 



TYRONE TOWNSHIP. 



401 



nection with all that part of the county of Living- 
ston then att.iched to the count)- of Oakland for 
judicial purposes. March 11, 1837, it was made a 
part of the town of Deerfield, and a year later was 
separately organized by the following act of tlie 
Legislature, which was approved by the Governor 
March 6, 1838, viz.: 

•' Si-.c. 10. — .'Vll that part of the county of I,ivinq;stoii (k-signateil 
in the United .Stales survey as township number four mirth, of ranye 
number six e:ist, l>e, and the same is, hereby set off and organized 
into a separate township hy tlie name of Tyrone; and the first 
township-meeting shall he held at the house of Eli KonUlin, in 
said lowiishi|>.'" 

In accordance with this act the first meeting was 
held at the regular time, the first Monday in April, 
at the house of K\i Conklin, a few rods west of the 
noith quarter-post, on section 28. Btit little is 
known regarding the circumstances surrounding 
and the incidents attending this meeting, but all 
passed off without any unusual event, and the 
business was conducted in a harmonious manner. 
The record of this meeting has been preserved and 
reads as follows: 

"The firsl Township-Meeting of Tyrone held at ConUliiTs. 

"At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Tyrone, for 
the purpose of Electing Township Officers for said Town, Joscjih 
13. fackson was chosen Moderator, and Henry .-V. Cornell and 
Isaac Ayres was Chosen Clerks for said meeting />/o tern. The 
following persons were elected a^ town officers for said Town : 
Fin- .Supervisor, Joseph M. Becker h.iil 23 voles. For Township 
Clerk, Hiram M. Rhodes had 14 votes, and Joseph B. Jackson, 
Jr., had 13 votes. For Justices of the Peace, Isaac Cornell h.id 
15 votes; Jonathan I,. Wolverton had 22 votes; Clark Dibble, 19; 
IJaniel Runynn, 6; Henry K. Cornell, 14; John C. -Salsbury, 26; 
Joseph B. Jackson, 5; Isiac Ayres, 2. Inspectors of Common 
Schools, K. F. Riggs had 10 votes; Isaac Cornell had 21 voles; 
Harvey R. Stevens, 27 votes; Clark Dibble, 19 voles; Nathaniel 
C. Austin, 6 votes. For Commissioners of Highways, Is.aac 
Ayres had 20 votes; William D. Snapp, 28 votes; George Cor- 
nell, 24 votes; Joseph M. Becker, 4 voles; Hugh R. Hogle, 4 
votes. For Collector, Isaac Morion had 12 votes; Joseph B. 
Jackson, Jr., 17 votes. For Assessors, Henry A. Cornell, 21 
votes; Frederick F. Riggs, 23 votes; Isaac Morton, 23 votes; 
Joseph M. Becker, 2 votes. For Constables, Joseph B. Jackson, 
Jr., 16 votes; Harvey R. Stevens, 16 votes; Isaac Morton, 9 
votes; Washington Hoisington, 9 votes; Hiram M. Rhodes, [ 
vote, singular. For Directois of the Poor, Washington Hoising- 
ton, 26 votes; William D.iwson, 26 votes. 

" Josiini B. Jackson, Afoi/eralor. 



" Isaac Ayrics, 1 ,,. , 

" Hknry a. Corne;i,l, / 



" H. M. Rhodes, 7'ouiu Clerk. 
" VoleJ, by the Electors of Tyrone, that the next Annual Town- 
ship-meeting should hi held at Eli Cranson's, on section 15." 

The town-meetings and elections of Tyrone have 
been of a migratory character, traveling about 
from year to year to different parts of the town at 
the caprice of the voters at each preceding meet-, 
ing. In 1838 the town-meeting was held at Eli 
Conklin's, on section 28; in 1839 and 1840; at Eli 
D. Cranston's, on southwest quarter of section 15 ; 
51 



in 1841, at Run\an's tavern, on section 3 ; in 1842, 
at John WeslfalTs, southwest quarter of section 17; 
in 1843, at Stephen B. Street's, north part of same 
section; in 1844, at Runyan's tavern; in 1845, at 
the Love school-house, northeast corner of section 
33; in 1846, at Aunt Kate's (Runyan's) tavern; 
in 1847, at the Love school-house; in 1848 and 
1849, at Thomas Love's, near the school-house; 
in 1850, at David- E. Cranston's, near the west 
quarter-post of section 22; in 1851, at Alonzo 
Slayton's, northwest corner of section 27 ; in 1852, 
at Thomas Love's ; from 1853 to 1856, at Alonzo 
Slayton's, and in the last-named year the meeting 
was adjourned fiom that place to the Cranston 
school-house, on the southwest quarter of section 
15, leaving Charles Colton at Mr. Slayton's to no- 
tify all persons of the place of adjournment; from 
1856 to 1861, at the Cranston school-house; from 
1862 to 1866, at the house of Amilo Gardner, near 
the east quarter-post of section 28 ; and since that 
time, — now a period of twelve years, — at the house 
of Saul Kinsman, three-quarters of a mile south 
of the centre of the town. 

As a tnatter of interest we here insert a list of 
names of officers of the town from its formation 
to the present, — a period of forty-two years. This 
list has been carefully prepared, after a thorough 
research of the township records, and may be re- 
lied upon as correct in all essential points. It is 

as follows : 

CIVIL LIST OF TYRONE. 

1838. — Supervisor, Joseph M. Becker; Town Clerk, Hiram M. 
Rhodes; Collector, Joseph B. Jackson, Jr. ; Justices of 
the Peace, Jonathan L. Wolverlon (one year), Clark Dib- 
ble (two years), Isaac Cornell (three years), John C. 
Salsbury (four years) ; Assessors, Henry A. Cornell, Fred- 
erick F. Riggs, Isaac Morion ; School Inspectors, Isaac 
Cornell, Harvey R. Stevens, Clark Dibble. 

1839 — Supervisor, Joseph M. Becker; Town Clerk, Dillis Dexter; 
Collector, Lyman Curtis; Treasurer, Henry A. Cornell; 
Justice of the Peace, Jonathan L. Wolverton ; Assessors, 
Frederick F. Riggs, Eli D. Cranston, Alfred White; 
School Inspectors, Nathaniel C. Austin, Hiram M. 
Rhodes, Isaac Cornell. 

1840. — Sui>ervisor, Lyman E. Rhodes; Town Clerk, Hiram M. 
Rhodes; Collector, Lyman Curtis; Treasurer, Daniel 
D. Runyan; Justice of the Peace, Clark Dibble; As- 
sessors, Isaac Morton, Frederick F. Riggs, Nathaniel C. 
Austin; School Inspectors, Nathaniel C. Austin, Charles 
T. Crane, H. .M. Rhodes. 

1841. — Supervisor, Henry A. Cornell; Town Clerk, Charles T. 
Crane; C'dlector, Peter Russell; Treasurer, Daniel D. 
Runyan; Justice of the Peace, John Kenyon; Assessors, 
Wilks L. Stewart, Sanford Billings, Eli D. Cranston; 
School Inspectors, Charles T. Crane, Orson P. Stevens, 
Dillis Dexter. 

1842. — Supervisor, Lyman E. Rhodes; Town Clerk, Charles T. 
Crane; Treasurer, Henry A. Cornell; Justice of the 
Peace,* John C. Salsbury; Assessors, Wilks L. Stewart, 

* In June, 1842, Clark Dibble died, and on the 13th of July 
Frederick F. Riggs was elected justice of the peace, to fill the va- 
cancy ihus created. 



402 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Isaac Morton ; School Inspectors, Harvey R. Stevens, 
Charles T. Crane, Orson B. Stevens. 

1843. — Supervisor, Alonzo Slayton ; Town Clerk, Hiram M. 
Rhodes; Treasurer, Henry A. Cornell; Justice of tlie 
Peace, Jonathan L. Wolverton; Assessors, Sanford Bil- 
lings, Wilks L. Stewart; School Inspectors, Orson B. 
Stevens, Harvey R. Stevens, Sanford Billings. 

1S44. — Supervisor, Alonzo Slayton ; Town Clerk, Hiram M. 
Rhodes; Treasurer, Henry A. Cornell; Justice of the 
Peace, I>yman E. Rhodes ; School Inspector, Harvey R. 
Stevens. 

1845. — .Supervisor, Jirah Hillnian ; Town Clerk, Dillis Dexter; 
Treasurer, Henry A. Cornell ; Justice of the Peace, Isaac 
Cornell; Assessors, Elijah Clough, Stephen B. Street; 
School Inspectors, John B. Hamilton, James McGuire. 

1S46. — Supervisor, John Kenyon, Jr. ; Town Clerk, Sanford Bil- 
lings; Treasurer, Henry A. Cornell; Justice of the 
Peace, John C. Salsbury; School Inspector, David E. 
Cranston. 

1847. — .Supervisor, Austin Wakeman; Town Clerk, Dillis Dexter; 
Treasurer, Heniy A. Cornell;* Justices of the Peace, 
Hiram M. Rhodes (full term), Isaac Ayres (vacancy); 
School Inspectors, Hiram M. Rhodes (one year), John 
B. Hamilton (two years). 

1S4S. — Supervisor, John Kenyon, Jr. ; Town Clerk, DeWitt Den- 
ton ; Treasurer, Charles Blackinton ; Justices of the 
Peace, Hiram M. Rhodes (full term), Joseph B. Jackson 
(long vacancy), Frederick F. Riggs (short vacancy); 
School Inspectors, Hiram M. Rhodes (full term), Har- 
vey R. Stevens (vacancy). 

1849. — Supervisor, Austin Wakeman ; Town Clerk, Dillis Dex- 
ter; Treasurer, Charles Blackinton; Justices of the 
Peace, Isaac Cornell (full term), Robert Fislier (va- 
cancy) ; School Inspector, Herman I. Cranston. 

1850. — Supervisor, John C. Salsliury ; Town Clerk, M. W. Gard- 
ner; Treasurer, Palmer B. Cranston; Justices of the 
Peace, Frederick F. Rrggs (full term), Peter Russell 
(vacancy); School Inspector, David E. Cranston. 

1 85 1. —Supervisor, John C. Salsbury; Town Clerk, M. W. Gard- 
ner; Treasurer, Pahner B. Cranston; Justice of the 
Peace, John W. Ingram; School Ins|iector, Herman I. 
Cranston. 

1852. — Supervisor, John Kenyon, Jr. ; Town Clerk, M. W. Gard- 
nei ; Treasurer, Palmer B. Cranston ; Justices of the 
Peace, Peter Russell (full term), John C. Salsbury (va- 
cancy) ; School Inspector, D. V. Van Syckle. 

1853.— Supervisor, John Kenyon, Jr. ; Town Clerk, M W. Gardi- 
ner ; Treasurer, Palmer B. Cranston ; Justices of the 
Peace, Alonzo Slayton (full term), Peter Russell (va- 
cancy) ; School Inspector, Harvey R. Stevens.f 

1854.— Supervisor, John Kenyon, Jr ; Town Clerk, George I,e- 
roy ; J Treasurer, Palmer B. Cranston ; Justice of the 
Peace, Frederick F. Riggs; School Inspector, M. C. 
Chase. 

1855.— Supervisor, John W. Ingram; Town Clerk, David E. 
Cranston ; Treasurer, Palmer B. Cranston ; Justices of 



* In the winter of 1847-48, Henry A. Cornell died, and on the 

24th of February the Town Board appointed Amos Dexter to the 
office of treasurer, for the unexpired term. On the iith of Sep- 
tember a special meeting was held to elect two justices of the 
peace to fill vacancies, and Frederick F. Riggs and Dillis Dexter 
were elected. 

t On the 2 1st of June, De Witt Denton was appointed by the 
Town Board to the office of school inspector, to fill the vacancy of 
p. V. Van Syckle. 

+ Qeorge Leroy removed from the town and M. C. Chase died, 
leaving vacancies in the othces of town clerk and school inspector. 
Frederick F. Riggs and Amilo Gardner were apjjointed to the 
respective offices. 



the Peace, John C. Salsbury (full term), Elijah Clough 
(vacancy); School Inspectors, J. I. Hosmer (full term), 
William Thompson, Jr. (vacancy). 

1S56. — Supervisor, John W. Ingram; Town Clerk, David E. 
Cranvtun ; Treasurer, Josiah C. Whalen ; Justices of the 
Peace, De Wilt Denton (full term), Austin Wakeman 
(three years), Elijah Clough (two years) ; School In- 
spector, Sanford Billings.^ 

1857. — Supervisor, John W. Ingram; Town Clerk, Herman I. 
Cranston ; Treasurer, Josiah C. Whalen ; Justices of the 
Peace, Richard Marvin (full term), Stephen B. Street 
(three years), Jarvis C. Rogers (two years) ; School In- 
spectors, De Witt Denton (full term), William Thompson 
(vacancy). 

1S5S. — .Supervisor, John C. Salsbury; Town Clerk, Orlando Top- 
ping; Treasurer, Peter Russell; Justices of the Peace, 
Frederick F. Riggs (full term), Francis Drunimond 
(vacancy); School Inspectors, Darius A. Smiih, Donald 
V. Van Syckle. 

1859 — Supervisor, Austin Wakeman; Town Clerk, Herman 1. 
Cranston; Treasurer, Daniel Adams; Justices of the 
Peace, John R. Walker (full term), Chester A. I'restnn 
(long vacancy), RufusZ. Smilii (short vacancy); Schiml 
Inspector, Rufus Z. Smith. 

i860. — Supervisor, De Witt Denton; Tmvn Clerk, Jepiha C. Car- 
mer ; Treasurer, Daniel Adams;]] Justices of the Peace, 
Josiah C. Whalen (full term), Rufus Z. Smith (vacancy) ; 
School Inspector, Harvey R. Stevens. 

1S61. — Supervisor, De Wilt Denton; Town Clerk, Jeptha Car- 
mer ; Treasurer, Alonzo May ; Justices of the Peace, 
John W. Ingram (full term), John Kenyon (vacancy); 
School Inspector, O^car G. Jayne. 

1862. — Supervisor, David G. Colwell ; Town Clerk, Mortimer D. 
Gardner; Treasurer, Alcmzo May ; Justice of the Peace, 
Frederick F. Riggs; School Inspector, Geo. G. Perry. 

1863. — Supervisor, David G. Colwell; Town Clerk, Mortimer D. 
Gardner; Treasurer, Frederick Fredenburgh ; Justice 
of the Peace, Isaac Cornell; School Inspector, Franklin 
B. Riggs. 

1864. — Supervisor, David G. Colwell ; Town Clerk, William D. 
Gardner; Treasurer, Frederick Fredenburgh ; Justice of 
the Peace, Peter Russell ; School Inspector, John A. 
Sober^ (full term), Samuel H. Ellinwood (vacancy). 

1865. — Supervisor, Austin Wakeman;** Town Clerk, Mortimer 
D.Gardner; Treasurer, Sealor Dedrick ; Justices of the 
Peace, William Beemer (full term), Isaac Morton (va- 
cancy) ; School Inspectors, Martin C. Cranston (full 
term), George G. Perry (vacancy). 

1866. — Supervisor, John Kenyon; Town Clerk, Palmer B. Crans- 
ton; Treasurer, John C. Runyan ; Justices of the Peace, 
John C. Salsbury (full term), Knowlton B. Nye (va- 
cancy) ; School Inspector, Mortimer D. Gardner. -f-j- 

1867. — Supervisor, De Witt Denton; Town Clerk, Jeptha C. Car- 
mer; Treasurer, Alonzo E. Gardner; Justice of the 
Peace, John W. Ingr.am; School Inspector, George G. 
Perry. 

§ Sanford Billings died, leaving a vacancy in the office of school 
inspector, which was filled October 11, by the appointment of 
De Witt Denton. 

]| Daniel Adams resigned the office of treasurer, and on the 
19th of February, 1861, Thomas Fletcher was appointed to fill the 
vacancy. 

^ Resigned, and George G. Perry aiipointed. 

** Removed from the town, and John Kenyon appointed to fill 
the vacancy. 

ff During the year John C. Runyan, Treasurer, and Martin C. 
Cranston, School Inspector, resigned their respective offices, and 
Alonzo E. Gardner was appointed treasurer, and George G. Perry 
school inspector, to fill the vacancies. 



TYRONE TOWNSHIP. 



403 



Supervisor, De Wilt Denton ; Town Clerk, John T. Car- 
mer; Treasurer, David E. Cranston; Jusilce of ihc 
Peace, Peter Russell; School Inspector, Moriimcr D. 
Gardner. 

Supervisor, De Witt Demon; Town Clerk, John T. Carmcr; 
Treasurer, David O. Cranston ; Justice of the Peace, 
William Beemer (full term), John Kenyon (vacancy) ; 
School Inspector, Darius A. Smith. 

Supervisor, John T. Carmer; Town Clerk, Saul Kinsman; 
Treasurer, William Pearson ; Justice of (he Peace, John 
C. Salsbury ; School Inspector, George G. Perry. 

Supervisor, Elihu Wail; Town Clerk, James M. Fikes; 
Treasurer, William Pearson ; justice of the Peace, John 
Sackner; School Inspector, Mortimer D. Gardner (full 
term), Darius A. Smith (vacancy).* 

Supervisor, John T. Carmer; Town Clerk, James M. 
Fikes ; Treasurer, Peter J. Becker ; Justice of the Peace, 
John W. Ingram ; Drain Commissioner, De Witt Denton; 
School Inspector, George G. Perry. 

Supervisor, James M. Fikes; Town Clerk, Robert J. Petty; 
Tieasurer, Frederick Fredenburgh ; Justices of the Peace, 
Charles Scribner (full term), Elilui Wait (vacancy); 
Drain Commissioner, De Wilt Denton ; Scliool Inspector, 
Jeplha C. Carmer. 

Supervisor, John T. Carmer; Town Clerk, J. Clark Car- 
mer; Treasurer, Frederick Fredenburgh; Justices of the 
Peace, John H. Bri-tol (full term), George Hogan (va- 
cancy) ; Drain Commissioner, Richard Seaton ; .School 
Inspector,j Fred C. Wood. 

Supervisor, John T. Carmer; J Town Clcik, John W. .Vrch- 
bold ; Treasurer, M.itihew Tuma ; Jusiices of the Peace, 
John Sackner; Drain Commissioner, Edward Williams; 
School Superintendent, Henry J. Hoffman; School In- 
spector, Darius A. Smith. 

Supervisor, John Sackner ; Town Clerk, John W. Arch- 
bold ; Treasurer, Maltliew Tuma ; Ju-tice of the Peace, 
George G. Perry; Drain Commissioner (for two years), 
Butler S Tubbs; School Superintendent, Fred. C. 
Wood; School Inspector, James B. Murphy. 

Supervisor, John Sackner; Town Clerk, J. R. Gardner; 
Treasurer, William P. Carmer; Justice of the Peace, 
John T. Carmer; School Superintendent, Fred. C. 
Wood; School Inspector, James B. Murphy. 

Supervisor, John T. Carmer; Town Clerk, J. R. Gardner; 
Treasurer, William P. Carmer; Jusiices of the Peace, 
Elihu Wait (full term), H. B. Street (vacancy) ; Drain 
Commissioner (for two years), Butler S. Tubbs; Sch^iol 
Superintendent, Robert D. Lemon ; School Inspector, 
Orlando B. Topping. 

Supervisor, John T. Carmer; Town Clerk,- John W. Arch- 
bold ; Treasurer, Edward H. Dickerman ; Justices of 
the Peace, Dennis McCarthy (full term), Darius A. 
Smith (long vacancy), John Foley (short vacancy); 
School Superintendent, Robert D. Lemon; School In- 
-spector, Valentine McGuire. 



The first juror list was prepared May 20, 1839, 
and contained the names of eiglit persons, as fol- 
lows : Isaac Cornell, Henry A. Cornell, Geoige 
Cornell, William Dawson, John C. Salsbury, 

* Jeptha C. Carmer appointed. 

+ J. C. Carmcr resigned the office of school inspector, and B. C. 
Wait was appointed, April 7, to fill the vacancy. 

J Mr. Carmcr being unable by reason of sickness to perform 
the duties of his office for a time, the Town Board on the 201I1 of 
April appointed John Sackner to serve till Mr. Carmer should 
recover. 



1868.- 

1869.- 

1870.- 
1871- 

1872.— 

1873.-: 

1874.- 

1S75.- 

1876.- 

1877.- 
1878.—; 



1S79. 



Joseph M. Becker, Nathaniel C. Austin, and Jo- 
seph Belles. 

The first record of an estray was the following: 

" A .Stray Horse taken up by Edward Fuller, December the 
19th, 1838. Description: A dark Bey, Black Mane and Tail, 
two years ol<I past." 

The political status of the town at the present 
time is Democratic, by an average majority of from 
15 to 30 votes. When first organized it was 
Democratic, and so remained until the Republican 
party was organized, when that as.sumed political 
control for a time, and then began to lose ground, 
until tlicir old-time opponents regained their for- 
mer vantage. 

The leaders in the two parties have been as fol- 
lows : On the Democratic side, John Kenyon, 
Hiram M. and Lyman E. Rhodes, Alonzo Slayton, 
Clark Dibble, John C. Salsbury, Jonathan L. 
Wolverton, Frederick F. R.iggs, Sanford Billings, 
and others. On the Whig and Republican side, 
Isaac Cornell, Isaac Morton, Diilis De.vter, John W. 
Ingram, Elihu Wait, De Witt Denton, and others. 

Tyrone township lies, as before stated, in the 
extreme northeast comer of the county, and is 
centrally distant thirteen miles northeast from 
Howell, the cotmty-seat. On the north it is 
bounded by Fenton, Genesee Co., on the east by 
Rose, Oakland Co., on the south by Hartland, and 
on the west by Deerfield. Its total area, according to 
the United States survey, is 23,013.37 acres, and the 
census of 1874 reports of ta.xable land 22,902 acres, 
exempt land 9 acres, 5 acres in burial-grounds, and 
1 1 ,760 acres improved. In the quantity of its pro- 
ductions, as compared with the other towns of the 
county, it ranks as the sixth town. In wheat and 
potatoes it holds second place ; in other grains and 
butter it is fifth, in pork seventh, in hay and wool 
tenth, and in corn twelfth. In 1873 it had 3524 
acres of wheat, yielding an average of 1 3. 14 
bushels to the acre, ranking as the tenth town of 
the county. In the same year it had 872 acres of 
corn, yielding an average of 30.36 bushels to the 
acre, giving it the fifth place. 

The following is a statement of the quantity of 
its products in 1873 : 



Bushels of wheat 46,296 

" corn . 26,475 

'* othcrgrains. 27,843 
" potatoes 9.7'4 

Tons of hay 2,006 



Pounds of wool ^j-i'S 

'* pork 66,013 

" butler 54,040 

" dried fruit... 1,560 

Barrels of ?ider 342 



The number of acres of orchard was that year 
reported at 538, and the yield of apples at 10,870 
bushels. The year previous the yield was 12,000 
bushels. 

The population of the town in 1850 was 867; 
in i860 it had grown to 11/6; in 1870 it had still 



404 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



furtlier increased to 1222, of whom 1089 were na- 
tive, and 133 foreign born; and in 1874 the num- 
ber had fallen to 1166. It is believed that the 
census of 1880 will show a considerable increase 
in the number of inhabitants. 

The first road in the town was one opened from 
the Cornell settlement to the Tinney settlement 
in the town of Highland, Oakland Co. It was 
not regularly surveyed, but was marked by 
" blazes" on the trees. At first there was no need 
of regularly opened roads, for the woods were so 
open as to allow of conveyances passing from one 
point to another, without any serious hindrance. 
But as the lands were taken up and began to be 
cultivated, it would not answer to continue this 
way of traveling, and roads had to be surve\'ed 
and established. These roads, as far as considered 
practicable, were laid out on section or quarter sec- 
tion lines, but owing to the lakes and marshes 
they were often, especially in the north part of the 
town, quite crooked in their courses. The second 
road was opened to enable the settlers in the south 
part of the town to get to Fentonville. 

The regular survey of roads began, according to 
the town records, in the summer of 1837. At that 
time Amos Adams was the county surveyor, and 
in July he made a survey of two roads in this town. 
The first surveyed on the 19th was a portion of the 
Deer Creek and Fentonville road, which, coming 
across the town of Deerfield, kept to the south of 
Bennett's Lake, and entered this town at a point 
eight chains and thirty-three links (thirty-three 
and one-third rods) south of the northwest corner 
of section 7, and running southeast till it reached 
the quarter line, followed it to the east line of sec- 
tion 8, where it turned to the northeast, and ran a 
crooked course to its intersection with the Shia- 
wassee road, at a point twelve chains and forty 
links (nearly fifty rod"^) from the southeast corner 
of section 4, in a direction si.\t\'-nine degrees west 
of north. On the 21st of that month he surveyed 
the White Lake or Shiawassee road, following 
pretty closely the route of the Indian trail hereto- 
fore described, and on the same day another road 
extending south from the Love school-house till 
it reached the town line. 

In 1838 several roads were opened. In May, 
Henry P. Adams surveyed what was called Daw- 
son's road, which extended one mile across the 
north side of section 34. It was recorded May 
27th. Dillis Dexter surveyed a road, on the 25th 
of September, leading north from the southeast 
corner of section 21 until it reached the north part 
of section 15, where it turned to the northeast and 
crossed sections 15 and 10 till it intersected the 
Shiawassee road. 



The Deer Creek and Fenton road was continued 
from the quarter-post on the west line of section 9 
to the northeast corner of section 4 by two surveys, 
one — the part south of the four corners, on section 
4 — September 25th, and one — north of the four 
corners — December 29th. Also in September a 
road across the north part of sections 6 and 5 from 
the town line to the Shiawassee road, being a part 
of the Argentine and Fentonville road; a road 
from Isaac Cornell's — northeast corner of section 
32 — to the Deer Creek and Fenton road, at the 
west quarter-post of section 9 ; and another from 
the southwest corner of section 9 two miles west 
to the Deerfield line, opening a thoroughfare for 
the Mortons, Wolvertons, and Jacksons, and a 
branch from the southeast corner of section 7 one- 
half luile north to the Deer Creek road. On De- 
cember 1 2th a road was surveyed from James 
McGuire's south along the Deerfield line, starting 
si.xty rods south of the quarter-post of section 19 
and running to the section corner. 

Ill 1839 the roads opened were as follows: March 
27th, record was made of the road between Tyrone 
and Hartland, surveyed by Henry P. Adams, under 
the direction of the highway commissioners of the 
two towns, — .\iistin Wakeman, Henry P. Adams, 
George Cornell, and William D. Snapp ; March 
i6lh, a re-survey of the Shiawassee road, which 
was then called for the first time the White Lake 
road, describing it as commencing thirt}'-six rods 
west of the north quarter-post of section 5, running 
a southeast course of si.x and three-quarter miles, 
and passing into Rose a little south of the quarter- 
post on the east line of section 13; the Wells road, 
from the southeast corner of section 35 to the 
northeast corner of section 2, surveyed by Dillis 
Dexter April 24th and 25th ; the Fenton and Ty- 
rone town-line road. May i6th ; the Parshall and 
Jackson road, from the southeast corner of section 
31 to the Wolverton school-house, southeast cor- 
ner of section 7, July 13th; the Curtis, Stevens, 
and Chrispell road, from the saw- mill, near the 
centre of section 32, to the north quarter-post, and 
from there to the northwest corner of the section; 
the Kearney and Cranston road, from the south 
quarter-post of section 17 to the centre of the town ; 
and the Babcock and Conklin road, from the Cor- 
nell road across the south ends of sections 20 and 
19 to the town line. These were the highways 
opened for the public use previous to the year 
1840. From time to time, as the needs of the 
settlers demanded, new roads were opened and old 
ones altered to suit their convenience. 

In 1845 the State road, authorized by the 
Legislature, was opened from Brighton to Fenton. 
The part running through this town was surveyed 



TYRONE TOWNSHIP. 



405 



by Morril Ripley under tlie tlirection of tlie com- 
missioners appointed by the State, — Alonzo Slay- 
ton and Elislia Holmes. As first surveyed it com- 
menced at the southeast corner of section 33, and 
ran north on section lines to the nortlicast corner 
of section 28 ; from there it ran across to the 
northeast corner of section 14; and then north on 
section lines to the county line, its whole course 
being a little over seven miles. May 6, 1848, 
under direction of Hiram Mapes, Alonzo Slayton, 
and Robert Leroy, the course was changeil. The 
diagonal part of the old road was discontinued, 
and from the northeast corner of section 28 it was 
continued over its present course along the east 
line of sections 21 and 16, across sections 15, 10, 1 1, 
and 2, to the county line of the last-named section. 

SCHOOLS. 

The fiist school in the town was kept by Alvin 
Cornell, in the summer of 1838, in the first school- 
house built in the town, which stood on Joseph 
M. Becker's land on section 28. Ruth Chrispjil 
and Mary Mapcs also taught early schools there. 

The following extract from the recoid shows 
the first division of the town into school districts: 

"Tyrone, April ihe loih, 1838. 

"At a Meelini; of Ihe Inspectors of common .Schools for tlie 
Township of Tyrone, who Organized according to law liy choos- 
ing Isaac Cornell chairman, and proceeded to divide S.iid Town- 
ship into districts as follows, viz : Sections i, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, g, 10, 
II, and 12, be, and ihe same is made a Separate .School district, 
to be c.illed No. one. 

"Also Sections 7,8, 1 8, and 17, 15, 16, be, and the same is 
made a Separale district, Siylcd No. two. 

"Also Sections 19, 30, 31, and w. yi of 20, w. ^ of 29, and 
the w. Yx of 32, be, and the same is Made a Separnte district, 
Styled No. three. 

" Also e. /^ of section 20, e. y'^ of 29, e. y^ of 32, and sections 
■^l^ 28, and 21, w. y^ of 22, w. yi of 27, and ihe w. ^ of 34, be, 
and Ihe same is Ma<le a sepamte district, .Slyltrd No. four. 

"And Sections 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35, and 36, the c. ^ of 
22, e. Yz 27, and .the e. ^ of 34, be, and ihe same is mule a sep- 
arale di trici, St)led No. 5. 

" Isaac CoRNfxi,, 

" Cl.ARK DlBHl.R, 

" II. R. Stkvens, 

" liispeclors of Schools. 
" By H. M. RnoDRS, 7'o7vii Clerk." 

Many changes in boundaries and many renum- 
berings of the districts have been made, so that it 
would be a difficult, as it is a practically useless, 
task to attempt to trace them connectedly. 

The first reports of the districts were made in 
October, 1839, and only three districts made any 
reports. These were as follows: District No. i, 
David Col well director, reported 16 scholars be- 
tween the ages of five and seventeen years, and 
that they had rai-sed the following sums of money: 
;S300 for a school-house, $70 for support of the 



school, and $10 for library purposes. District No. 
I (fractional), Ganlner L. Downer director, reported 
15 scholars and $50 raised for a school-house. 
District No. 4, Henry A. Cornell director, reported 
18 scholars, 16 of whom had attended school; 
$325 raised for a school-house, $10 for teachers' 
wages, S12 for books and a library case; that 
school had been kept three months ; and that the 
books used were " Webster's Elementary Spelling- 
Book, Adams' Arithmetick, Woodbridge's Geog- 
raphy, and the English Reader." 

At the present time the school system of the 
town embraces eleven districts, five of which are 
fractional, ami nine of the number (having school- 
houses located in this town) report in Tyrone. 
The schools areall common district schools, making 
no pretensions beyond the imparting of knowledge 
in the common branches of an English education. 
They arc conducted with a laudable degree of effi- 
ciency, but on the part of the people with none too 
great a spirit of liberality tf)wards the profession of 
teachers. The school-houses are a credit to the 
town, three of them being built of brick, and the 
rest frame buildings. 

District No. i is fractional, part of it lying in 
the town of Fenton. In this town it embraces 
section 3, and portions of sections 4, 7, and 10. 
The brick school-house is valued at $1000. 

District No. 2 lies in the west part of the town, 
and embraces sections 7, 8, 17, 18, and parts of 
sections 9, 16, and 20. Its school-house is a neat 
wooden structure, known far and wide as the 
" Wolverton School house," is located on the 
southeast corner of section 7, is capable of seat- 
ing 60 scholars, and is valued at S900. 

The first school-house in this district was built 
in November, 1839, the residents working out their 
tax, and the material being purchased with the 
money received from non-resident tax-payers. It 
remained in use until the present one was built on 
the same site, some twelve or ftjurteen years ago. 
Harvey R. Stevens taught the first school in the 
district in the winter of 1839-40, and Jane Bush 
and Dr. Fairbanks also taught early schools there. 

District No. 3 is fractional, part of the district 
being in Fenton. The school-house is located on 
the northwest quarter of section 5 in Tyrone. This 
is a frame building, well built, and cost about §1 100. 
The amount expended for schools in this district 
was $232.36 for the year ending Sept. 30, 1S79. 

District No. 4 is located in the southwest corner 
of the town. Its school-house is an exceedingly 
pretty brick building, just completed in the fall of 
1879, at a cost of about $1000. It stands about 
forty or fifty rods south of the northeast corner of 
section 30. 



4o6 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



District No. 5 is a long, narrow district east of 
No. 4. The school-house is a wooden building, 
with accommodations for 40 scholars, is valued at 
^^425, and stands a few rods north of the southeast 
corner of section 29. District No. 6 is fractional, 
embracing a little land in Hartland. The scliool- 
house fir.st stood on Joseph M. Becker's land on 
section 28, and was built as early as the summer 
of 1839. Miss Olive Blood taught the first school 
in it, and Morgan White and Alvin Cornell also 
taught early schools there. The log house was 
soon after replaced by a frame one, which became 
well known as the " Love School-house." The 
present house is a frame building, standing on the 
northeast corner of section 33. It is valued at 
$700. 

District No. 7 is the central district of the town. 
The school-house for many years has been known 
as the " Cranston School-house," and stands about 
si.xty rods north of the southeast corner of section 
15. It is a frame building, valued at $500, and 
fitted to receive lOO pupils. 

District No. 8 is in the northeast part of the 
town. It was formed, in nearly its present sliape. 
May 3, 1848, and contains sections 2 and 11, the 
west half of sections i and 12, the greater part of 
sections 13 and 14, and a part of section 10. The 
school-house is a brick one, a little south of the 
west quarter-post of section 12, capable of seating 
100 scholars, and valued at ^looo. 

District No. 9, the largest in the town, is in the 
southeast corner. It was first formed as a separate 
district Nov. 6, 1849, and was changed to very 
nearly its present form Sept. 16, 1850. The first 
school-house was erected soon after on the north- 
west corner of the southwest quarter of section 
25, and Miss Eleanor Hodges taught the first 
school in it. In 1865 it was replaced by the pres- 
ent fine frarhe building, which will seat 68 scholars, 
and is valued at jgSoo. 

In the foregoing we have made casual mention 
of some of the earliest teachers, and, to give equal 
honor to others just as deserving of mention, we 
adtl a list of teachers licensed by the inspectors, 
including, as far as we are able to learn, the names 
of all licensed previous to the year 1850. These 
pioneer laborers in the school-room were : Eliza A. 
Leroy, Harvey R. Stevens, Melinda Hamilton, 
John Kenyon, Lucinda Hart, Mary J. Galloway, 

Elsie Tremper, D. Cranston, Dr. Fairbanks, 

Hicks, John Hamilton, Thomas Denton, Eliza S. 
Huntley, Clarissa E. Haynes, Eliza M. Hicks, 
James L. Topping, Charles C. liUsworth, Abigail 
Royce, E. E. Jones, Sylvester Morrison, Elizabeth 
Morehouse, Melinda Billings, Helen M. Holmes, 
Almira Macomber, Mary J. Spencer, O. Rhodes, 



George L. Mapes, Orlando Topping, Cordelia Ken- 
yon, E. W. Stevens, and Hannah Sweeney. 

INDUSTRIES. 

There is little to say of Tyrone under this head 
more than to designate it as an agricultural com- 
munity devoted to farming in all its branches, and 
making a specialty of no particular one. On ac- 
count of its lack of water-power, mills have never 
been built to any extent. The first and only mill 
in the town is a small saw-mill near the cen- 
tre of section 32. It is a water-mill, the power 
being furnished by Cornell Creek, on the north 
shore of wliicli it is built. It was erected by Isaac 
Cornell in 1 84 1. After operating it about fifteen 
years, he sold to Peter Cartier, who sold to the 
present owner, Jacob S. Grisvvold, in the spring of 
1879. The mill has done a considerable amount 
of custom sawing for the accommodation of the 
people of this vicinity, and aside from ordinary 
repairs, is still standing as originally built. 

Other than this and blacksmithing, but two 
other business enterprises have been started. Wil- 
liam Dawson has done considerable in the line of 
raising garden-seeds for market, selling largely to 
D. M. Ferry & Co., of Detroit, and putting up a 
good many in his own packages; and a little cigar- 
making has been done by Mr. Gardner on section 
27. 

No villages have ever grown up in this town, 
and its trade has contributed to the prosperity of 
villages in adjoining towns, — as Parshallville, Hart- 
land Centre, Holly, Fenton, and Linden. A small 
part of Parshallville, containing a half-dozen dwell- 
ings and one or two mechanic shops, lies on sec- 
tion 31 in this town, but most of the village, in- 
cluding the churches, mills, furnace, stores, etc., is 
on section 6 of Hartland. 

An attempt was made many years ago to start 
a village in the northeast corner of section 31. 
Some time early in the forties, a man named Nor- 
man Hodges left his farm in Oceola and purchased 
some land in that part of this town. He built a 
saw -mill, a store, a clothiery (cloth-dressing and 
carding-mill), and seven dwelling-houses, and 
things looked quite lively for a while ; but finally 
his dam was found to interfere with the Parshall- 
ville power, a mile above on Ore Creek, and he 
got into trouble with the proprietor of that mill, 
which at last drove him from the vicinity. He 
left about five years after coming here, and no one 
knows what became of him. With his departure 
the growth of the village stopped, and now it 
presents no unusual appearance to the passer-by, 
although the locality still retains the name of 
" Hodeeburo," in honor of its former owner. 



TYRONE TOWNSHIP. 



407 



The first and onl)' post-office in Tyrone bears 
the town name, and was established at the Grove 
House, with Jairah HiUman as postmaster, as 
early as 1852-53. It was kept by him for a time 
and then transferred to James Carmer, who kept 
it at his house, on section 21, till it was turned over 
to Alonzo Slayton and removed to the northwest 
corner of section 27. From Slayton it went to the 
present incumbent, Amilo Gardner, in 1855-56, 
and has been kept by him at his house on section 
28 since that time, with the exception of a few 
months in 1861, when it was kept by Rev. John 
A. Sober. 

Twice in its history has the town been agitated 
by attempts to bond it in aid of railroads, but each 
time the project has met with crushing defeat 
The first attempt was made in the winter of 1864, 
in the interest of the Detroit and Howell Railroad, 
and the proposal was voted down unanimously at 
the town-meeting on the 4th of April. The second 
attempt was made in behalf of the Toledo, Ann 
Arbor and Saginaw Railroad in 1866. A special 
town-meeting was called and held at the Cranston 
school-house, Sept. 13, 1866, and the question of 
raising the money was submitted to a vote, with 
the result that the proposal was defeated by a vote 
of 134 to 7. 

During the dark days of the war of the Rebellion 
Tyrone remained true to the principles of liberty 
and equality, and sent her sons forth in defense of 
their country. Some of them returned to tell the 
stirring tale of the camp-fire, the march, and the 
field of battle; but some came not back, but left 
their blood to enrich the Southern sod on which 
they fell and beneath which their bones now lie, 
awaiting the summons of the last great day. 

Several special town-meetings were held at dif- 
ferent times between December, 1 863, and February, 
1865, the result of which was the raising of a suf- 
ficient amount by ta.x and bonding to pay to each 
man — volunteer, drafted man, or substitute — mus- 
tered into the service, and accredited to this town, 
the sum of $100 bounty. In accordance with such 
action, bonds were issued as follows: Feb. I, 1864, 
17 bonds of S>00 each, bearing interest at 7 per 
cent., and becoming due Feb. i, 1865; Sept. i, 
1864, 12 bonds of a similar character, due Feb. i, 
1866; and Jan. 16, 1865, 14 bonds, due Feb. i, 
1867 ; making a total of ;S4300. 

Several physicians have resided in Tyrone at 
different times, most of them at Parshallville. 
Among them were Dr. Daniel V. Van Syckle, now 
living in Tennessee; Dr. Drummond, now of La- 
peer; Dr. Matthews, and Dr. Steele. Another — Dr. 
Ryker, now of Fenton — lived several years in the 
north part of the town. 



SOCIETIES. 

At. the time when the Red Ribbon movement 
swept over the State the wave reached this town, 
and aroused to activity those who had been rather 
negligent regarding the matter of pressing forward 
the car of reform. Through the efforts of Professor 
C. L. Van Dorn, of Fenton, principal of the Baptist 
Seminary at that place, the Tyrone Centre Reform 
Club was organized about the 15th of June, 1877, 
with a membership of 75. The first officers were 
as follows: President, Amos Wolverton ; Vice- 
Presidents, Eugene Bly and Mrs. Lodema Arch- 
bold ; Secretary, George Hoffman; Treasurer, 
Frank Corey. These officers have been re-elected 
and are still serving. The club meets every other 
Tuesday evening, and has been quite prosperous, 
having reached a membership of 150. 

The Wolverton Club was formed at about the 
same time, at the Wolverton school-house, with a 
goodly number of members and the following 
officers: President, I'red. C. Wood; Vice-Presi- 
dents, John H. Co.x, Orlando Topping; Secretar)', 
Mrs. Linda Doolittle; Treasurer, Hiram Farnham. 
It had but a short existence, as, owing to its failure 
to receive the support to which it was entitled at 
the hands of the temperance community, it lived 
only a couple of months, and was then broken up. 

A third club, the Grove House Reform Club, 
organized in District No. I, in May, 1878, occupied 
the field left vacant by the disruption of the Wolver- 
ton Club. It had a membership of about 75, which 
has been increased to a present active membership 
of about !00. Its meetings are held fortnightly 
on Tuesday evenings, alternating with those of the 
Tyrone Centre Club. The first officers were La- 
fayette Thompson, President ; Frank Sissons, Mi- 
chael Kelleher, Daniel Stimson, Vice-Presidents ; 
Lina Stimson, Secretary; Joseph Mount, Treas- 
urer. The officers are elected quarterly, and the 
present ones are as follows: President, Fred. C. 
Wood ; Vice-Presidents, Frank Sissons, Daniel 
Berry, H. P. Van Wagoner; Secretary, Ida Sissons; 
Treasurer, Lina Stimson. 

KINSMAN'S CORNET BAND. 

This band, which has earned a splendid reputa- 
tion, and proved it.sclf one of the best in this part 
of the State, was first organized in June, 1871. 
Mr. Kinsman's family were gifted with considera- 
ble musical talent, and though most of his children 
were daughters, they learned to play as well as the 
members of the se.x who are generally allowed to 
monopolize the playing of band music. The band 
as first organized consisted of nine members, seven 
of whom were members of one family. Their 
names were Saul Kinsman, leailer, William, Floyd 



4o8 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Mary, Emma, Helen, and Jennie Kinsman, A. R. 
and J. R. Gardner. They played together for sev- 
eral years, and became quite famous, both on ac- 
count of the unusual presence of ladies and because 
of their really fine playing. On account of changes 
hi the family relations of some of the members, 
the band was dissolved, and in March, 1878, was 
reorganized with twelve members, as it still re- 
mains. These twelve persons are as follows: 
Mortimer D. Gardner, president; Saul Kinsman, 
leader, and E-flat clarionet ; A. R. Gardner, secre- 
tary, treasurer, and first B-flat cornet; J. R. Gard- 
ner, tuba ; Amilo Gardner, second B-flat cornet ; 
William Kinsman, baritone; Floyd Kinsman, first 
E-flat cornet; John Slaj'ton, first B-flat tenor; 
Cleman Kelly, first E-flat alto ; Fred. Wright, sec- 
ond A-flat alto; Perry Shook, bass-drum ; Calvin 
Gostello, side-drum. Since its reorganization it 
has sustained its former reputation, and wherever 
it has appeared in public has won applause and 
praise from the people and the press. 

CEMETERIES. 

There are three cemeteries in Tyrone, all of 
them owned and cared for by the town. The 
order in which they were bought is not known to 
the writer, but it seems probable that the first one 
would have been that known as the Tyrone Centre 
burying-ground, located on the north part of the 
west half of the southwest quarter of section 27, 
opposite the Methodist church. It contains one 
acre of ground, which was purchased of Peter 
Dates for the sum of §8. It is pleasantly situated, 
and contains many graves, some of them marked 
with elegant marble headstones. 

The Colwell burying-ground is located on the 
south side of the Shiawassee road on the south- 
west quarter of section 4. It contains one acre of 
ground which was purchased of David Colwell 
and Isaac Ayres, one-half from each, in 1S41. The 
first burial hare was that of Olive J. Colwell, aged 
eleven years, a daughter of David Colwell. She 
was buried in 1 84 1. 

The other burying-ground is known as the Wol- 
verton burying-ground. It is located on the 
northwest corner of the southwest quarter of sec- 
tion 8. It was formerly a part of the Jackson 
farm, and was given by Mr. Jackson to Rev. Isaac 
Seaman, a Protestant Methodist local preacher, 
who came here to find a home. He afterwards 
sold it to Elijah Clough, who sold it to the town, 
about thirty-five years ago, for a burial-ground. 
Previously a [)iece of ground near the Wolverton 
school-house had been bought, and several inter- 
ments made in it, but it was found to be unfit for 
the purpose, and so the site was changed, and the 



remains of those buried there were removed to the 
new ground. Among those thus taken up were a 
Mrs. Thomas, John Co.k, and others. The first 
death in the vicinity was that of Mary Dexter, a 
daughter of Amos De.Kter, who was buried on her 
father's farm till the new ground was bought, when 
her remains were moved and reinterred in it. 

RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 

The first religious meetings in this town were 
held under the auspices of that pushing, active, and 
zealous denomination called Methodist Episcopals. 
Hardly had the first strokes of the settler's axe 
awoke the ringing echoes of the startled forest, 
and scarcely had the column of dark smoke first 
risen from the stick chimney of the settler's rude 
log cabin, ere the form of the circuit rider appeared 
on the scene, anxious to lay the foundation for a 
future tower of the temple of the Master's king- 
dom. As early as the summer of 1836 one of these 
devoted men appeared in Tyrone. This was Rev. 
Washington Jackson, a missionary, traveling at 
will through this part of the State. He came to 
the house of George Cornell, and preached there 
the first sermon delivered in the town. Not long 
after, regular meetings being desired, a young man 
in Hartland, who afterwards became well known as 
a preacher in this region, — Rev. J. G. Horton, — was 
invited to come and preach. He was then simply 
a local preacher or exhorter, and felt so much 
diffidence at this, liis first attempt at preaching, 
that the appointment was not given out until the 
Saturday before the day set, in order that the 
news might not reach his neighbors and thus 
insure him an audience of strangers before whom 
to test his talent as a preacher. Rev. John Cosart 
also preached here at an early day. The first 
meetings were all held at George Cornell's until 
the school-house was built, when they were held 
there. At that school-house the first class was 
formed in 1836 by Rev. Washington Jackson, and 
was known as the 

CORNELL CLASS. 

It had but five members, — George and t^lizabeth 
Cornell, Jacob Chrispell and wife, and Eli Conklin. 
Mr. Cornell was chosen or appointed class-leader, 
and the first Methodist Church in Tyrone was 
commenced. The class grew in numbers as the 
years rolled along, and continued to hold its meet- 
ings at the school-house until the appointment 
was taken up some twelve or fifteen years ago, and 
the class was transferred to Parshallville. At this 
point the history of this class in connection with 
the town of Tyrone ends, but it may not be con- 
sidered out of place to briefly continue it down to 



TYRONE TOWNSHIP. 



409 



the present time, as it is an outgrowth of the town, 
though not now exactly within its limits. Since 
its removal to Parshallville the class has grown 
largely in numbers, and has built a fine brick 
church and purchased a parsonage. George Cor- 
nell, the present class-leader, has held that honor- 
able position upwards of thirty-five years. 

At first the class was connected with the Farm- 
ington circuit, but was soon changed, and has been 
successively an appointment on each of the follow- 
ing circuits: Milford, Highland, White Lake, Rose, 
Fenton, Hartland, Byron, and Linden. In 1875 it 
was made the headquarters of a new circuit, called 
Parshallville circuit, and is still continued as an 
appointment on that circuit. 

The following list of pastors, taken mostly from 
memory, as was necessary in the absence of any 
written record, is very likely to be somewhat im- 
perfect. The names are given as nearly as may 
be in the order of their service, and are as follows : 

Revs. Washington Jackson, John Cosart, 

Baker, Bennett, J. G. Horton, Benjamin H. 

Hedger, Orrin Whitmore, Lyman Dean, Alfred 
Allen, James R. Cordon, Alexander Gee, B. H. 
Wightman, James H. Curnalia, James H. Caster, 
Joseph W. Holt, William H. Benton, O. H. P. 
Green, Thomas Seeley, Robert C. Lanning, Thomas 
J. Joslin, Charles L. Church, Henry W. Hicks, 
Andrew J. Richards, James Balls, Orlando Sanborn, 
William Birdsall, Edwin Daw, Orlando Sanborn. 
The latter was appointed by the Conference of 
1879. 

THE WOLVERTON CLASS. 

This was the second class in the town, and was 
organized about forty years ago (1839), with Jona- 
than L. Wolvcrton as class-leader and steward. 
It then had about a dozen members, which in- 
creased quite rapidly till it once reached upwards 
of 30. At the present time the number of mem- 
bers is about 20. Among the earliest members 
were Jonathan L. and Hannah Wolverton, Robert 
McGarry, and Dexter Farnham. 

Since its formation the class has maintained reg- 
ular fortnightly services at the school-house. The 
pastors who have preached here came from the 
different circuits to which the class has been at- 
tached at different times, including in the list Fen- 
ton, Highland, Hartland, Groveland, and Parshall- 
ville, and for one year was supplied from Oak- 
Grove. Though not able to give a full list of the 
pastors, we mention those who we know served at 
some time, though perhaps not in the regular order 
of their service. They are as follows : Revs. Al- 
fred Allen, Richard Kerr, Joseph W. Holt. E. West- 
lake, R. Campbell, James H. Caster, William Bux- 
ton, Charles Simpson, E. Clough, Brown, 

52 



Worcester, William A. Blades, Giles Belknap, and, 
since 1874, the preachers on Parshallville circuit, as 
before given. 

Hiram Farnham is the present class-leader and 
steward. 

A Sabbath-school has been connected with the 
church for many years. It was organized first as 
many as thirty-five years ago as an undenomina- 
tional school, under the superintendency of John 
Knox. Soon after it was reorganized as a Meth- 
odist school, and Dexter Farnham was elected as 
its first superintendent. It had a large field to 
occupy, and at one time numbered 40 or 50 schol- 
ars. During the past summer (1879) the average 
attendance has been about 20. The present super- 
intendent is Wesley Barnum, and Hiram Farnham 
is the assistant. 

FIRST METHODIST EPISCOP.A.L CHURCH OF 
TYRO.NE. 

This church sprung from the third class organ- 
ized in this town about thirty-five years ago, at the 
Cranston school-house, and was called the Crans- 
ton or Tyrone Centre Class. The first class-leader 
was David E. Cranston. Among the first mem- 
bers were Caleb, Gilbert, and David Cranston, and 
J. N. Barnes, and probably other members of their 
families. In all, the class then numbered about a 
dozen members. Its meetings were held regularly 
at the Tyrone Centre school-house for many years, 
and the class grew to be the strongest in the town. 
It had other points at which occasional services 
were held, generally at school-hou.ses in the re- 
spective localities. At one of these a class was 
formed, and an appointment kept up for several 
years ; it was called the Germany or East Tyrone 
Class, and held its meetings in the school-house 
in District No. 9. John C. Salsbury was the first 
class- leader. It was organized in i86g, and the 
appointment was taken up and the class merged in 
the Tyrone Centre Class in 1878. 

The circuit relations of the different classes have 
been very much mixed, and it is almost impossible 
to tell with any approach to accuracy who have 
been the pastors of any particular class. The fol- 
lowing list embraces the names of those ministers 
whom we suppose to have held the pastoral rela- 
tion to what is now the First Methodist Episcopal 
Church. It is as follows : Revs. Alfred Allen, Jo- 
seph W. Holt, Eli Westlake, William A. Blades, 

Giles N. Belknap, Alfred Allen, Browne, 

Wells (or Wales), B. H. Wightman, J. Harvey 



Caster, Thomas Wilkinson, Benjamin H. Hedger, 

Curtis Mosher, Cross, Thomas Seeley, J. Kil- 

patrick, William H. Benton, Charles L. Church, 
James R. Cordon, Joseph W. Holt, O. H. P. Green, 



4IO 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



James H. Curnalia, J. Kilpatrick, Charles Simpson, 
Andrew J. Richards, William Buxton, Richard 
Kerr, Eli Westlake, W. W. Washburn, Hitch- 
cock, James Balls, Orlando Sanborn, William 
Birdsall, Edwin Daw, and Orlando Sanborn, the 
present pastor. 

The class has been connected with Fenton, 
Highland, Hartland, Traphagen, and Parshallville 
circuits. 

In 1874 it was decided to build a church, and at 
a quarterly meeting of the circuit, held at Deerfield 
Centre on the 29th of October, the following trus- 
tees — proposed by Rev. James Balls, preacher in 
charge — were elected : John C. Salsbury, William 
Shook, J. B. Cramer, Peter Becker, and W. D. 
Gardner. There was considerable difference of 
opinion regarding the location of the site of the 
new church, a large share of the members pre- 
ferring a site near the centre of the town, while 
others wanted it farther south. It was finally de- 
cided to build upon section 28, opposite the bury- 
ing-ground, where Amilo Gardner offered an acre 
of ground for a church-site. In the spring of 1876 
work was begun on the church, — Albert Kenyon 
being the carpenter in charge of the job, — and it 
was rapidly pushed to completion, being ready for 
occupancy in August. It is 32 by 50 feet, tastily 
designed and well constructed, and cost, including 
furnishing, about JS2500. It was dedicated in 
August, 1876, by the pastor, Rev. O. Sanborn, 
assisted by Rev. E. E. Caster, of Saginaw. 

The present membership is about 50, and the 
officers are: John C. Salsbury, Class-leader; Peter 
Becker and William Shook, Stewards; John C. 
Salsbury, William Shook, J. B. Cramer, Peter 
Becker, W. D. Gardner, Daniel Betts, and Heman 
Gillett, Trustees. 

The Sabbath-school was first organized about 
1840, at the Cranston school-house, as a union 
school. It was soon changed to a Methodist 
school, and when the church was built was reorgan- 
ized there with William Shook as the superinten- 
dent. He is also the present one. The other offi- 
cers are: Henry A. Cornell, Secretary; P. J. 
Becker, Treasurer. The school has a good library 
of 75 or 80 volumes, and a membership of about 
75 scholars. 

Two other Methodist Sunday-schools have been 
started in Tyrone. The one at the Love school- 
house, about twenty-one years ago, with John C. 
Salsbury as superintendent, lasted only a couple of 
years. The other was organized several years ago 
at the No. 9 school-house, with the same gentle- 
man acting as superintendent. It is still in exist- 
ence, and George G. Perry is the superintendent. 
At the time when the East Tyrone class was 



broken up, in the fall of 1878, Rev. S. A. Nor- 
throp, the Baptist minister of Fenton, began preach- 
ing at the school-house in District No. 9, once in 
two weeks. These services have been kept up 
since that time with gratifying success. A four 
weeks' series of nightly meetings was held in Feb- 
ruary and March, 1879, and resulted in the con- 
version of 20 or more persons. It is now in- 
tended to organize a church there in the spring 
of 1880. 

THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS. 

This sect of Christians once had a church in this 
town which disappeared many years ago, although 
some of its members still remain residents of this 
town. 

The first step which led to the organization of 
this church was the coming of Rev. Charles C. 
Foote, in the spring of 1850. He was a recent 
graduate of Oberlin College, and a very ardent 
and zealous worker. He instituted a series of 
meetings at the Love school-house, at the close of 
which he organized a union church with a mem- 
bership of 13 persons. This church lingered along 
a few years, but became somewhat reduced in 
numbers and interest. Just at this time, about 
1856-57, Rev. Mr. Seymour and his wife, from 
Ohio, came and held a series of meetings and 
preached the Advent doctrines to the people. 
These meetings were successful in reviving the 
spiritual ardor of the attendants upon them ; but 
no steps were taken to organize a church. About 
a year and a half later, Rev. James White and wife 
came and held a two days' meeting in William 
Dawson's barn, which still further advanced the 
cause and aroused new interest in the peculiar 
doctrines of the Adventists. The field being thus 
thoroughly prepared. Rev. John N. Loughborough 
came and organized a church with about 15 
members. Among them were Jacob Chrispell, 
John P. Kellogg, William and Maria Lockwood, 
Elkanah and Arvilla Stone, William and Henrietta 
Dawson, and several others. Officers were chosen 
soon after, and William Lockwood was elected as 
the first elder, and Mr. Jones as the first deacon, of 
the church. 

The meetings were kept up at the Cornell school- 
house with considerable regularity for seven or 
eight years, during which time the society was 
known as " The Seventh-Day Adventist Church 
of Tyrone," and then it was moved to Holly, where 
it now is. 

The discipline of the sect does not recognize 
the establishing of pastoral relations between the 
ministers and churches of the sect, so that no list 
of preachers is to be had. Among those who 



TYRONE TOWNSHIP. 



411 



have preached here are Revs. Bates, James White, 
J. N. Loughborough, and Merritt Cornell, a son 
of Isaac Cornell, who has been a minister of the 
denomination for twentj'-fivc years. 

l-IRST CONC.RliG.VriON.\L 1 Ill'KClI <il TYRONE. 

When the membership of the Methodist Churcii 
was so much interested in discussing the question 
of a site for the new church, the differences of 
opinion became so decided that, when it was de- 
cided to locate at the southern point, the class 
divided and made application to have an appoint- 
ment continued at the Cranston school-house, in 
addition to the one at the church. But the officers 
of the Conference refused to grant this request, 
thinking that it would lead to the reunion of the 
divided class by compelling the seceding part to 
go without preaching or to attend the meetings 
at the church. But they were not to be coerced 
in the matter, having made up their minds that 
they were entitled to preaching in their own 
locality, and they at once invited the Congrega- 
tional minister at Hartland, Rev. William H. 
Osborn, to come and preach to them. He came, 
and on the 17th of December, 1876, organized 
"The First Congregational Church of Tyrone" 
with 15 members, whose names were as follows: 
Sylvester P. and Victoria Harvey, Albert and 
Mary A. Fletcher, Robert and Catharine Petty, 
Joseph and Mary Barnes, William S. and Martha 
A. Buxton, Eliza Chase, Frances Cranston, P2mma 
Love, Frances Holmes, and I\Irs. Lodema Arch- 
bold. 

At this first meeting, Sylvester P. Harvey and 
Robert Petty were chosen to act as deacons, and 
Albert P'letcher was elected scribe. Articles of 
Faith and Covenant were read and adopted. 

The annual meeting of the church was fi.xed for 
the first Saturday in December in each year, at i 
o'clock P.M. 

The first preparatory lecture was given on the 
27th of January, 1877, by Rev. W. H. Osborn, the 
first pastor of the church. At that time Almon 
L. Chase was elected treasurer. 

Rev. W. H. Osborn continued to preach till the 
summer of 1878, when he resigned his pastoral 
charge, and a committee of five was appointed to 
confer with a similar committee from the church 
at Hartland Centre to make arrangements for the 
hiring of a pastor. Messrs. Robert Petty, Joseph 
Barnes, Sylvester P. Harvey, Albert Fletcher, and 
Adam F.Andrews constituted the committee. As 
a result of their deliberations, Rev. D. A. Strong 
was called to the pastorate, and is still serving. 

Up to the winter of 1878-79, the meetings had 
been held at the school-house, but the society, 



deeming themselves able to undertake the work of 
building a house of worship, decided to do so, and 
called a meeting to incorporate, preparatory to that 
step. This meeting was held at the school-house 
on the 15th of February, 1879, Rev. D. A. Strong 
presiding, and I'rederick C. Wood acting as clerk. 
The following trustees were elected to hold office 
at the pleasure of the church, until removed by 
death, resignation, removiil, or misdemeanor, viz., 
Philo B. Street, Amos Wolverton, Silas Fletcher, 
Armstrong Rcid, and Frederick C. Wood. This 
board chose officers as follows : Amos Wol- 
verton, Chairman ; Frederick C. Wood, Clerk ; 
Armstrong Reid, Treasurer. The meeting then 
empowered the trustees to secure a site for the 
church, to be "the most eligible one on the 
State road, from the centre one-half mile north," 
and instructed them to have inserted in the deed 
the following clau.se: "That the Congregational 
society shall have full control of the premises by 
their board of trustees, but shall not debar any 
evangelical or orthodox church from holding occa- 
sional services thereon." 

The trustees selected a site on the northeast 
corner of the southeast quarter of section 16, and 
purchased one-half acre of Edward Williams for 
the sum of $$0. Work was begun on the church 
early in the spring of 1879, and it was completed 
about the first of October following. The build- 
ing is of elegant design, beautifully proportioned, 
and built in a substantial and workmanlike man- 
ner. The main part is 32 feet in width and 47 feet 
long, with a vestibule 10 by 14 feet in front. The 
roof is of Gothic style, and the whole structure is 
surmounted by a handsome steeple and spire, 
reaching upward 84 feet from the ground. The 
total cost, including furnishing, was about ^1825. 
It was dedicated on Sunday, Oct. 19, 1879. 

At the present time the membership of the 
church is 76, and a spirit of harmony and peace 
pervades the society. The present officers are as 
follows: Sylvester P. Harvey and Robert Petty, 
Deacons ; Adam F. Andrews, Scribe ; Almon L. 
Chase, Treasurer; Amos Wolverton, Frederick C. 
Wood, Armstrong Reid, Philo B. Street, and Silas 
Fletcher, Trustees. 

There is a flourishing Sabbath-school carried on 
in connection with the church. 

To all the kind friends who assisted the writer 
in his work of gathering historical matter in Ty- 
rone he returns his sincerest thanks, and wishes 
for them that they may ever meet with as kind a 
welcome and as generous a hospitality as that with 
which they met him when his business called him 
to their doors. 



412 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 





REV. ISAAC MORTON. 



MRS. ISAAC MORTON. 



REV. ISA.\C MORTON. 

Among the venerable pioneers, who by their 
energy and industry laid the foundation for the 
present wealth and enterprise of the town of Ty- 
rone, none are more worthy of a conspicuous place 
in its history than Isaac Morton. He was born in 
the town of Williston, Chittenden Co., Vt., April 
3, 1807. His parents, Isaac and Nancy Morton, 
were of New England origin, and reared a family 
of nine children. They were farmers, useful and 
honorable members of society, and worthy mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church. As was customary in 
those days, Isaac acknowledged obligation to his 
father in his labor until he attained his twenty-first 
year, when he started in life for himself as a farmer. 
But the rugged hills and impoverished soil of Ver- 
mont gave him very unsatisfactory returns for his 
lard labor, and he resolved to come to Michigan. 
Accordingly, in September of 183 1, he started with 
his family, which consisted of his wife and one 
child, — Minerva (now Mrs. Hoysington.of Fenton), 
— for what was then considered to be the far West. 
The journey was made by boat from Burlington to 
Whitehall, and from thence to Buffalo via the Erie 
and Northern Canal, and from Buffalo to Detroit 
by lake. He first settled in the town of Saline, 
Washtenaw Co., where some of his friends had 
preceded him. Being in extremely limited circum- 
stances, he was obliged to rent a farm. At the 
expiration of his lease (two years) he purchased a 
new farm, in the town of York, which he improved, 



and upon which he resided until his emigration to 
Tyrone, in January, 1837. The journey was made 
with an ox-team, and occupied five days. As the 
country was for the most part a wilderness, they 
were obliged to ford the streams. The following 
spring the town was organized, and Mr. Morton 
was elected its first assessor. He has been a resi- 
dent of the town since 1837, and has been largely 
identified with its development. Dec. 3, 1828, 
Mr. Morton was married to Miss Harriet Abbey. 
She was born in East Windsor, Conn., March 23, 
181 1. She was an estimable woman, a worthy 
helpmeet, a devoted wife, and an affectionate 
mother. She died Sept. 27, 1879, leaving her 
husband and five children to mourn her loss. In 
his religious affiliations Mr. Morton is a Methodist 
Protestant. In 1849 he was ordained a minister of 
that faith, and has preached for many years. He 
never had the advantages of education, but is pos- 
sessed of good, sound common sense, and is a man 
of much natural ability. He has a decided taste 
for poetry, and has composed many poems. We 
append a few stanzas, written on the death of his 
wife : 

" Sleep, darling, in thy narrow bed, 

Thus Christ has sanctified and hlest; 
Thy mouldering place rich flowers will spread, — 
Forget-me-nots upon thy breast. 

" Thy smiles in sickness and in health, 

Would vanquish sorrow fast away ; 

The hand that plied the many cares, 

Now mingles with its mother-clay. 



DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



413 



' Can I forget that dreadful night ? 
Clasp'd to my bosom there she fell ; 
She saw ray tears, bid me not weep, — 
'I bid you one and all farewell.' 

' For fifty years we lived in love, 

I love her, claim her still as mine ; 
With her I took my pledge of love. 
She left with me her love behind. 

' This love's a ring thai ne'er will break. 
It did our hearts together twine ; 
Though sorrow's path I alone must take, 
1 will the hill of Zion climb." 



JOHN T. CARMER 

was born in the town of Ellery, Chautauqua Co., 
N. Y., Sept. 3, 1 83 1. His parents, Daniel Carmcr 
and Bethiah Turner, reared a family of eleven 
children, — six sons and five daughters. When John 
was four years of age the family removed to Craw- 
ford County, where they resided until June, 1849, 
when the elder Carmer removed to Tyrone, pur- 
chased the farm now owned by his son, John T., 
and resided there until his death, which occurred 
in 1879. He was born in New Jersey, Sept. 3, 
1789, and married Bethiah Turner in 1820. She 
was born in New York, Feb. 17, 1802, and is still 
living. The elder Carmer was a very exemplary 
man, strictly honorable in all dealings, and was 
highly esteemed by all who knew him. 

John received a good common-school education, 
and his life has been devoted to his chosen calling, 



that of a farmer. He has earned an enviable repu- 
tation for integrity and ability, and is prominently 
identified with the political history of the town of 




JOHN T. CARMER. 

Tyrone. In 1870 he was elected supervisor, and 
re-elected in the years 1872, 1874, 1875, 1878, and 
again in 1879. On the Board he is recognized as 
an able exponent of the interests of his town. He 
has filled the office with credit to himself and to 
the entire satisfaction of his constituents. 



DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



The town of Deerfield embraces a territory a 
little more than si.x miles square, lying on the 
north line of the county of Livingston, just cast 
of the centre. In the United States survey, it is 
known as township 4 north, of range 5 east. It 
is centrally distant from Howell, the county-seat, 
nine miles in a northeasterly direction, and is 
bounded on the north by the town of Argentine, 
in Genesee Co., on the east by Tyrone, on the 
south by Oceola, and on the west by Cohoctah. 
It is of the kind of land known as timbered oak- 
openings, and presented such a peaceful beauty to 
the eyes of the land-lookers that it is no wonder 
they were led to come and settle beneath the 
shades of its beautiful oaks. The whole upland of 
the town was like one immense grove, where the 
majestic trees, standing wide apart, let the sunlight 



of heaven in upon the earth, to produce the luxu- 
riant growth of grass and flowers that delighted 
the eyes of the beholder. Through the wide aisles 
of this forest the startled deer fled precipitately 
before the tread of the settler; the saucy squirrels 
whisked their bushy tails, and chattered loudly 
from their high perches in the tree-tops, as if 
protesting against the rude invasion of their syl- 
van domain ; the sober-plumaged partridge crept 
stealthily from its nest and suddenly whirred away 
through the trees ; and the shy wild turkeys stole 
like black ghosts into the undergrowth, and hid 
from the sight of their foes. 

The general surface of the town is lightly roll- 
ing, becoming more hilly in the northwest and 
west parts, and subsiding to more level lands in 
the central and southern parts. The soil is varied in 



414 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



its character, and distributed somewhat in streaks, 
running east and west across the town. These 
streaks are of a light, sandy nature, and between 
them are corresponding streaks of a heavier soil, a 
sort of clayey loam, which predominates largely in 
the southern part of the town. The soil is well 
adapted to the cultivation of general crops, and 
well rewards the husbandman for his toil, and the 
heavier soil is especially well adapted to the grow- 
ing of wheat. 

The streams are more rapid than is usually the 
case in Michigan, and two of them furnish mill- 
seats in their course through this town. The prin- 
cipal stream is the south branch of the Shiawassee 
River, which enters from Cohoctah near the north- 
west corner of section i8, runs north to the north 
line of section 7, then east a half-mile, and then 
north till it passes into Argentine. Where it crosses 
the line between sections 6 and 7 the stream has 
a considerable fall, and affords the finest water- 
power in the town, and the only one that is util- 
ized. From the Shiawassee, going eastward, we 
next reach the stream known as Yellow River. 
The Indian name, which had the same significa- 
tion and was probably given it on account of the 
color of its waters, was " Saw-ick-sah." This 
stream takes its rise in a small lake in the north 
part of Oceola, which bears the name of Lown's 
Lake, from an early settler in that vicinity. An- 
other branch of it rises in the south part of sec- 
tion 35, and flows west to about the centre of the 
south half of section 34, where it joins the outlet 
of the lake, and the combined streams follow a 
westerly, northwesterly, and northerly course, till 
it enters the southern extremity of Indian Lake. 
It leaves the lake, passing in a northerly course, 
crosses the county line, and unites with the Shia- 
wassee River in the town of Argentine. Next 
east of Yellow River we come to Cranberry Creek, 
so called because it had its rise in a cranberry 
marsh. It rises in section 36, and is the outlet 
of Payne's Lake, on that section. Its general 
course through the town is northwesterly, and 
near a point seven-eighths of a mile north of the 
southwest corner of section 4 it empties into the 
Yellow River. On sections 15 and 10 it passes 
through a string of four lakes, and is augmented 
by their overflow. As we approach the eastern 
boundary of the town we reach another stream, 
more particularly described in the history of Ty- 
rone, which is only second in importance to the 
south branch of the Shiawassee, if, indeed, it does 
not outrank it. It is North Ore Creek, and enters 
the town from Tyrone about eighty rods south of the 
northeast corner of section 13, pursuing a northerly 
course till it enters Bennett Lake, on the southeast 



quarter of section i. It once more leaves the lake, 
in the northeast quarter of section 2, and, running 
northwest, crosses the county line into Argentine, 
where it affords a very fine mill-seat at Argentine 
village. Its waters join the east branch of the 
Shiawassee in Argentine. The other streams of 
the town are little brooks, tributary to these larger 
streams. The land along these water-courses is 
generally more rolling than elsewhere, and in 
some parts the knolls and ridges are almost 
worthy to be designated as hills. 

The town has rather more than the usual number 
of lakes. The largest is called Indian Lake, from 
the fact that an Indian family lived for many years 
upon its bank, and was known among the Indians 
as Portabeek's Lake. It lies west of the centre 
of the town, and contains an area of about 450 
acres of open water. The marshes upon its shore 
are more or less overflowed at certain times. Most 
of the lake is on section 17, but its southern ex- 
tremity reaches a few rods into section 20, and a 
limb extends north into section 8. Its length from 
north to south is about two miles, and its average 
width not far from three-eighths of a mile. Its 
outline is very irregular. Its outlet is the Yellow 
River. The next one in importance is sometimes 
called Laird Lake, but should be called Bennett 
Lake, after William Bennett, the first settler along 
its shore. The practice seems to have obtained 
here of calling these lakes by the names of those 
residing nearest them, changing the name every 
time the property is transferred to some new owner. 
This is a reprehensible practice, and should be dis- 
couraged. If — -as would have been the best way — 
the Indian names for these lakes and streams could 
not be learned and perpetuated, it might answer to 
name them after the first settlers upon their shores ; 
but once named, that name should be continued 
through all time, unless some more appropriate or 
better name should be, by common consent, con- 
ferred upon them. In this work we follow the 
rule, as far as possible, to call these lakes and streams 
by their earliest names, believing that they are the 
ones that should be preserved. 

Bennett Lake is very irregular in form, sur- 
rounded, generally, by a wide marsh, and extends 
for a considerable distance into Tyrone. Its greatest 
length is from east to west, a distance of a little 
over two miles, and its average width is only about 
a quarter of a mile, though in places it widens out 
to nearly a half mile. It contains upwards of 300 
acres of open water, exclusive of all marshes. Its 
western extremity is marked by a bolder shore than 
those of any other lake in the vicinity. Its outlet 
is Nortii Ore Creek. It lies on sections 2 and i in 
this town, and 6 in Tyrone. 



DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



415 



Ryan Lake lies in tlie northeast part of section 
3, and contains about 80 acres. It is of rounded 
outline, and its outlet, running from its northwest 
side, empties into the Yellow River in Argentine. 
It is longest from nortlieast to southwest, and is 
surrounded by marshes. Its name was derived 
from John Ryan, an early settler in that vicinity. 

Leonard Lake lies in the west part of sections 
15 and 10, and was named after Samuel Leonard. 
It is three-quarters of a mile long, and a quarter of 
a mile in width, and contains an area of about 60 
acres. 

The rest of the lakes are small, and of compara- 
tively little note. One of them lies across the 
county line on section 5 ; another across it on 
.section 2 ; one lies in section 9, near the southeast 
corner; one near the centre of section 36; one 
near the northwest corner of section 29; one south of 
Bennett Lake, on sections i and 2 ; two on section 
10; and one, sometimes called Cranberry Lake, 
on the corners of sections 3, 4, 9, and 10. All of 
these bodies of water are marked by the same 
general features. They are surrounded by marshes 
and tamarack swamps, have muddy or sandy bot- 
toms, and average from 30 to 40 feet in depth. 
They were formerly well stocked with fish, — pick- 
erel, and the different species of bass preponderat- 
ing, but many other kinds being found in greater 
or less numbers. Though the fishing is not now 
as good as when the country was new, still there are 
enough fish in the lakes to make the sport interest- 
ing, if not profitable in a monetary sense, and, to 
the true sportsman, the question of pecuniar}' profit 
is ever one of the minor considerations. In addi- 
tion to these natural ponds there are two artificial 
ponds that should be mentioned. The first, and 
the only one wholly in this town, is the Deer Creek 
Pond, which overflows about 60 acres, on sections 
6 and 7, forming the pond of the Deer Creek mills. 
The other lies on section 2, and is a portion of the 
Argentine Mills pond. 

Having glanced thus briefly at its natural fea- 
tures, we naturally turn our attention to the steps 
taken to bring about the settlement of the town, 
and towards the development of its resources. From 
the beauty of its contour and appearance, as well 
as from the apparent fertility and ease of cultivation 
of its soil, it very naturally attracted tlie early 
attention of those who were traveling over the 
State in search of land on which to settle, or pur- 
chase for purposes of speculation. And scarcely 
was it thrown into the market before they eagerly 
seized upon the choicest of its lands, so that in a 
short time the whole of them had passed from the 
control of the government into the hands of [)iivate 
parties. Tiiese entries of land e.xtended through a 



period of thirty-four years, but more than seven- 
tenths of them were made in the one year of 1836. 
The first entry was made by John How, on the 
27th of September, 1833, and was the only one 
made that year. In 1834 two entries were made, 
one of them by the same party, and the other by 
William Peel, both on the 7th of June. Then in 
1835 the rush began, and continued from October, 
1835, till the spring of 1837. In 1835, John How, 
William and Benjamin Bennett, Horace H. Not- 
tingham, William Hatt and his son, William Hatt, 
Jr., Caleb Wood, and Bishop W. Sherwood, made 
purchases in this town. The purchases in 1836 
were 152 in number. The rest of the entries were, 
in 1S37, 9; in 1838, 3 ; in 1839, 2; in 1841, 2 ; in 
1842, i; in 1847, 3; -in 1848, 5; in 1849, 5; in 
1850, i; in 1851, 2; in 1852, 2; in 1853, 2; in 
1854, 4; in 1855, 4; in 1861, i; and in 1866, 2. 
The following is a complete list of all the entries, 
giving the name and former residence of each pur- 
chaser, and the date, description of land, and number 
of acres of each entry, the names of those who actu- 
ally settled here being marked with an asterisk (*). 
The first part consists of those w'.ki entered land 
upon more than one section, and the second part 
of those who made entries on only one section. 
The list is made from the records as found in the 
Livingston County tract-book, and is as follows: 

Joseph Weiss,* 0.iklaiul Co., Mich., Aug. 2, 1836, 67.75 seres on 
section I and 71.86 acres on section 2; March 7, 1855,40 
acres on section I. 

Elijah Crane, W.iyne Co., Mich., March 4, l8j6. So acres on sec- 
tion 36 and 80 acres on section 35; June 7, 1S36, 127.67 
acres on section I and So acres on section 15. 

Julius K. lilackhurn,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 2, 1S36, I20 
acres on section 12 ; Aug. 2, 1836, So acres on section 2. 

James Pratt,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 9, 1836, 40 acres on 
section 3 and 236.26 acres on section 2. 

Ebenezer J. Penninian, Wayne Co., Mich., March 4, 1836, i6o 
acres on section 4; March 18, 1836, 80 acres on section 4; 
April 20, 1836, 80 acres on section 4 and 80 acres on section 
5; May 9, 1836,40 acres on section 5; Nov. 18, 1836,80 
acres on section 4. 

John IIow,* Westchester Co., N. Y., Sept. 27, 1S33, 480 acres on 
section 7 and 160 acres on section 8; June 7, 1834, 160 
acres on section 6 ; May 13, 1836, 100.03 acres on section 5 ; 
and Oct. 30, 1835, 28.42 acres on section 18. 

Vespasian .\dams,* Madison Co., N. Y.,Jan. 12, 1837, 85.74 acres 
on section iS and 56.48 acres on section 7. 

Daniel Boutell,* Jr., Onond.iga Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1836, 61.08 
acres on section 30 and 5906 acres on section 19; Nov. 14, 
1836, 58.26 acres on section 19; and March I, 1837, 56.24 
acres on section 7. 

Joseph Coon, W.ayne Co., N. V., Aug. I, 1836, 120 acres on sec- 
tion 8 and 40 acres on section 9. 

Edmund Flood, Wayne Co., Mich., Dec. 2, 1836, 40 acres on sec- 
tion 8 and 40 acres on section 9. 

Ira I.anil),* of this county, Sept. 7, 1S47, 40 acres on section 9; 
March 4, 1S4S, 40 acres on section 16. 

Henjamin licnnelt,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Dec. 10, 1835, 3^° 
.acres on section 11, Jan. 19, 1836, 40 acres on section 10. 

Horace II. Notlini^linni,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 23, 1835 



41 6 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



So acres on seclion 12, 80 acres on section 13, and 80 acres on 
section 14. 

William Halt, Sr. * Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 24, 1835, So 
acres on section 12 and 160 acres on section 13; May 27, 
1S36, 40 acres on section 12. 

Charles D. Topping,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 20, 1836, 40 
acres on section 12 and So acres on section 22 ; July 7, 1836, 
40 acres on section 12. 

Eliphalet S. Tooker, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 2, 1836, 80 
acres on section 12; June 3, 1836, 40 acres on section 13. 

Joseph Welch* and George Green,* Wa.shtenaw Co., Mich., March 
9, 1836, 80 acres on section 23, 80 acres on section 24, and 
80 acres on section 25; March 18, 1836, 80 acres on section 
35; July 12, 1836, 40 acres on section 12 ; Nov. 5, 1836, 40 
acres on section 27. 

Samuel Leonard,* Monroe Co., N. Y., April 14, 1836, 160 acres 
on section 14 and So acres on section 15. 

Abram Cook, Wayne Co., N. Y., Nov. 26, 1836, So acres on sec- 
tion 17, 80 acres on section 18, and 80 acres on section 20 

Benjamin B. Kercheval, Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 29, 1836, 80 
acres on section 18 and 120 acres on section 30. 

Daniel Miller, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 28, 1S36, 40 acres on 
section 18 and So acres on section 30. 

Myron H. Warner, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 3, 1836, 80 acres 
on section ig, 80 acres on section 29, and 120 acres on sec- 
tion 31. 

Robert Chamb'ers,* Monroe Co., N. Y., May 21, 1S36, 80 acres on 
section 20 and 80 acres on section 29. 

John H. Sanford,* of this county, July 8, 1S36, 80 acres on section 
30; Sept. 23, 1836,40 acres on section 30 ; Sept. 20, 1841, 40 
acres on section 20. 

Isaac N. Hedden, of this county, Sept. 24, 1S36, 40 acres on sec- 
tion 20 and 40 acres on section 31. 

Orrin Cartwright, Monroe Co., N. Y., April i, 1S36, 40 acres on 
section 22,40 acres on section 23, 80 acres on section 26, and 
80 acres on section 27. 

Thomas C. Smith, New York, Aug. 2, 1836, 120 acres on section 
22 and 40 acres on section 23. 

Abram Fairchilds, Wayne Co., N. Y., June 14, 1836, 80 acres on 
section 22 and 80 acres on section 23. 

Charles Kellogg, Cayuga Co., N. Y., July 16, 1836, So acres on 
section 23 and 160 acres on section 26. 

David Bangs, Monroe Co., N. Y., May 5, 1836, 160 acres on sec- 
tion 24 and 80 acres on section 25. 

Dennis McCarthy,* Wayne Co., Mich., Feb. 29, 1S36, 160 acres 
on section 25 and 1 60 acres on section 36. 

Thomas Lewitt, Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 16, 1836, 80 acres 
on section 24 and So acres on section 36. 

William Jubb,* Monroe Co., N. Y., May 24, 1836, So acres on 
section 29 and 40 acres on section 30. 

George Grant, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., June 3, 1S36, So acres on 
section 29 and 40 acres on section 31. 

William B.Wright, of this county, June 11, 1836,80 acres on 

section 30 and 80 acres on section 32. 
Garrett Martin, Yates Co., N. Y., May 21, 1836, So acres on sec- 
tion 35 and 160 acres on section 36. 

The remaining entries are for more convenient 
reference arranged by sections, as follows : 

SECTION I. 

Acres. 

Hugh Gordon, Washten.aw Co., Mich., July 16, 1S36 187.75 

Abiram Blackburn,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 21, 1836. So 

Jefferson Eddy, Genesee Co., Mich., March 9, 1837 40 

Ebenezer Sterns, Yates Co., N. Y., March 28, 1S37 40 

David S. Toralinson, Allegany Co., N. Y., June 26, 1837. 80 

SECTION 2. 

William Bennett,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 6, 1835.. 188.12 
Asa Sprague, Wayne Co., Mich., May 4, 1836 40 



Acres. 

Benjamin L. King, Wayne Co., Mich., Aug. i, 1S36 40 

Hiram T. Blackbum,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Aug. 2, 

1836 40 

John Rise, of this county, Dec. 6, 1836 40 

SECTION 3. 

Caleb Wood,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Dec. i, 1S35 240 

Isaac Pratt, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 9, 1836 80 

Elias D.avenport, Wayne Co., Mich., Aug, I, 1836 So. 31 

Josiah Dort, Wayne Co., Mich., Aug. 3, 1S36 80.34 

"Russell M. Ormsbee, W.iyne Co., Mich., Nov. 4, 1S36 170.79 

Rebecca Cramer,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Aug. 15, 1838.. 120 

SECTION 4. 

Clement Shaw, Sar.itoga Co., N. Y., May 21, 1836 178.72 

Clark C. Boutwell, Hillsboro Co., N. H 267.4 

SECTION 5. 

William Peel,* Westchester Co., N. Y., June 7, 1S34 So 

Bishop W. Sherwood,* Westchester Co., N. Y., Oct. i, 

1S35 ■ 240 

Jonathan How,* of this county, May 13, 1836 90.01 

Sidney M. Havvley,* of this county, March 11, 1S41 97-51 

George Fairbanks,* Genesee Co., Mich., Feb. 26, 1852.... 48.75 

Levi Warner, Genesee Co., Mich., March 17, 1S52 50.02 

Peter Crosliy,* of this county, March I, 1S53 48.75 

SECTION 6. 

Clark C. Boutwell and Reuben Moore, of the United 

States, May 25, 1836 558-37 

John Myers, of Cayuga Co., N. Y., Jan. 23, 1S39 102.52 

SECTION 8. 

Lawrence Jones, Wayne Co., N. Y., Aug. 3, 1836 So 

William Bain,* Wayne Co., Mich., Jan. 21, 1S4S, April 

18, 1S54, and Aug. 8, 1855 120 

John Thompson,* of this county, July 13, 1854 40 

Eli Howard, of this county, Oct. 27, 1855 40 

SECTION 9. 

Esick Pray, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 21, 1836 320 

Terence Hancock, Wayne Co., Mich., Dec. 2, 1S36 80 

Jacob J. Debar,* of this county, Aug. 27, 1851 40 

Bartimeus Packard, of this county, June 3, 1S36 80 

SECTION 10. 

Philo Strickland,* Erie Co., N. Y., April 14, 1S36 So 

Lothrop Briggs, Lenawee Co., Mich., May 7, 1836 80 

James Van Benschoten,* Cayuga Co., N. Y., June 3, 1836 160 

Nathan Cole,* of this county, Dec. 2, 1836 80 

Joseph Cole, of this county, Dec. 9, 1836 40 

Philo Bradley,* of this county, June 23, 1S51 40 

Samuel C. B. Bradley,* of this 'county, Nov. II, 1853 40 

Franklin Bradley,* of this county, July 3, 1855 40 

Silas Lindley,* of this county, March 10, 1S54 40 

SECTION II. 

Samuel Hogg, Washtenaw Co., Mich., March 18, 1S36... So 

Lyman Purdy, Orleans Co., N. Y., April 19, 1836 So 

lohn S. Delano, Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 16, 1S36.... 80 

Daniel D. Smith, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 2, 1836.... 40 

Dwight Kellogg, Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 16, 1836... 40 

SECTION 12. 

William Hatt, Jr.,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 24, 1S35.. So 
Washington D. Morton, Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 17, 

1836 40 

SECTION 13. 

Anson Pettibone, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 12, 1836 240 

Abram Speers,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., iVIay 18, 1836 80 

Isaac L. Piatt, New York City, Aug. 3, 1836 40 

SECTION 14. 

Jabez Lindley,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 20 and Sept. 

19, 1836 80 

Reuben Pease, Cayuga Co., N. Y., June 27, 1836 So 

Jeriah G. Rhodes, Cayuga Co., N. Y., June 27, 1836 80 

D.aniel R. Rhodes, Cayuga Co., N. Y., June 27, 1836 160 



DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



417 



SECTION 15. 

Acres. 
Darius Lewis,* Erie Co., N. Y., May 2, 1836, and Au-j. 8, 

1 8(9 200 

Leonaril LocUwooil, Steuben Co., N. Y., July 5, 1836 80 

Phineas ami John B McCrary, Steuben Co., N. Y., Aug. 

3, 1836 160 

SECTION 16. 

C. \V. Leonard,* June 16, 1842 40 

Thomas McKinlcy,* June II, 1847 40 

R. Cramer, June II, 1847 40 

R. T. Youni;.* June 13. 1848 So 

Eli Ward,* Oct. 11,1848 40 

James Cameron,* Nov. 25, 1848, and March 30, 1849 So 

Hugh Anderson,* March 21, 1849, and July I, lS6f 120 

L. Laiupson,* Aus;. 25, 1849 40 

M. Sackner,* Oct. IS, 1S49 40 

James H. Page,* April 16, 1S66 20 

A. D. Boyce,* April 16, 1866 60 

SECTION 17. 

William 13. Hopkins, Monroe Co., N. Y., June 3, 1S36.... 80 
I'lavius J. U. Crane, Monroe Co., N. Y., June 13, 1S37... 80 

Joseph Sibley, Cayuga Co., N. Y., Sept. I, 183S 40 

Sands I.ibbey,* Cayuga Co., N. Y., May I, 1S50 40 

Henry Robb,* Cayuga Co., N. Y., Aug. I, 1854 40 

SECTION 18. 

Lyman Morellc,* Wa'ihlenaw Co., Mich., ,\ng. 2, 1836.... 80 
Edwin P. Spencer,* W'ashlenaw Co., Mich., Aug. 2, 1S36 80 
Ch.arles S. Hutchins, Madison Co., N. Y., Jan. 10, 1837.. 80 
Robert Craig, Washtenaw Co , Mich., April 4, 1838 40 

SECTION 19. 

Joseph Willis, Oakland Co., Mich., June II, 1836 So 

Lucius Willis, Oneida Co., N. Y 80 

Aaron Aimer, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June iS, 1S36 So 

Lorenzo Bannister, Ontario Co., N. Y., July I, 1836 80 

Warren M. Worden,* Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 26, 1836... 80 

SECTION 20. 

Freeborn Luce,* Oakl.md Co., Mich., Feb. 26, 1836, and 

April 14, 1836 120 

Dean Phillips,* Montgomery Co., N. Y., May 9, 1836.. , So 

Luther Iloughtun, of this county, July 8, 1836 80 

Ezra Sanford, of this county, July 8, 1836 So 

Hannah Blood,* Monroe Co., N. Y.,M.ay 16, 1839 40 

SECTION 21. 

Matthew Shannon, Steuben Co , N. Y., May 12, 1S36 160 

Thomas Sharp,* .Seneca Co., N. Y., May 12, 1836 160 

Roliert McKinley,* Steuben Co., N. Y., M.iy 12, 1836.... 160 

Jacob Cole, Wayne Co., Mich., June 20, 1836 So 

Job Stafibrd, Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 13, 1836 80 

SECTION 22. 

James Lewis, Erie Co., N. Y., May 2, 1836 160 

Alfred White, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 24, 183O 80 

Rensselaer Pomeroy, Wayne Co., N. Y., June 14, 1836... So 

SECTION 23. 

William S. Spalding,* Cayuga Co , N. Y., June 27, 1836. 160 

Hall Deland, Genesee Co., N. Y., Aug. 2, 1836 160 

SECTION 24. 

James Tyler, Tompkins Co., N. Y., June 2, 1836 80 

Sophia Smalley, Washtenaw Co., Mich,, June 3, 1836 40 

Charles Wright, Jefferson Co., N. Y., June 6, 1836 160 

Adam Bayley, of this county. May 5, 1837 40 

SECTION 25. 

Russell Morton, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. II, 1836 160 

Joseph Chamberlin,* lavingston Co., N Y., May 3, 1S36. So 
Philo II. .Munson, Livingston Co., N. Y., June 6, 1836... 80 

SECTION 26. 

Eli II. Evans. Washtenaw Co., Mich., Feb. 29, 1S36. 160 

Eli^ha G Ma|ies, Washtenaw Co , Mich., Fell. 29, 1S36... 160 

Samuel L. Walden, New York, Aug. 2, 1836 80 

53 



SECTION 27. 

Acres. 

Joseph Oilman,* Monroe Co., N. Y., April i, 1836 160 

James Henry, Wayne Co., Mich., June 7, lS3'> 1 20 " 

Friend Burt, Genesee Co., N. Y., June 13, 1836 80 

Preston H. Smith, M.adison Co., N Y., June 20, 1S36 80 

Nelson .\. Smith, M.idison Co., N. Y., Juue 20, 1836 80 

SECTION 28. 

William P. Finch, Saratoga Co., N. Y., May 21, 1836 240 

David .S. Ireland,* Monroe Co., N. Y., May 21, 1836 320 

Rhoda Davis, Washtenaw Co., Mich , May 30, 1836 80 

SECTION 29. 

William Pike,* Monroe Co., N. Y., May 21, 1836 80 

Austin Delano, Livingston Co., N Y., June 3, 1836 80 

Robert Sowders,* Livingston Co., N. Y., June 4, 1836.... 80 
Montgomery P. Adams,* Madison Co., N. Y., Nov. 14, 

1836 So 

SECTION 30. 

Margaret Cooper,* Madison Co., N. Y., Nov. 14, 1836 40 

Dennis Murphy, Wayne Co., Mich , Nov. 26, 1S36 62.72 

SECTION 31. 

Joseph Hosley,* Wayne Co., Mich., June I, Sept. 23, and 

Nov. 14, 1S36 411.40 

SECTION 32. 

James Miller, Oakland Co., Mich., April i, 1836 160 

Hairy II. Neflf, of this county, June n, 1S36 40 

John Crnm, Erie Co., N. Y., June 28, 1836 120 

Dennis J. Rockwell, Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 27, 1S36 160 

David F. Rockwell, Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 27, 1836 

SECTION 33. 

Ezel Merrill, Oakland Co., Mich., May 2, 1836 40 

Stephen C. G.iff, Wayne Co., Mich., May 11, 1836 160 

George Faussett,* Seneca Co.. N. Y., May 12, 1836 80 

Henry Faussett,* Seneca Co , N. Y., May 12, 1S36 So 

Thomas Faussett,* Seneca Co., N. Y., May 12, 1836 160 

Benjamin Merrill,* Wayne Co., Mich., Sept. 23, 1836 40 

Hiiam Merrill,* .May 3', 1837 80 

SECTION 34. 

Henry Lown,* Genesee Co., N. Y., April 18, 1836 160 

Michael Bennett,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 4, 1836.. 320 
Richard 11. Canifi', New York City, Aug. 4, 1836 160 

SECTION 35. 

William Payne,* Washtenaw Co., Mich,, May 16, 1836... 80 

John Van Tuyl, W.ishlenaw Co., Mich., May 27, 1836 So 

Hugh Gilshenan, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 4, 1836... 160 

Electa A. Hedden, of this county, Sept. 24, 1836 80 

SECTION 36. 

Thales Deane,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. 11, 1836 So 

John Winter, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 3, 1836 80 

In the foregoing, the names of those who are 
known to have bcconie actual residents of the 
town are distinguished by a (*). In most cases 
considerable time intervened between the date of 
entry and the date of settlement. And in some 
instances this space was lengthened into montlis 
and years. 

As will be seen, by any one whose curiosity 
prompts them to carefully examine the list, there 
is still some land that has never been purchased 
from the government. Thi.s embraces what might 
well be termed submarine farms, as it is mostly, if 



4i8 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



not entirely, composed of the bottoms of the lakes, 
with perhaps a little strip of the bordering marshes. 
The total amount of land thus left unoccupied is 
479 acres and a fraction, and is distributed as fol- 
lows: on section l, 79.4 acres; on section 2,40.01 
acres; on section 8, 40 acres; on section 15,40 
acres; and on section 17, 280 acres. 

SETTLEMENT. 

We of the present generation are wont to pay 
but little heed to the generations that have pre- 
ceded us along the pathway of life. In the rush 
and whirl of active life, the past, with its people, 
their wants and wishes, hopes and dreams, fears 
and troubles, joys and sorrows, are forgotten and 
ignored. And yet it is always well to look back 
upon the pathway of the world's progress, study 
the events and e.xperiences of the past, with a view 
to seeing their logical results, and thus to profit by 
what others have learned only through trial and 
suffering. 

Turn back upon the footsteps of time but little 
more than one generation and mark the contrast 
presented by this part of our land. Here was a 
vast wilderness, unpeopled save by wild beasts and 
savages, with beautiful openings and impenetrable 
forests mingled together in a seenn'ngly endless 
succession, with thousands of beautiful, placid 
lakes hid in the bosom of the forest, and smooth- 
gliding streams, running stealthily along, with the 
forest trees frowning darkly upon their own re- 
flected forms. And this had been the inheritance 
of a people rude and uncultured, but having all 
the attributes of the race which, by its reason and 
conscience, was made fit for the position assigned 
it by the Creator's fiat, as ruler over all the earth. 
These aborigines have passed away, leaving their 
loved hunting-grounds to become fertile and fruit- 
ful farms, and we scarcely give their memories a 
passing thought. We know that they existed, and 
occasionally have the fact recalled to mind by the 
discovery of some relic that the plow brings forth 
from its earthy hiding-place, but we take no pains 
to perpetuate their memories or preserve their his- 
tories. Will the future inhabitants of this conti- 
nent in ages to come be as careless and indifferent 
regarding us ? 

Though Deerfield was in man)' respects an ex- 
cellent hunting-ground, and was, therefore, fre- 
quently visited by roving bands of Indians, it was 
not the site of any of their villages. The only 
Indian who resided here was an old chief who 
bore the name of Portabeek, and had a habitation, 
half-wigwam, half-shanty, upon the west bank of 
the Yellow River, near Indian Lake. There he 
lived with his old squaw and a widowed daughter, 



who had two or three children. He was of fine 
appearance, unusual size, and possessing more than 
the usual amount of intelligence. He was of a 
jovial disposition, thoroughly honest and reliable, 
and always lived on the best of terms both with 
his red brethren and pale-faced neighbors. For 
some five or six years after the advent of the white 
settlers he continued to reside in his cabin, hunting, 
fishing, and trafficking with the pioneers, and then 
the family in some way became broken up, and 
Portabeek and his wife commenced a roving life, 
that lasted till the Great Spirit called them to the 
happy hunting-grounds. After his wife died he 
rambled about in his loneliness, spending most of 
his time in Tyrone, where he died; but the event 
was looked upon as of so little importance that 
neither the time of his death nor the place of his 
burial can now be learned. 

The first white settler of Deerfield came to 
reside here in 1834, and his famil\- was for a year 
or more the only family in town. This man's name 
was John How, and a brief sketch of his life will 
no doubt be of interest to the readers of this work 
in the present, as it must ever be to future genera- 
tions of the descendants of the pioneers of this 
vicinity. He was an Englishman by birth and 
education, and learned the trade of cotton manu- 
facturer and machinist. In 1820 he emigrated to 
this country, hoping to find a better market for his 
labor, and a field of operations that presented more 
hope of accumulating a competency. Soon after 
his arrival in New York he found a position 
in a cotton-factory near Yonkers, in Westchester 
County, and remained there for thirteen years, 
most of the time holding the position of agent in 
charge of the factory. During this time he had 
accumulated some property, and had been able to 
afford his children good school privileges ; but 
now his sons were approaching the age when they 
would desire to start in life for themselves, and he 
thought the most feasible plan to promote his 
own and their interests was to push out into the 
undeveloped Western country, and invest his sur- 
plus capital in the cheap but well-reputed lands 
there so plentiful. He no doubt felt the itching 
to become a landed proprietor, which is so marked 
in those of our citizens who come from that country 
where only the wealthy and titled are privileged 
to hold a title to the soil. Leaving his son, Johri, 
in charge of the factory, he started for Michigan 
in the summer of 1833, and came by public con- 
veyance over the usually traveled water-courses 
till he landed in Detroit, where the United States 
land-office was situated. Hiring a guide and an 
Indian pony each for the guide and himself, he 
left Detroit on the Shiawassee trail to look up a 




JOHN fiOW. 



JOHN HOW. 



John How was born near Carlisle, England, 
in the village of Dalston, April 19, 1814. His 
father, also named John, was a machinist by occu- 
pation, and reared a family of six children, — four 
sons and two daughters, — our subject being the 
eldest In 182 1 the family emigrated to this 
country, and settled in New York City. The fol- 
lowing year the elder How removed to Yonkers, 
Westchester Co., N. Y., where he established 
a cotton-factory, which he operated successfully 
for about thirteen years. In 1833 he came to 
Michigan. Arriving in Detroit, he secured the 
services of a guide and started on a pedestrian 
tour in search of a home in the wilderness. At 
this time the government had disposed of most of 
its desirable lands in the southern part of the 
State, and it was not until they reached Deerfield 
that Mr. How found a suitable location. Here he 
entered about six hundred acres of land. He soon 
after returned to New York, and the following 
year returned with his family, which was the first 
in the township, their nearest neighbor being at 
White Lake, Oakland Co. 

The elder How was a man of great industry and 
ability. He was the first supervisor of the town, 
and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. 



He died in Deerfield, in 1850, in the sixty-first 
yccir of his age. 

At the date of the emigration of his father, 
John, Jr., was twenty years of age. He had ob- 
tained in New York a good common-school edu- 
cation; this, coupled with a hardy constitution and 
industrious habits, were of eminent service to him 
in his new home. 

In the entire county no single individual will be 
found, perhaps, who has taken such an active and 
prominent position in the history of his town as 
has Mr. How in Deerfield. He has been prom- 
inently identified with its political history. He 
represented the town upon the Board of Super- 
visors for many years, and of that body was con- 
sidered to be an able and efficient member. In 
1857 he was elected to the representative branch 
of the Legislature, and has filled many other posi- 
tions of trust and responsibility. 

In 1 841, Mr. How was married to Miss Eunice 
Jones, who was born in Middlefield, Otsego Co., 
N. Y., Feb. 22, 1822. Her parents, Levi and 
Betsey Jones, were pioneers of Salem, Washtenaw 
Co. Mr. and Mrs. How have been blessed with 
three children, one of whom, James, is living at 
the old home. 



DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



419 



satisfactory location. He wanted to find a locality 
where the soil should be light enoii<^h to cultivate 
easily, and yet heavy enough to bear successive 
cropping, and still yield a remunerative return for 
the labor of cultivation. The plains he considered 
too ligiit, and the timbered lands, as a whole, too 
heavy for his purpose, but lioped to find on the 
timbered openings, near the edge of the timber 
belt, a soil that would suit him. 

Not unmindful of the advantages of a healthful 
location, where the too prevalent chills and fevers 
were less common than in some parts, he sought 
for a situation well towards the sources of the 
streams, judging that there their courses would be 
more rapid and their waters more pure. Then, 
too, as he was a practical mill-wright and ma- 
chinist, he thought that a good water-power would 
be an excellent thing to own, as it would furaish 
motive power for saw- and grist-mills for the ac- 
commodation of the coming settlers, and might in 
the future, when the resources of the State became 
more fully developed, become v.duable for [jurposes 
of manufacture. With all these things in view he 
traveled along the .Shiawassee trail to Owosso, 
without finding a satisfactory stopping-place, and 
turned upon his track, determined to fi)Ilow some 
of the streams towards their sources, and see if 
something suited to his mind could not be found. 
Arrived at Byron they left the trail and followed 
along the east bank of the South Branch of the 
Shiawassee River till they reached this town, and 
found a country which answered to Mr. How's pre- 
conceived notions. He finally decided th 't he had 
foLuid a spot that possessed all the desirable quali- 
ties and natural advantages that could be expected 
anywhere, and made minutes of the description of 
the pieces he wanted to purchase. Mounting their 
ponies he and the guide retraced their steps and 
followed the Detroit and Shiawassee or Walled 
Lake trail to Detroit, where Mr. How entered a 
section of land, embracing the east three-fourths 
of section 7, and the west quarter of section 8. 
Having thus secured his land, which was the first 
taken up in the town, he returnetl to the Kast to 
settle up his business and prepare his family for 
removal. 

It was the 1st of May following before they 
were ready to begin their journey, which was made 
by steamboat up the Hudson to Albany, by canal 
to Buffalo, and steamer to Detroit. The party 
consisted of John How and wife, four sons, — Jon- 
athan, William, Thomas, and John, Jr., — two 
daughters, — Susannah and Mary, — and a hired 
man, named William Peel, and his wife. Upon 
their arrival at Detroit, Mr. How hired a teamster 
to carry his goods to Birmingham, and purchasing 



an ox-team and wagon loadetl in himself and com- 
panions and proceeded to Birmingham. He looked 
about for a place to live in while he was preparing 
a house on his land, and finding an unoccupied 
house near Orchard Lake, in Bloomfield, hired it 
of its owner, Mr. Harris, who was also a former 
acquaintance, and moved there. Then with his 
three sons, — John, William, and Jonathan, — and 
Mr. Peel, he went on to his land to build a house. 
They succeeded in finding the place vvithout much 
difficulty, and Mr. How at once recognized the land 
he had chosen, and pointed it out to them. John 
had made something of a study of the plan of the 
United States survey, anti knew all the marks of 
section lines, corners, quarter-stakes, etc , and he 
at once informed his father that if it was the land 
he had selected it certainly was 7/(7/ the land he had 
entered A close examination of the plat proved 
this to be the case. In some way (thought to be 
the fault of the guide) a mistake had been made, 
and Mr. How's section was just a half mile south 
from where he intended it to be. He was ve.xed, 
and also alarmed lest some one else had appro- 
priated his selection, and taking a careful descrip- 
tion of it he hastened bade to the land-office in 
Deti oit. He found that the [jlat was still unbroken, 
e.xcept by his former purchase, and at once entered 
the southeast quarter of section 6, and William 
Peel entered the west half of the southwest quarter 
of section 5. These entries were made June 7, 
1834. They then returned to Deerfield. 

The first trip from Orchard Lake to Deerfield 
occupied a week's time, as they were careful to 
make a good road through the woods, and though 
following the trail to the crossings of the streams, 
yet succeeded in straightening it a good deal, and 
freed the track from logs, stones, and underbrush. 
It was marked throughout by "blazes" on the trees. 
When they reached their destination, work was 
immediately begun both upon the house for the 
family, and upon a clearing for a potato-patch. 
The potatoes were planted as quickly as possible, 
and in the fall gave a satisfactory yield. 

The site decided upon for the dwelling was 
about eighty rods west of the southeast corner of 
section 6, and, while the work of putting it up was 
in progress, the workmen lived in a small tent they 
had brought with them for that purpose, and shel- 
tered their tools in a small bark shanty, erected 
immediately after their arrival. This first white 
man's dwelling in the town was similar in con- 
struction to the log cabins of the period. The 
logs were sawed flat on two sides, and notched at 
the ends to bring their unsawn sides as closely 
together as possible. Then, with mud and split 
basswood or poplar poles, the spaces between were 



420 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



securely chinked and plastered. It was provided 
with a stick chimney, and what was rather unusual 
in those days, — a board roof. The lumber for the 
roof, floors, door, and casings for the door and 
windows, was brought from Pontiac. It was the 
irtention to finish up the house in time to get back 
to Pontiac to celebrate the " fourth of Jul)'." It 
was necessary to take two days for the return trip, 
stopping over one night on the road at White 
Lake. So, when the morning of the 3d dawned, 
they packed up and started for Pontiac. Before 
they reached White Lake, in the early evening, 
they began to hear the regular booming of cannon, 
and thought that the Pontiac boys were couimen- 
cing their celebration a little earlier than usual. 
But when they reached the settlement they found 
to their disgust and chagrin that they had some- 
how lost a day in their reckoning, and would arrive 
in town the day after the celebration. As soon as 
possible the family and goods, together with three 
yoke of oxen, two cows with calves, and a pony, 
were transported to Deerfield.and the regular pio- 
neer life was begun. 

While the house was building, ten acres were 
cleared and sown to wheat, being the first wheat 
sown in Deerfield. When harvested the next 
summer it yielded about 20 bushels to the acre. 

The work of clearing was rather more arduous 
than was usually the case in this " opening" 
country, because the timber was heavier than on 
most of the surrounding sections. Of the experi- 
ences of their first winter we are not able to speak 
in detail, but imagination draws a pleasant picture 
of the cosy cabin, snow-shrouded, with a column 
of fleecy smoke rolling from its stick chimney into 
the azure vault, while within were the comfort, and 
quiet, and pleasant peace of " home." Then there 
were the rude but healthful labors in the clearing. 
and the exciting hunting scenes, as the settlers 
pursued the deer, or lay in wait for the turkeys, 
all of which added a charm to the new life on the 
frontier. The boys soon formed the acquaintance 
of old Portabeek and other Indians, and used to 
hunt and fish in their company, furnishing the 
family table with by far the greater share of its 
supply of meat as the result of their efforts. Suc- 
ceeding years passed in nearly the same way, 
though the family, like nearly all the pioneers, was 
gradually growing into better circumstances, and 
had to endure less and less privation with each 
succeeding year. They were the only residents of 
the town till the fall of 1835 or (as seems more 
probable to the writer) spring of 1836, when Wil- 
liam Hatt, William Hatt, Jr., and Horace H. Not- 
tingham moved into the eastern part of the town. 
Soon after the completion of his house, Mr. How 



rigged up a " pit-saw," and began cutting pine- 
trees, numerous on his land, and sawing them up 
into boards. This was the first mechanical indus- 
try of the town. 

John How was a self-made man, and possessed 
the virtues of honesty, energy, thoughtfulness, and 
good judgment to a marked degree. He was ca- 
pable as a manager, as well as industrious as a 
workman, and in his brief connection with public 
affairs acquitted himself with credit. Upon the 
organization of the town he was elected its first 
supervisor, and held the office for three successive 
terms. Appointed as the first treasurer, in 1839, 
he held that office seven successive terms, and 
then retiring from public life devoted his time to 
the management of his farm and mills until his 
death, which occurred Jan. 21, 1848, at the age of 
fifty-nine years, eight months, and fourteen days. 
His wife died two years before him, April 7, 1846, 
at the age of fifty-six years. 

Jonathan How married Lucinda Bennett, of this 
town, Jan. 7, 1S38, the ceremony being performed 
by David Dickson, Esq., and settled on a qo acre 
farm he had bought on the northwest quarter of 
section 5. He died there in 1846, leaving a wife 
and three sons, the youngest but ten months old. 

William How married Lovisa Anable, May 21, 
1848, and lived on a part of the old homestead till 
his death, P'eb. 5, 1S64, in his fifty-seventh year. 
He left a wife and four children. 

Thomas How married Sarah C. Bristol, March 
7, 1848, and settled on the place where he still 
lives, on the east half of the southeast quarter of 
section 18. 

John How, Jr., to whom the writer of this sketch 
is much indebted for invaluable assistance, was the 
one member of the famih'who has particularly dis- 
tinguished himself Jan. 14, 1841, he was united 
in marriage with Miss Eunice Jones, and settled on 
300 acres of land l)'ing mostly on section 7. His 
residence was built on the east half of the north- 
east quarter of that section, and is still standing 
near the more modern residence that has sup- 
planted it. On the same place Mr. and Mrs. How 
are calmly enjoying the pleasures of later life, sur- 
rounded by children and friends. Mr. How en- 
tered early into the arena of public life, his first ap- 
pearance being in the role of school inspector, in 
1839. He then held the office of town clerk for 
three years, and was elected as supervisor in 
1848. He has served twelve years as supervisor 
at different times, and in 1856 was elected a Rep- 
resentative in the State Legislature. In all of 
these positions he discharged his duties with zeal 
and fidelity, winning the good opinion of his po- 
litical foes, as well as of the members of his own 



DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



421 



party. A more complete .sketch of hi.s life appears 
elsewhere in this work. 

Jolin How, Senior's, two daughters were mar- 
ried and li\-cd in this town, and are still residents 
here. Susannah married Philander Sackner, who 
died Feb. 25, 1862, and is now living with her 
daughter. Mary married Ira O. Marble, and has 
since resided in the south part of the town. 

The second company of settlers consisted of 
William Hatt and his son-in-law, Horace H. Not- 
tingham, and their respective families, who came 
early in the spring of 1836. William Hatt built 
a house near the south quarter-post of section 12, 
and Nottingham built his near the southwest cor- 
ner of the same section. Mr. Hatt lived here until 
he removed to Argentine, where he died a few 
years since. His son, William Hatt, is now living 
on the homestead. Nottingham was a well edu- 
cated man, one of the earliest school-teachers of 
the region, and held the office of school inspector 
several years. Some twenty or twenty-five years 
ago he lost his wife, and soon after removed to 
Grass Lake, Jackson Co. 

At about the same time the Bennett family made 
a settlement here. William and Benjamin Bennett 
were sons of Robinson Bennett, and were formerly 
from Springfield, Otsego Co., N. Y., coming early 
with their parents to Michigan, and settling in 
Salem, Washtenaw Co. After their parents' death 
they decided to locate new farms, and came to 
Deerfield, in the fall of 1835, to locate their Luul. 
In April, 1836, Benjamin came with his wife and 
children, and built a large, double log house near 
the southeast corner of the noitheast quarter of 
section 10, into which they moved and where they 
lived for a good many years. It was at that time 
and for several years thereafter the largest and 
best house in the town. The public business was 
transacted there because of its size, which made it 
more convenient tlian other buildings. In a little 
more than a year after coming here his wife sick- 
ened and died, her's being the first death in the 
town, so far as known to the writer. He remar- 
ried, as is shown by the following extract from the 
town records, which we give entire, as being an 
interesting memento of the earl)- times : 

"State of Michig..\n, County of Livinoston, w. 

"I, D.wiii Dickson, Justice of the Peace, Do hereby certify 
that Benjamin Iknnelt and Catharine Wise Were Married liy me 
on the 26lh day of November, 1837, in the 'rown-.hi|i of Deeilicid, 
David Dickson, Justice of the Peace, in and for the Townsliip of 
Deei field. 

" Edwin P. Sri:NCl£R, Town CUrk." 

So far as known this was the first marriage sol- 
emnized in Deerfield, and the parties are both liv- 
ing, after forty-two years of wedded life, on their 



original homestead. Their present residence is on 
section 1 1, nearly opposite the site of the old log 
house. George Bennett, a son by his second wife, 
and Mrs. Matilda H. Wesley and Mrs. Christina 
Deitz, children by his present wife, arc also at 
present residents of Deerfield. 

William Bennett was captain of a vessel on the 
lakes, and followed that calling for a number of 
years. He came to Deerfield, with his wife and 
three children, a few weeks later than his brother 
Benjamin, and built his house on the west side of 
North Ore Creek, at the foot of Bennett Lake, 
which received its name in honor of him. There 
he lived for fifteen years, when he removed to 
Argentine, went from there to Saginaw, and finally 
brought up in Detroit, whrre he died, Dec. 25, 
1S76. His wife survived him, and is now living in 
the city of Jackson. One of his objects in pur- 
chasing the land at the foot of the lake was that 
he expected to be able to utilize its outlet for a 
water-power, and during his life here he tried to 
fulfill this expectation by building a dam prepara- 
tory to the erection of mills at that point. But 
some one at Argentine had been a little more ex- 
peditious in utilizing the stream, and had built a 
dam that sent the back flow of water to the foot of 
Mr. Bennett's dam, who, seeing the folly of pro- 
ceeding fiu-ther, at once abandoned the project. 

James Pratt was another settler of 1836, coming 
from Salem, Washtenaw Co , with his wife {tiee 
Clarissa Thompson) and one child. He was 
(though as a bo)') one of the early residents of 
Michigan, coming with his father, Dr. Pratt, from 
Monroe Co., N. Y.,in 1826. Upon his arrival here 
he built a log house on the southwest corner of 
section 2, where, several years later, he built his 
first frame house, — still standing, and now occupied 
by his son Allen. He was quite a prominent man 
in the town, though never a very ardent politician, 
and was elected to several town offices. In the 
fall of 1866 he sold his place to his son, Allen, 
and moved to Fenton, where he has since resided. 
His family consisted of four sons, — John E., who 
lives in Tyrone; Edwin S., in Traverse City; Jay 
F., in Argentine; and Allen, on the homestead. 

Joseph Walsh was a native of Lancashire, Eng- 
land, born and reared near Blackbtun, and emi- 
grated to this country with his wife and three 
children in 1828. After living a while on Long 
Island, N. Y., he came to Michigan, which was 
then a Territory, and took up some land in the 
towns of Lodi and Scio, in Washtenaw County. 
From there lie kept writing back to his cousin, 
George Green, urging him to leave the old country, 
and come to America, where land was cheap and 
there was a good chance to do well. George's 



422 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



brother, William, much impressed with the state- 
ments contained in these letters, decided to come, 
whether his brother did or not ; and in January, 
1832, he started for Liverpool to embark, his bro- 
ther accompanying him, though not intending, at 
least at that time, to leave England. But after 
they had got aboard the vessel, George concluded 
that he too would cross the ocean, and remamed 
on board. The letter containing the directions for 
them to reach their destination had become badly 
worn, and upon their arrival in New York, the 
emigration officers hastily concluded that it must 
mean " Scio, Allegany County, N. Y.," and sent 
them to that place. The brothers arrived there 
and made inquiries for Joseph Walsh, but unsuc- 
cessfully, and finally learned their mistake. Being 
somewhat short of funds, and also determined to 
be independent and pay as they went, they both 
hired out to work for Judge Church, William as 
the gardener, and George as the family coachman. 
Mr. Walsh learned of their mishap, and came to 
Scio, expecting to take them back to Michigan 
with him, but the judge would not release them 
unless they forfeited their wages, wiiich they would 
not consent to do. So Mr. Walsh returned to 
Michigan, where George followed him in the fall 
of 1832. William became disgusted with America, 
and, in June, 1832, returned to England. Walsh 
and Green lived together in Scio till 1836, when 
they came to Deerfield. They first came in March, 
and entered 320 acres of land on sections 23, 24, 
25, and 35, and built a log house, which stood 
near the site of the present residence of Mr. Green. 
They hired Thomas Parshall, Mr. Neff, and Sam- 
uel and Benjamin Griswold, all of Oceola, to break 
up 30 acres of the land on the we.st half of the 
northeast quarter of section 35, where there was a 
considerable plain. In the fall of 1836 they moved 
the family and goods, and occupied their house. 
In the .spring of 1837 they built the first frame 
barn in the town, and a year later a large frame 
house, about thirty rods south of the log house, 
which was the first frame dwelling erected in Deer- 
field. Both these buildings are still in existence, 
and the latter is occupied by John Walsh, a son of 
Joseph. Joseph Walsh died in February, 1848. 
Of his children, Mrs. Ann, wife of Frederick Gur- 
don, Mrs. Jane, wife of Edward Bunting, Mrs. 
Ellen, wife of George Green, John and James 
Walsh are still residents of Deerfield ; Mrs. Martha 
O'Connell lives in Tyrone; Mrs. Mary Cottrell in 
Fenton ; and Joseph Walsh in Conway. 

George Green married Ellen Brindle, a step- 
daughter of Mr. Walsh, in the summer of 1842, and 
continued to live with the flimily till 1856, all the 
business of both families having been transacted 



in common under the firm-name of Walsh & 
Green till after Mr. Walsh's death. Soon after 
this event the property was divided, and in 1856 
Mr. Green built himself a house a little north of 
the old log house, and went there to live. In Feb- 
ruary, 1872, this house was burned, and in the 
summer following the present residence was built. 
Both himself and wife are still living there in the 
enjoyment of peace and plenty, after many years of 
laborious toil to secure them. Four of their chil- 
dren are also residents of Deerfield. Their names 
are William and James, Mrs. Mary A. Hatt, and 
Mrs. Alice Holcomb. 

Among the settlers of 1836 were the Faussetts, 
who were of Irish descent, and who came here 
from Lodi, Seneca Co., N. Y. In the spring of 
1836, Thomas and George Faussett, brothers, their 
brother-in-law, Henry Faussett, and their cousin, 
Thomas Sharp, came through Pennsylvania and 
Ohio to Oceola, where they hired Asa Parker to 
guide them through the surrounding country in 
search of land. On the 12th of May they entered 
their land, George and Henry purchasing 80 
acres each, and Thomas and Sharp each taking 
a quarter section. They then worked on the 
Michigan Central Railroad until harvest time, when 
all but George returned East. Soon after, Thomas 
Sharp married Mary Faussett, a daughter of Rich- 
ard Faussett, of Dundee, and in September a party 
was made up to start for Michigan. Thomas Faus- 
sett and his widowed mother, Thomas Sharp and 
his wife, Henry Faussett with his wife and one child, 
and William Faussett (a brother of Henry's who 
settled in Clinton Count)-) composed the party. In 
Oakland County they were joined by George, and 
all came on to Deerfield together. They had to 
camp in the woods while a house was being built, 
which required several days to accomplish. The 
site selected was a little north of the Yellow River 
and near the centre of the northeast quarter of sec- 
tion 33. There they all lived until the next spring, 
when Sharp and Henry Faussett built houses of 
their own, the former on the southeast corner of 
section 21, and the latter on the northwest corner 
of section 33. Mr. Sharp died on his place about 
twenty-one years ago. Mrs. Faussett died March 
6, 1838, a little over sixty years of age. Thomas 
Faussett was married, Sept. 16, i84i,to Miss Mary 
A. Marvin, of New Hudson, Oakland Co., and con- 
tinued to live in the old log house till about 1846, 
when he built a better and larger log house near 
the northeast corner of section 33, on the site of 
his present residence, which was erected in 1 86 1. 
Henry Faussett and wife, and George Faussett, 
who has never married, are also among the pio- 
neers of the town, who are still its citizens. 



DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



423 



Caleb Wood settled in 1836, on the corner of 
section 3, opposite James Pratt's, and lived there 
till about twenty years ago, when he moved to 
Mundy, Genesee Co., where he is now living. 

One of the most prominent of the early settlers 
in Deerfield was Charles D. Top[)ing, familiarly 
known as " Judge" Topping, — a title he obtained 
by having served as a side judge of the County 
Court. He was a native of Mentz, Cayuga Co., 
N. Y., and settled in Scio, Washtenaw Co., in 
1832-33. He entered his land, on sections 12 
and 22, June 20 and July 7, 1836. Prejiarations 
Iiaving been made for the removal of tlie family — 
then consisting of himself and wife and si.\ chil- 
dren — late in the fall or early in the winter of that 
)'ear, they and the household effects were loaded 
into three wagons, drawn by oxen, and started for 
their new home through a blinding snow-storm 
that continued nearly the whole of the three 
days that they spent on the road. They met with 
the usual experiences of the settlers, suffering 
some privations and having their full share of the 
fever and ague, but had no serious troubles. Mr. 
Topping was a very .sedate, candid, and conscien- 
tious man, carefully e.xact in his speech, because 
he so greatly despised exaggeration and deception, 
industrious in his habits, but not over anxious to 
accumulate wealth, a respected citizen, and an hon- 
ored member of the Methodist P.piscopal Ciiurch. 
During his life in this town he held several ofifices, 
was treasurer one year, supervisor three years, and 
justice of the peace upwards of a score of years. 
He accumulated a competency, and afforded his 
large family of nine children the best education 
within his means. He sold his farm here and 
moved to Fenton, where both he and his wife died. 
Of his children, Mrs. Ellen S. Gardner, Mrs. I'^liz.i 
Caruthers, Mrs. Kate Barber, and Albert D. Toi)- 
ping live in Ncwburgh, Shiawassee Co. ; John F. 
and Ciiarles H. live in Deerfield, the latter on the 
old homestead ; James L. and Orlando live in Fen- 
ton ; and William W. lives in East Saginaw. James 
L. and William W. served in the Union army, the 
former as second lieutenant of the i6th Michigan 
Infantry, and the latter as a private in the 20th Il- 
linois Infmtry. While the latter was sick in the 
hospital he was nursed back to health by the 
woman who, after the close of the war, became his 
wife, and is doing so much to make pleasant the 
life she was instrumental in saving. 

Henry I. Lown came from Western New York 
in the fall of 1836, and settled on the southwest 
quarter of section 34, building his house about one 
hundred rods from the present residence of Ira O. 
Marble. He became insane about nine j'ears after 
coming here, and a couple of years later disap- 



peared, and has not since been heard from. About 
the year 1852 his family returned to their former 
home in New York. 

Samuel Leonard was one of the first comers in 
the spring of 1837. He was a native of Great 
Barrington, Berkshire Co., Mass. About 18 12 he 
started in life for himself, selecting the town of 
Brighton, Monroe Co., N. Y., as the field of his 
operations. There he met Miss Margaret Lindley, 
a daughter of a New Jersey family, to whom he 
was united in marriage. In 1826 he bought a 50- 
acre farm near the village of Penfield, in the same 
county, where he lived til! he came to Michigan. 
In January, 1 836, he came to Deerfield, selected 
his land, and returned East in the spring, stopping 
at Detroit to enter the three lots he had selected. 
After harvesting his crops and settling up his busi- 
ness he packed up and moved to Michigan. In 
the fall Mr. Leonard and his eldest son, Calvin W., 
came on and cut logs enough for a house, anti in 
March, 1837, they again came on, and with the 
help of the Hatts and Nottingham, put up the 
house. As early as possible the family and goods 
were brought on and occupied the house, which 
stood on the northwest corner of section 14. Here 
they continued to live till the fall of 1866, when 
the place was sold, and they moved to Linden, 
Genesee Co. In the fall of 1868, Mrs. Leonard 
died, and from that time till his own death, in the 
spring of 1869, Mr. Leonard lived with his son, 
Calvin W., at Deerfield Centre. Four children — 
Calvin W., William, Orange W., and Mrs. Mary 
Bagg — are now living in this town. Mr. Leonard 
was a Whig in politics, and was not, therefore, 
called to office in this Democratic town, as he would 
otherwise imdoubtedly have been. In his religious 
belief he was a Baptist, though not connected with 
any church here, and his wife at the time of her 
death had been a member of that connection up- 
wards of forty years. 

Joseph Wise was of German ancestry — the name 
being more properly s]3elled Weiss, but the angli- 
cized form being adopted by the present genera- 
tion. He came from Prattstown, Steuben Co., 
N. Y., in the spring of 1835, settling in Southfield, 
Oakland Co. Two years later he moved to this 
town, where he purchased 180 acres of land. His 
house was built on the northwest quarter of sec- 
tion I. He was accompanied by his wife, two 
sons, and a married daughter with her husband, 
Daniel T. Hyatt. Another daughter, Catharine, 
was then living in Marshall. He remained a resi- 
dent of the town till his death, in 1867. His wife 
survived him about five years. Of his children, 
Joseph and Mrs Benjamin Bennett are still re- 
siding in Deerfield; John lives in Argentine; Mrs. 



434 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Maria Hyatt, in Fenton ; and Mrs. Christina 
Moore, in Genesee, Genesee Co. 

Daniel and Lorenzo Boutell were among the 
settlers in the spring of 1837. They were from 
Onondaga Co., N. Y. Daniel, with his wife, two 
sons, and one daughter, settled on the west half of 
the northwest quarter of section 30, and built his 
house at the southwest corner of the quarter sec- 
tion. He at once assumed quite a prominent part 
in town affairs, and frequently held ofifice. He was 
the first collector, and served five years in that po- 
sition. He also held the offices of assessor, high- 
way commissioner, constable, and supervisor In 
1856 he removed to -Saginaw County, and a couple 
of years later to Bay City, where he died eleven or 
twelve years ago, and where his wife and several 
children still reside. One son, George T., re- 
mained in this town, and died here but a kw years 
ago, at the age of thirty-two years. Daniel was a 
great fisher and hunter, a fluent talker, and the 
most amiable of men in family and society. He 
was one of the first members of the Oak Grove 
Methodist Church, and lived an e.\emplar\' Chris- 
t'an life. Lorenzo Boutell settled on the west half 
of the southwest quarter of section 19, and built 
his house near the southeast corner of his lot. He 
was three times married, and by his third wife had 
one child, — a son, — named Chauncey, who is now 
living with his widowed mother on the homestead. 
Mr. Boutell's second wife was Mrs. Sarah Chap- 
man, who died in 1840, and his third wife was Mrs. 
Polly Hart. He moved to Fenton eleven or 
twelve years ago ( 1867-68), and died there in Sep- 
tember, 1S75, having been an invalid for several 
years. He was a very social, agreeable, and be- 
nevolent man, much interested in church matters, 
and a member of the Methodist Church. He was 
not very deeply interested in the strifes of politics, 
but was elected to the office of overseer of the 
poor fifteen years, and, with the exception of three 
years, these elections were consecutive. Having 
no family of his own, he yet was very fond of chil- 
dren, and made this of practical use by taking a 
number of children at different times, and keeping 
them until they were able to do for themselves. 

Michael Bennett, with his wife and three small 
children, came from Northfield, Washtenaw Co., in 
the spring of 1837, and built a house near the north 
quarter-post of section 34. He was of Ii'ish birth, 
and had lived for some time in Eastern New York 
before coming to Michigan. He purchased the 
north half of section 34 the year before he came 
here, and subsequently sold 120 acres to James 
Conklm, who came here with hini. He and his 
wife died some four or five years ago. Two of 
their sons are living on the homestead, and one 



daughter, Mrs. Mary Downey, also lives in the 
town. 

James Conklin commenced living on the place 
he bought of Mr. Bennett, in 1839, and his mother, 
two brothers, — Patrick and Thomas, — and two sis- 
ters came at that time and lived with him for two 
or three years, when his sisters married, and his 
brothers went to live on section 27, where Patrick 
had bought a farm. The mother remained with 
James, and died in 1843. In 1844 he married 
Margaret Dougherty, of White Lake, Oakland 
Co., and lived here till his death, which occurred 
some si.K or seven years ago. His wife survived 
him till the spring of 1879. Their children — two 
daughters and a son — are now living on the home- 
stead. 

Robert Chambers and wife, and David S. Ireland, 
with a wife, four sons, and two daughters, came in 
company from Scottsville, Monroe Co., N. Y., in 
the spring of 1837, and settled in this town. Mr. 
Chambers settled on the northeast corner of sec- 
tion 29. He was for many years a prominent man 
in the town, was one of the first justices of the 
peace, and was once elected supervisor. He was 
a successful farmer, and brought his land under a 
state of high cultivation. About ten years ago 
he moved to Fenton, and died there in 1877. His 
widow is now living at Deerfield Centre. 

David S. Ireland bought the north half of section 
28, and built his house on the northwest corner of 
the section. He died in 1848, and the family moved 
to Holly, Oakland Co., some time during the war. 

Bryan Corr, Dennis and Timothy McCartiiy, 
John Ryan, and John Lyons were all Irish emi- 
grants, who came here at different times and set- 
tled in different parts of the town. Corr is still 
living on section 24, where he settled in 1836. 
John Ryan settled on the county line, on section 3, 
at an early day, and died there in 1875. The Mc- 
Carthys and Lyons came in 1837 and settled on 
sections 25 and 36. Timothy was killed at an early 
day by a falling tree, and Dennis died in this town 
some twenty years ago. Several other brothers 
and sisters have lived in Deerfield some portion of 
their lives, but none of them are here now, with 
the exception of one of them, Charles McCarthy. 

Samuel L. Bangs, with his wife and one child, 
and his brothers, Benjamin and Mark, came from 
Monroe Co., N. Y., and settled on the northeast 
quarter of section 24, in 1837. Lyman was quite 
prominent as a leader among the Whigs during 
his short stay here. In 1839-40 he moved to Ann 
Arbor. He subsequently emigrated to Illinois, 
where he is now living. Benjamin lived on what 
is now the McKeone farm till 1859, and then moved 
to Fenton, where he is still livintJ. Mark left here 




COL. C.SUTHERLAND. 



COL. CASTLE SUTHERLAND. 



Among the early settlers of the city of Ann 
Arbor no name is more familiar to the people of 
Washtenaw than that of Col. Sutherland, and 
perhaps it may be "^aid that no name is more 
carefully treasured or will be longer remembered 
by those who knew hiin. Col. Sutherland was 
born 111 Geneva, N. V., Nov. ii, 1790. In 1828 
he catne to Ann Arbor, where he remained 
until 1834, when he removed to the town of 
Deerfield, v/here he purcha.'ied a farm, and where 
he lived until about ('SiO, when he returned to 
Am Arbor where he re.sided until his dealli, 
which occurred July 13, 1862. Col. Suther- 
land was a gentleman of the old school, a man 
of sterling mtegrity, witl^ a firm and unswervinj; 
devotion to the right. Patriotism was one of 
the prominent pointt in his character. He enlisted 



in the war of 1812, and was employed by the 
government in making and repairing guns, 
which avocation he subsequently followed many 
years. During the war of the Rebellion he was 
frequently heard to express regret that he had 
not strength to bear arms in the defense of his 
country. 

Col. Sutherland was prominently identified with 
Deerfield. He held many positions of trust, and 
was eveiy\vhcre recognized as a man of abilitj', 
a kuid neighbor, and a firm friend. 

Solomon .Sutherland, the youngest in a family 
of eleven, was born in Scio, in 1833. He resided 
in Deerfield until he came to Green Oak in i860, 
where he now resides. He married Miss Myers, a 
granddaughter of John Myers, one of the town's 
first settlers. 



DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



425 



in 1840, went to tlie State of New Yoik, and from 
tliere to Illinois, where he engaged in the practice 
of the law. He has risen to considerable promi- 
nence there, having been a candidate for Governor. 

Castle Sutherland was formerly from Geneva, 
Ontario Co., N. Y., settled in Ann Arbor, in 1832, 
and came to this town in 1837, locating on section 
12. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, 
and was familiarly known as " Colonel," a title de- 
rived from militia service, or perhaps from actual 
service in the war of 1812. He lived here some 
twelve or fifteen years, and then, his wife dying, he 
returned to Ann Arbor, and lived with his sons 
until his own death occurred, a score or more of 
years ago. 

One of the self-made men of this town is Joseph 
Chamberlin, who is now residing on the farm on 
which he originally settled forty-one years ago. 
He was formerly from Lester, Livingston Co., 
N. Y., and first came to this State in August, 
1 83 1, working in Saline, Washtenaw Co., for two 
years, and then returned to New York. Having 
purchased his time from his father, he worked 
until he had saved enough money to pay for two 
80-acre lots of government land, and in May, 
1836, bought the east half of the southeast quarter 
of section 25, in this town, and 80 acres adjoining 
it, in Tyrone. In 1838 he married Delia Kittle, 
of Groveland, Livingston Co., N. Y., and in No- 
vember of that year came here, stopping eight 
weeks with Orson B. Stevens, in Tyrone, while 
building his house on the southeast corner of 
section 25. In 1874 he built his present tasty and 
commodious residence. During his life he has 
added 400 acres to his original purchase, and, hav- 
ing disposed of a portion of it, still retains upwards 
of 240 acres. Commencing life as a poor man, he 
has, by faithful industry and economy, succeeded 
in accumulating a competency, and has earned the 
reputation of a public-spirited citizen. 

Darius Lewis was a settler of 1838. In com- 
pany with Nathaniel and Jabez Lindiey, he came 
to locate his land in the spring of 1836. In Octo- 
ber, 1838, he came from Newstead, Erie Co., N. Y., 
with his wife and two children, and settled on his 
land on section 15. There he lived until 1863, 
when he moved to Deer Creek, on section 6, and 
lived there till his death, January i, 1871. He 
was rather a peculiar man, full of a nervous en- 
ergy, and exceedingly tenacious in accomplishing 
anything he undertook to do. He was engaged 
in farming, but also practiced law in the justice's 
courts of this and adjoining towns, and acquired 
considerable reputation as a successful pettifog- 
ger. He was the first postmaster at the Centre, 
and enjoyed the distinction of being the only 
54 



Whig or Republican ever elected to the office 
of supervisor of this town. His widow and two 
sons, Hartweil and Philander, are still living in 
Deerfield. 

The Marbles have been among the most promi- 
nent families of the town since their arrival, in 
April, 1840. Ira Marble was a native of Elast 
Douglass, Mass. When a youth the family moved 
to Dixfieid, Oxford Co., Me., and there he after- 
wards married Miss Hannah Park With her and 
three sons, in 1829, he came to Nelson, Madison 
Co., N. Y., rented a farm, and lived on it one year. 
Then he came to Ann Arbor and took up an 80- 
acre farm. Five years later he sold that, and took 
up another new farm of 80 acres, which he also 
cleared before coming to Deerfield. In 1840 he 
traded his Ann Arbor property with a Mr. Jones for 
160 acres on section 26, in this town, and moved 
into the house he had built, about twenty rods 
east of the southwest corner of the section. Here 
he devoted his life to farming and dealing in real 
estate At one time he owned 760 acres of land 
in this town. He was supervisor of the town 
three years, and retired from the office only be- 
cause he would not accept it again. He gave 
each of his children a farm, or its equivalent, and 
retained a homestead of 170 acres. He died June 
26, 1870, and his wife died Dec. 26, 1873. He 
had si.v children, — four sons and two daugh- 
ters. The eldest of these, Moses P., married 
Elizabeth, a daughter of John Anderson, of this 
town, and is now living on the homestead with his 
second wife, formerly Mrs. Rhoda Graves; Enoch 
M. married Theresa Pike, a daughter of William 
Pike, and lived in this town till, some seven or 
eight years ago, he moved to his present home in 
Handy. He was quite prominent as a political 
leader of the Democratic party of this town, and 
served one year as constable, six terms as school 
inspector, two terms as highway commissioner, 
three years as town treasurer, four years as town 
clerk, and one year as supervisor. Ira O. married 
Mary, daughter of John How, Sr., in 1849, 3-"*^ '^ 
now living on section 34, on the farm he purchased 
from the heirs of Henry I. Lown. He has been 
prominent in political life, having held the offices 
of constable, school inspector, highway commis- 
sioner, treasurer, justice of the peace, and super- 
visor in this town, — the last-named office for four 
terms, — and has served one term as treasurer of 
the county. Oscar V. married Margaret, a daugh- 
ter of John Anderson, and is now living in Ne- 
braska, where he moved in 1878. Polly E. mar- 
ried John H. Bristol, and died in this town in 
September, 1869. Maria married John Merrill, 
and is now living on section 21, in this town. 



426 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



William A. Hull and his son, Mishal, came 
from Newark, Wayne Co., N. Y., in the spring of 
1845, and settled on section 22, on land they had 
bought of Rensselaer Pomeroy, who entered it in 
1836. They were originally from New Jersey. 
In 1866, William A. removed to Hartland village, 
and died there a few years since. Mishal is still a 
resident of Deerfield and one of its prominent 
men, and is living on section ^O, having removed 
there in September, 1878. 

No doubt there are others among the earlier 
residents who are worthy of special mention, and 
whom we would gladly give a place in this sketch 
had we material in hand to enable us to do so. 
Among them would appear the names of the 
Adams's, David Dickson, Joseph Hosley, B. W. 
Sherwood, Edwin P. Spencer, the Sellers family, 
E. F. Cooley, Sidney M. Hawley, Alfred Holmes, 
William Pike, Robert McGariy, Freeborn Luce, 
John W. Locke, James Van Benschoten, Lyman 
Lee, David Royce, William Payne, Beia Fenner, 
David B. Bradley, James ScuUin, and others of 
more or less prominence in the subsequent history 
of the town. But it is impossible to go into detail, 
as we have already transcended the usual limit of 
space assigned to this branch of the work. Before 
proceeding farther, however, we will give the 
earliest ta.x-roll of the town now to be found, or, 
rather, so much of it as contains the names of 
resident tax-payers. The earliest roll, of which 
any record has been preserved, was made in 1838, 
and a warrant for the collection of taxes, hereafter 
mentioned, was issued to Daniel Boutell, collector, 
by the Board of Supervisors, on the 6th day of 
October. It was signed by John How. Jacob 
Snell, Richard Lyon, Andrew Osborn, Robert 
Worden, Jr., Ralph Fowler, John J. Blackmer, 
George W. Lee, Joseph M. Becker, and Solomon 
Sutherland. The tax included the followine items 
viz.: For township expenses, ^120.75; for town- 
ship poor, $2$. To which was added the State 
and county tax, the amount of which was not 
specified, and an additional sum of five per cent, 
for collector's fees. Only a small portion of this 
roll, containing the names of non-resident ta.x- 
payers, has been preserved, and for the first com- 
plete roll we are obliged to take that of 1844. 
We copy from that the names of the resident tax- 
payers, with the number of the section on which 
they were located, the number of acres assessed to 
them, the valuations of their real and personal 
estate, and the amount of their ta.x. The list is 
as follows: 

Name. Section. Acres. Valuation. 

Au'itin Allen 14 80 $255 

William Bennett 3 160 320 

William Bradley '. 4 40 68 



Name Section. Acres. 

Philo Bradley 9 220 

Benjamin Bennett 10, 11 2S0 

Adam B. Bailey 2 40 

Julins K. Blackburn i, 12 120 

Abiram Blackl^urn i, 12 80 

Amos Bnll 12, 14 145 

Tliomas A. Burl 23 15 

Geoige Burr 24 40 

Benjainin Bangs 19,"* 24 130 

Hiram Binckburn 24 40 

Lorenzo Boutell 19, 24,f 25,f 30 322 

Daniel Boutell 25, 30, 3of 321 

Peter Busli 26 80 

Michael Bennett 34 200 

John Cramer 3 120 

Alexander Cramer 

Catharine Colburn 11 40 

l->ryan Cnrr 24 40 

E. F. Ciiulcy 22 80 

Robert Chandlers 20, 29 160 

Rufus Clark 29, 31 120 

James Curdy 32 30 

James Claik 

John Cl.irk 

Joseph Chaniberlin 25, 30* 14S 

James Conklin 27, 34 160 

Samuel Cole ^^ 1 10 

Nathan Cole 33 50 

David Dickson 5 80 

Jacob J. Debar 28 1'^^ 

William Edwards 35 10 

Beta Fenner 22 80 

Broughton Fenner 22 80 

Henry Faussett 32, 33 120 

George Faussett 33 120 

Thomas Faussett ^^ 120 

Elisha Gleason 23 30 

Henry Gibson 18 160 

Daniel T. Hiatt 2 10 

Sidney M. Hawley 5 97 

John How, Sr 5,6,7,8 S46 

Jolin How, |r 7 140 

Jonathan How 5 90 

Wdliani Halt 12, 13 100 

Henry Humphrey 23 10 

Noel Harrington 

Sylvester Hull 18 80 

\Villiam How and A. Jones 

James L. Hills 30, 32 170 

William Hosley 31 252 

Josejih Hosley 31 160 

Daniel S. Ireland 28 238 

Nelson Johnson 2 55 

Bennett Joy 3 80 

William Judd iS 80 

Henry Jubb 20 160 

William Jidrb 29, 30 120 

John Kuo.x 12 60 

Allen Leonard 3 40 

Daniel Locke 2 76 

Samuel Lindley 

Andrew W. Lewis 4 120 

Jabez Lindley II 80 

Nathaniel Lindley 10, 14 160 

Sauniel Leonard 14, 15 160 

Darius Lewis 15 237 

Calvin W. Leonard 

Freeborn Luce 20 120 

Lyman Lee 29, 31 120 

Jolin Lyons 25 80 

James H. Murray 3, 10 118 

Roliert McGary 13 160 

Robert McKinley 21 160 

Timothy McCarthy 36 120 

Benjamin Merrill 33 40 

Ira Marble 26, 35 320 

Moses Marble 26, 35 160 

E. M. M.arble 

John McCarthy 32 40 

Jeremiah McCarthy 32 So 

Charles McCarthy 25, 36 60 

Dennis McCarthy 25 60 

Horace Merrill ^3 ^° 

* Town 4 north, range 6 east, 
f Town 4 north, range 4 east. 



»57o 
770 
100 
2S0 
136 
380 
40 
100 
263 
107 
502 
751 
325 
445 
200 

104 

91 
210 

460 

350 

60 



346 
370 
400 
205 
220 
40 
150 
225 

■93 
280 
190 
240 
60 

395 
20 

167 
1620 
250 
180 
280 



200 

410 
534 
343 
540 
114 
200 
203 
328 
270 
140 
80 
176 

220 
180 
320 

480 
789 

340 

375 
190 
286 
490 
390 
355 
95 
925 

355 

"so 
170 

130 
150 
160 



/ f- 



^. •>.«., 



^C5?5^- -.-^r?^ 



'■^ . 





PnOTCS. Br J ft PHt.-P? f£MTON MICH 



'^-^/is^^ --...-.^^^^^ ^ ^/^ c^' i? afU-,^o^iu/-^^ 



u^^ 



JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN. 



Joseph Chamberlain, one of the pioneers of the 
town of Deerfield, was born in the town of Scipio, 
Cayuga Co., N. Y., May 13, 18 14. He was the 
son of Eeekiel Chamberlain and Sally A. Palmer, 
who had a family of eleven children. The elder 
Chamberlain was a native of Thetford, Vt., and 
settled in Scipio in a very early day. He was an 
industrious, thrifty farmer, and highly esteemed. 
His father, Benjamin Chamberlain, was a Revolu- 
tionary soldier, who served seven years and parti- 
cipated in many of the decisive battles of the war. 
At its close he settled in Thetford, Vt., where 
Ezekiel was born, about 1764. When Joseph was 
six years of age his father removed to Livingston 
Co., N. Y. Up to the age of seventeen he worked 
on the farm, with an occasional term at the district 
school. Frequently, after chopping all day, he 
pursued his studies far into the night by the light 
of hickory barks. At the age of seventeen he 
resolved to commence life for himself He pur- 
chased his time of his father for the s.. n of one 
hundred dollars, and, with a .scanty wardrobe and 
a few dollars in money, started for Michigan. He 
went to Saline, Washtenaw Co., where he engaged 



himself to work as a farm-hand at ten dollars per 
month. At the expiration of two years he returned 
to New York, where he remained several years. 

In 1836 he made a second visit to Michigan, and 
located one hundred and fifty acres of land where 
he now lives. He again returned home, and in the 
autumn of 1838 removed with his family, which 
consisted of his wife and one child. Here he has 
since resided, and in his chosen occupation has 
been very successful. He now owns a fine farm of 
three hundred and ten acres. 

The life of Mr. Chamberlain has been devoted to 
the cares of his farm and his family. He has never 
courted political advancement, preferring the quiet 
of the farm to the excitement of politics. In 1878, 
Mr. Chamberlain was married to Miss Fanny Reed, 
a lady of much culture and n finement. She was 
born in Virgil, Cortland Co., N. Y , April 39, 1S36. 
When she was a babe her parents emigrated to 
Michigan and settled in Jackson Count}'. Mr. 
Chamberlain is emphatically a self-made man. 
Commencing life in a new county, with only a 
strong pair of hands and a robu.^t con.stitution, he 
has attained success in whatever he has undertaken. 



DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



4-V 



Lcres. 


Valuation 


240 


$520 


160 


32° 


240 


810 


80 


160 


So 


>75 


160 


355 


80 


273 


240 


52S 


240 


510 


40 


80 


So 


220 


17 


46 


80 


190 


80 


160 


16S 


440 


200 


480 


.2S 


70 


3 


6 


80 


203 


9S 


215 


'59 


348 


"so 


160 


120 


275 


80 


136 


S 


30 


240 


78S 


80 


320 


40 


"so 


80 


190 


80 


80 


2"7 


534 


12 


24 


SO 


118 


los 


360 


80 


194 


50S 


1870 



Name. Section. 

Hornet H. Nottingham 12, 13, 14 

D.iitirl O'CoimclI 26 

James I'niit 2, 3 

N.ilhan li. Poller 9 

IJe.iii riiilli|is 20 

William I'.iiiie 35, 36 

Willi.iin I,. l'il<e 29 

Elijali Rout 4 

John Rym 3, 34* 

P.ilrieli Uyan 3 

Jolm r. Siiiing.stecn 5 

Iliinslcy Stevens lO 

riiilo SlricliiaiKl lo 

Snnmel Siotit 2 

C.isile Sutherland II, 12, 13 

Willinm Smallcy 

Bishop Slierwooii 5 

Cornelius Slate 23 

William Snow 15 

William S. Spalding 23 

Calvin Spalding 14, 23 

Thomas .Sliarji 21 

Orson Smitii 

Marcus SacUncr 

James ScuUen 28 

Jolin H. Sanford 30 

Rohert Sowders 29 

Joel S. Slillson 30 

John Sellers 22,23,26, 27 

C. 1). Topping 12 

Cyrus U. 'rttomas 

William Thom.as 11 

David Tenney 24 

George Van Valkenburg i 

Stephen Wilson I, 6f 

Joseph Wise, Si" i, 2 

Joseph Wise, Jr I 

Calel) Wood 3 

Warren M. Worden 19 

J. Walsh and G. Green 24, 25, 35 



Of the experiences of the pioneers we can spealc 
but briefly, thougii the trials and adventures they 
met with would be sufificient to fill a volume. The 
neare.st trading point was at Pontiac for a number 
of years, and some went even so far as Detroit to 
find a market for their produce, and a sati.sfactory 
stock of goods from which to select what they 
wanted. When Howell was made the county-seat, 
and .stores were established there, this trade was 
gradually transferred to that point. The grain 
market was at Pontiac until the building of the Grand 
River plank-road afforded a better transportation 
route from Howell. The pioneers had to go to 
Pontiac, too, to get their milling done, and each 
trip occupied at least four days, and often a week's 
time would be necessary to complete it. On one 
occasion John How had to go to mill, and before 
going had to get wheat at Farmington. The trip 
was a long one, and before he returned the fam- 
ily's stock of provision had run very low, and for 
a few days they lived on bran pancakes and on 
buckwheat cakes, made from flour ground in a 
coffee-mill and screened in a flour-sieve. The 
boys, who were hard at work splitting oak-rails, 
used to speak feelingly of the unsatisfactory char- 
acter of this kind of food as a strength-producer. 
The How family used to dress in deer-skin, and, 

* Town 5 north, range 5 east. 
t Town 4 north, range 6 east. 



before they learned to prepare the skins for them- 
selves, used to go to Shiawassee, where Alfred Wil- 
liams kept a trading post, and get of him skins 
he had purchased of the Indians. Game of all 
kinds was abundant, and the usual supply of small 
fruits was found to assist the pioneers in providing 
a variety for their tables. The Irish settlers were 
strangers in a strange land, and did not understand 
the customs of the country. This ignorance, 
coupled with the natural superstition of their minds, 
made them very suspicious and fearful of every- 
thing they could not at once understand. Of 
course tliis has worn away, as time and experience 
have shown them its uselessness, but it was often 
the cause of curious misunderstandings and laugh- 
able mistakes. One of them had a large lot of hay 
to sell, and, hearing of it, one of his Yankee neigh- 
bors who was not known to him went to buy some. 
Coming up to him, he said, " Well, squire, I hear 
you have some hay to sell. How much do you 
ask a ton for it?" The unwonted appellation 
sounded so strangely to the foreigner's ears as to 
alartn him, and he refused to have anything to do 
with the person whose use of such a title in con- 
nection with his name he deemed to be a covert 
underhanded attempt, in some mysterious way, to 
deprive him of or abridge his liberty. 

CIVIL AND POLITICAL. 

When the county of Livingston was organized, 
this town formed a part of the township of Howell, 
and so remained till the spring of 1837. In the 
winter of 1836-37, the inhabitants began to think 
that they were entitled to become a separate polit- 
ical division, and held a meeting at the house of 
Charles D. Topping to consider the question. The 
meeting was held in the evening, and was attended 
by about a half-dozen persons. A petition was 
drawn up and signed preparatory to its presenta- 
tion to the Legislature, and several names were 
proposed. This petition was duly forwarded, and 
the Legislature, ignoring all of the names pro- 
posed, gave the town the name that it pleased them 
to select. The act of erection read as follows: 

" Section 3. All that part of the county of Livingston, desig- 
nated by the United States Survey as township four north, of range 
five and si.x east, be, and the same is hereby set off and organized 
into a separate township, by the name of UcerfielJ; and the first 
township-meeting therein shall be held at the house of Benjamin 
Bennett, in said township." 

As will be seen, the territory thus set off cm- 
braced the present town of Tyrone, which a year 
later was taken off and made into a new township. 

Pursuant to the provision of the act, the first 
town-meeting was held at the house of Benj"amin 
Bennett; but the record of the meeting being kept 



428 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



on loose paper, has, along with those of several 
succeeding years, become lost, thus making the task 
of procuring a Jist of officers laborious and per- 
plexing. 

CIVIL LIST OF DEERFIELD. 
The following list contains the names of all the 
officers of the town of Deerfield, from its organi- 
zation in 1837 to the present year, 1879, as far as 
it has been possible to learn them from any trust- 
worthy source, either from records, or from memory 
when records failed. The books of this town, like 
those of most other towns, have generally been 
kept in a careless and slovenly, and utterly un- 
business-like manner, and the work of gleaning 
from them the statistics needed for a work of this 
character has been laborious, ve.xatious, and un- 
satisfactory. The present clerk, Mr. Cameron, is 
an exception to the general rule. His books are 
kept in a tasty, methodical, and careful manner, 
rendering them ready for reference, and reliable as 
to statement. For the benefit of future historians 
it is to be hoped that the citizens of Deerfield will 
continue so capable and efficient an officer in that 
position as long as he can be induced to accept it. 
With these preliminary remarks, we now introduce 
the list of officers, by years, as follows, viz. : 

1S37. — Supervisor, John How, .Sr. ; Town Clerk, Montgomery P. 
Adams ; Collector, Daniel Boiitell ; Justices of the Peace, 
Robert Chambers (one year), Ch.irles D. Topping (two 
years), Samuel L. Bangs (three years), David Dickson 
(four years).* 

1838. — Supervisor, John How, Sr. ; Town Clerk, Edwin P. Spen- 
cer; Collector, Daniel Boutell ; Justice of the Peace, 
Robert Chambers ; School Insjiectors, Alfred Holmes, 
Lorenzo Boutell, David Dickson, f 

1S39. — Supervisor, John How, Sr. ; Town Clerk, Edwin P. Spen- 
cer; Collector, Daniel Boutell; Treasurer, John How, 
Sr. (appointed) ; Justice of the Peace, Charles D. Top- 
ping ; Assessors, Elhanan F. Cooley, Samuel L. Bangs, 
Daniel Boutell; School Inspectors, Edwin P. Spencer, 
John How, Jr., Samuel L. Bangs. 

1840. — Supervisor, Charles D. Topping; Town Clerk, Edwin P. 
Spencer; Collector, Daniel Boutell; Treasurer, John 
How, Sr. ; Justice of the Peace, John Lyons; Assessors, 
Daniel Boutell, Samuel Leonard, Sidney M. Hawley ; 
School Inspectors, Edwin P. Spencer, Darius Lewis, 
James Pratt. 

1S41, — Supervisor, Alfred Holmes; Town Clerk, Edwin P.Spen- 
cer ; Collector, Daniel Boutell ; Treasurer, John How, 
Sr. ; Justice of the Peace, David Dickson; Assessors, 
Sidney M. Hawley, Joseph Walsh, Rufus Clark ; School 
Inspectors, Edwin P. -Spencer, Horace H. Nollinghara, 
John How, Jr. 

1842. — Supervisor, Alfred Holmes; Town Clerk, Edwin P. Spen- 
cer ; Treasurer, John How, Sr. ; Justice of the Peace, 
John Sellers; Assessors, Samuel Leonard, Ira Marble, 
Alfred Holmes; School Inspectors, Horace H. Notting- 
ham, John H. Sanford, Edwin P. Spencer. 

1843. — Supervisor, Robert Chambers; Town Clerk, John How, 
Jr. ; Treasurer, John How, Sr. ; Justice of the Peace, 



* No record of assessors or school inspectors. 
f No record of assessors. 



Charles D. Topping ; Assessors, Robert Chambers, John 
Ryan, Freeborn Luce; School Inspectors, Joel S Stil- 
son (two years), J. H. Downer (one year). 
1844. — Supervisor, Ira Marble; Town Clerk, John How, Jr.; 
Treasurer, John How, Sr. ; Justice of the Pence, John 
Ryan; Assessors, Ira Marble, John Ryan, George Green ; 
School Inspector, Sidney M. Hawley. 
1845. — Supervisor, Ira Marble; Town Clerk, John How, Jr.; 
Treasurer, John How, Sr. ; Justice of the Peace, David 
Dickson ; Assessors, Ira Marble, Robert Chambers, Sid- 
ney M. Hawley; School Inspector, Benjamin Bangs. 
1846. — Supervisor, Ira Marble; Town Clerk, James Vanben- 
schoten ; Treasurer, Lyman Lee ; Justice of the Peace, 
Robert Chambers ; Assessors, John W. Locke, Freeborn 
Luce; School Inspector, Horace H. Notiingham. 
1S47. — Supervisor, Darius Lewis; Town Clerk, John Sellers; 
Treasurer, Lyman Lee; Justice of the Peace, Charles 
D. Ti^pping; Assessors, Daniel Bimtcll, William Payne; 
School Inspector, Benjamin Bangs. 
1848. — .Supervisor, John How (formerly Jr.) ; Town Clerk, J.ames 
Scullin ; Treasurer, Bela Fenner; Justice of the Peace, 
John Lyons; Assessors, Sidney M. Hawley, William 
Payne; School Inspectors, Benjamin Bangs (full term), 
John Bennett (vacancy). 
1S49. — Supervisor, Charles D. Topping ; Town Clerk, James .Scul- 
lin ; Treasurer, Bela Fenner; Justice of the Peace, 
David Dickson; Assessor, no record; School Inspec- 
tor, James L. Topping. 
1850. — Supervisor, John How; Town Clerk, James Scullin; 
Treasurer, Enoch M. Marble; Justice of the Pence, 
John Andeison; Assessors, William Payne, John W. 
Locke; School Inspector, Enoch M. Marble. 
1851. — Supervisor, John How; Town Clerk, James Scullin; 
Treasurer, Enoch M. Marble ; Justice of the Peace, 
Charles D. Topping; School Inspector, Simeon Kittle. 
1852. — Supervisor, John How; Town Clerk, James Scullin; 
Treasurer, Enoch M. Marble ; Justice of the Peace, Ira 
O. Marble; School Inspectors, Enoch M. Marble (full 
term), Orlando Topping (vacancy). 
1853. — Supervisor, John How; Town Clerk, James Scullin; 
Treasurer, George Bunting; Justices of the Peace, David 
Dickson (full term), Robert Chambers (vacancy) ; School 
Inspector, John Bennett. 
1854. — Supervisor, Daniel Boutell; Town Clerk, Darius Lewis; 
Treasurer, John D. Converse; Justices of the Peace, 
Augustus C. Fox (full term), Robert Chambers (vacancy) ; 
School Inspector, Benjamin Bangs. 
1855. — Supervisor, Charles D. Topping; Town Clerk, Enoch M. 
Marble ; Treasurer, John W. Locke ; Justices of the 
Peace, William A. Hull (full term), Oscar V. Marble 
(vacancy); .School Inspectors, Orlando Topping (full 
term), Mishal Hull (vacancy). 
1S56. — Supervisor, John How; Town Clerk, Enoch M. Marble; 
Treasurer, John W. Locke ; Justice of the Peace, 
Charles D. Topping; .School Inspector, James Scullin. 
1857. — Supervisor, Sidney M. Hawley; Town Clerk, Enoch M. 
Marble ; Treasurer, Charles D. Topping ; Justices of the 
Peace, Franklin Bradley (full tenii), D. T. Hyatt (va- 
cancy) ; School Inspectors, Orlando Topping (full term), 
James Cameron (vacancy). 
1858. — Supervisor, Sidney M. H.awley; Town Clerk, Enoch M. 
Marble ; Treasurer, John W. Locke ; J Justices of the 
Peace, Augustus C. Fox (full term), John Ryan (va- 
cancy) ; School Inspectors, James Cameron (full term), 
John How^ (vacancy). 

J Refused to serve, and the Town Board thereupon appointed 
Charles D. Topping to fill the vacancy on the 22d of April. 

^ How vacated the office, and on the i ith of October the Town 
Boaid met and appointed Ira O. Marble to fill the vacancy. 



DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



429 



1859. — Supervisor, Enoch M. Marble; Town Clerk, John F. Topp- 
ing; Treasurer, James Scullin; Justices of the Peace, 
Philander Sackner (full term), John Ryan (long va- 
cancy), Siilney M. Ilawley (short vacancy); School In- 
spector, Enoch M. Marble. 

i860. — Supervisor, Sidney M. Ilawley; Town Clerk, John F. 
Topping; Treasurer, James Scullin; Justices of the 
Peace, Joseph Wise, Jr. (full temi), George Boutell 
(vacancy) ; School Inspector, Cornelius Bennett. 

l86l. — Supervisor, John How; Town Clerk, George Bunting; 
Treasurer, James Pratt; Justices of the Peace, A. D. 
Royce (full term), Azariah H. Van Camp (vacancy) ; 
School Inspector, Orlando Topping.* 

1862. — Supervisor, John .Sellers; Town Clerk, Robert Chambers; 
Treasurer, Ira O. Marble; Justices of the Peace, Simeon 
Kiltie (full term), William How (vacancy); School In- 
spectors, Cornelius Bennett (full term), James Cameron 
(vacancy). 

1863. — Supervisor, John Sellers; Town Clerk, Robert Chambers; 
Treasurer, Ira O. Marble; Justices of the Peace, John 
Ryan (full term), Thomas How (vacancy); School In- 
spector, John Scullin. j- 

1S64. — Supervisor, John How;J Town Clerk, John F. Topping ; 
Treasurer, George G. Rich ; Justice of the Peace, Joseph 
Wise, Jr. ; School Inspector, Heniy O. Caldwell. J 

1865. — Supervisor, Ira O. Marble; Town Clerk, Robert Cham- 
bers ; Treasurer, George G. Rich ; Justice of the Peace, 
George Douglass; School Inspectors, William B. Skin- 
ner (full term), James Cameron (vacancy), Ellsworth 
S. Bennett and Enoch .M. Marble, appointed May 9th. 

1866. — Supervisor, Ira O. Marble; Town Clerk, Robert Cham- 
bers; Treasurer, James Pratt; Justice of the Peace, 
Simeon Kittle; School Inspectors, James Cameron (full 
term), Henry O. Caldwell (vacancy). 

1S67. — .Supervisor, IraO. Marble; Town Clerk, James Cameron; 
Treasurer, John Ryan ; Justice of the Peace, Augustus 
C. Fox; School Inspector, Henry O. Caldwell. 

1868. — Supervisor, John How; Town Clerk, James Cameron; 
Treasurer, John Ryan; Justice of the Peace, Luther 
Field ; School Inspector, Enoch M. Marble. 

1869. — Supervisor, John How; Town Clerk, James Cameron; 
Treasurer, William W. Henderson; Justiccsof the Peace, 
David Royce (full term), Wiltsie Glaspie (vacancy); 
School Inspector, William B. Skinner. 

1870. — Supervisor, John How; Town Clerk, James Cameron; 
Treasurer, William W. Henderson ; Justice of the Peace, 
John F. Topping; Drain Commissioner, John Ryan; 
School Inspector, Enoch M. Marble. 

1871. — .Supervisor, h^lias H. Sellers; Town Clerk, .Stephen B 
Cooley; Treasurer, William W. Henderson; Justice of 
the Peace, John R. Bunting; Drain Commissi(jner, 
John Ryan ; School Inspectors, John Sweeney (full 
term), James Camerun (vacancy). 

1872. — Supervisor, John How ; Town Clerk, .Stephen B. Cooley; 
Treasurer, Charles H. Topping ; Justice of the Peace, 
James Bennett; Drain Commissioner, John Ryan; 
School Inspector, James Scullin. 

1873. — Supervisor, John How; Town Clerk, Henry Robb; 
Treasurer, James McKeone; Justice of the Peace, Wil- 



* Removed from town the following winter, and on the 1st of 
March, 1862, the Town Board appointed John F. Topping to fill 
the vacancy. 

f He failed to qualify, and William Har]icr was apjiointed in 
his stead. 

J Refused to qualify, and on the 16th of April the Town Board 
tilled the vacancy by the appointment of Sidney M. Ilawley. 

^ During the following summer William Harper removed from 
the town, and on the 24th of September the Town Moaid appointed 
Ellsworth S. Burnett school insjjector to fdl the vacancy. 



liam B. Skinner ; Drain Commissioner, John Ryan ; 
School Inspector, not recorded. 

1874. — Supervisor, James Cameron ;|| Town Clerk, Henry Robb ; 
Treasurer, James McKeone; Justices of the Peace, John 
F. Topping (full term), William B. Skinner (vacancy) ; 
Drain Commissioner, John Ryan ; School Inspector, 
Stephen B. Cooley. 

1875. — Supervisor, E. Henrj' Stiles ; Town Clerk, James Cameron ; 
Treasurer, Minor J. Hosley ; Justice of the Peace, Mishal 
Hull; Drain Commissioner, John Ryan ;T[ School Super- 
intendent, John R. Sweeney; School Inspector, Stephen 
B. Cooley. 

1876. — Supervisor, E. Henry Stiles ; Town Clerk, James Cameron ; 
Treasurer, Minor J. Hosley ; Justice of the Peace, James 
Bennett; Drain Commissioner, Sidney M. Hawley ; 
School Superintendent, John R. Sweeney; School In- 
spector, Wdliam B. Skinner. 

1877. — Supervisor, Ira O. Marble; Town Clerk, James Cameron ; 
Treasurer, James McKeone; Justices of the Peace, 
William Leonard (full teim), Frederick W. Biedow 
(vacancy); Drain Commissioner, Charles Lamb;** 
School Superintendent, Charles H. McKeone; School 
Inspector, William B. Skinner. 

1878. — Supervisor, E. Henry Stiles; Town Clerk, James Cam- 
eron; Treasurer, James McKeone; Justices of the Peace, 
John R. Bunting (full term), Matthias Cummins (va- 
cancy) ; Drain Commissi(mcr, David B. Bradley; School 
.Superintendent, Charles H. McKeone; School Inspector, 
William B. Skinner. 

1S79. — Supervisor, E. Henry Stiles; Town Clerk, James Cam- 
eron; Treasurer, Charles Lamb; Justices of the Peace, 
Alfred V. D. Cook (full teim), Joseph Wise (three years' 
vacancy), James Lnnning (t«o years' vacancy) ; Drain 
Commissioner, William Robb; School Superintendent, 
Timothy F. Sweeney; School Inspector, William B. 
Skinner. If 

Tlie places at wliicli ihc annual town-meetings 
have been held are as follows: in 1837-38, at 
Benjamin Bennett's; 1839,31 Robert Chambers'; 
1840, at Elhanan F. Cooley's; 1841-46, inclusive, 
at Darius Lewis'; the 18 }6 meeting was ad- 
journed to the school-house at Deerfield Centre, 
and from that time till 1863 the meetings were 
held there; 1864, at Calvin W. Leonard's; and 
since 1865, at the town-house. 

It seems, from an examination of the records, 
that it was at first customary to furnish liquor 
upon the occasion of town-meetings and elections, 
and sometimes, it is said, a noticeable degree of 
hilarity was produced in some who were most 
fain to partake of the enticing beverage. On one 
occasion two elderly citizens had become so over- 
come by the united effects of politics and whisky 
as to be nearly oblivious to their external sur- 
roundings. As their homes lay in the same di- 
rection they, mindful of the motto, " United we 
stand, divided we fall," took hold of hands in 

{{ Resigned April 13, and E. Henry Stiles appointed in his stead. 

^ Mr. Ryan died in office, and Joseph Wise was appi>inted 10 
fill the vacancy. 

** He failed to qualify, and Joseph Wise was appointed. 

If Failing to qualify, John R. Sweeney was appointed to fill 
the vacancy. 



43° 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



order to assist one another homeward. The result 
proved the truth of another adage, " When the 
blind lead the blind," etc. ; for " both" fell " into 
the ditch," and in falling they became separated. 
Each struggled to his feet, but with their faces 
turned in opposite directions. Each insisted that 
his way was right, and as neither could convince 
the other of the "error of his way," finally trudged 
away in opposite directions. Through the inter- 
vention of friends both finally reached home safe 
and sound. Warned by such occurrences as this, 
the voters determined to pursue a different policy, 
and in 1843, and for several years thereafter, an- 
nually voted that no liquor should be furnished 
at elections. 

But this action does not fairly represent the 
position of the town on the liquor question, for it 
has generally been a liquor-trafficking and liquor- 
drinking community, at least to a more marked 
degree than most of its sister towns. The only 
records bearing upon the matter are those of 
votes taken at four different times. The first, in 
1845, was 17 voted for license, and 15 against it. 
The second was taken in 1846, and resulted for 
license, 25, against license, 48 The third was the 
vote of 1850, when 66 votes were cast for license, 
and only 14 against it. The last was that taken 
in 1868 as to changes in the constitution of the 
State, when the vote for the prohibitory clause 
was 23, and the vote against it was 185. 

In the matter of building a town-house, the first 
' public action was taken at the town-meeting in 
1863, when ^300 was voted for the purpose of 
building a town-house, and a committee of five, 
consisting of Ira Lamb, James Pratt, James Cam- 
eron, John Sellers, and William Payne, was ap- 
pointed to select and procure a site as near the 
centre of the town as possible. The committee 
purchased a site of Bela Fenner. At the town- 
meeting of 1864, $300 was voted to apply on the 
job, and the committee were instructed to build a 
new house, to cost not more than $800. The com- 
mittee sold back to Mr. Fenner the lot purchased 
of him, and bought of Mr. Leonard one-half acre 
of ground a little west of the northeast corner of 
section 21, for the sum of $20. The contract was 
let to the lowest bidder, Jethro Shout, for 1^790, 
April 28th, and on October 15th, the job being 
completed, the house was accepted, and was occu- 
pied for the election. The total cost of tiie build- 
ing and lot, including furnishing, amounted to about 
$920. 

A special meeting was held Feb. 22, 1868, to 
consider the question of issuing town-bonds to the 
amount of ^ 15,000, in aid of the "Chicago and 
Michigan Grand Trunk Railway." The project 



met with a chilling reception, being negatived by a 
vote of 126 to 46. 

At the annual town-meeting of the same year, 
the proposed changes of the constitution were 
voted upon with the following result : in favor of 
the new constitution, 35 ; against it, 185. For 
annual sessions of the Legislature, o; for bien- 
nial sessions, 191. For prohibition, 23; against 
it, 185. 

Another vote on constitutional amendments was 
taken Nov. 5, 1872, and the following votes were 
cast: for the payment of railroad bonds, 13 ; against 
it, I9S. For the re-division of the judicial districts 
of the State, 12 ; against it, 200. For the proposed 
change in the salaries of State officers, 14; against 
it, 197. 

During the war for the suppression of the Re- 
bellion this town did its best to fill its quota under 
the several calls for troops, and to accomplish this 
result held several special township-meetings. The 
first of these meetings was held in response to a 
petition signed by prominent citizens. It was held 
at the house of Calvin W. Leonard, Feb. 20, 1864, 
and a resolution was passed to raise ;^ioo bounty 
for every man enlisted and credited to the town till 
its quota was filled, by a vote of 1 1 1 to 19. March 
21, 1864, another petition, bearing the names of 
29 citizens, was presented, praying for action at the 
town-meeting to extend this provision to others. 
At the town-meeting held April 4, 1864, it was ac- 
cordingly voted to raise by loan a sufficient sum 
to pay each volunteer who had enlisted or should 
enlist in the United States service and be credited 
to the town, on any quota, under calls of the 
President made since Jan. 7, 1 864, the sum of $ [oo, 
the bonds to bear 7 per cent, interest, and to be 
payable in one, two, and three years. Another 
special meeting, held at Mr. Leonard's, Aug. 6, 
1864, extended the same provisions to drafted men, 
or those who furnished substitutes, subsequent to 
Feb. 4, 1864. 

Previous to June 10, 1865, the sumofg5425 had 
been contributed to clear the town of its liability 
under the call for 500,000 men, and a meeting was 
held on that day to take some action regarding the 
refunding of such contributions by raising a suffi- 
cient sum by tax, and also to pay drafted men in 
1863, '64, and '65, who served or furnished substi- 
tutes, the sum of ^100 each. A motion to raise 
the tax, and also one to pay the bounty, was nega- 
tived by a vote of 91 to 44. 

The population of Deerfield in 1850 was 822. 
In i860 it had increased to 1015. In 1870 
it was 1 128, of whom 98S were natives, and 140 
were of foreign birth. In 1874, for some unex- 
plained reason, the population showed a falling 



DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



431 



off, as it was then reported at 1043. This number 
was divided as follows : Males, under five years, 
78 ; from five to ten years, 60 ; from ten to twenty- 
one years, 153 ; from twenty-one to forty-five years, 
177 ; from forty-five to seventy- five years, 96; from 
seventy-five to ninety years, 9 ; total, 573. Females, 
under five years, 64; from five to ten years, 63 ; 
from ten to eighteen years, 96 ; from eighteen to 
forty years, 145 ; from forty to seventy-five years, 
98; over seventy-five years, 4 ; total, 470. Their 
condition in life was reported as follows: Males, 
from ten to twenty-one, all single, 153; over twenty- 
one, single, 67; married, 199; widowers and di- 
vorced, 16: Females, from ten to eighteen years, 
single, 95 ; married, i ; over eighteen, single, 38 ; 
married, 184; widows and divorced, 25. Total, 
married, 384; single, 618; widowed and divorced, 

41- 

From the census of 1874 we also glean some 
interesting statistics regarding the town, its re- 
sources, and productions, which are given in as 
concise a form as possible. Deerfield then pos- 
sessed an area of taxable lands of 21,659* acres, 
of which 12,078 acres were improved and 49 acres 
were exempt. Three acres were devoted to places 
of burial for the dead, and 2^2 acres to church- and 
parsonage-sites. There were then in the town 184 
farms, averaging an area of 1 17.71 acres each, the 
average being a little higher than is that of most 
towns. In 1873, 3021 acres of wheat were har- 
vested, yielding an average of 1447 bushels to the 
acre, giving the town fourth rank in the county; 
and 1022 acres of corn produced an average of 
27.55 bushels per acre, giving the town the twelfth 
for corn. In the quantity produced it liolds rank 
among the towns of the county as follows: it is 
third for wheat and all other grains, except corn, 
and for pork, fourth for cheese, fifth for potatoes, 
ninth for wool, eleventh for corn, thirteenth for 
butter, and fifteenth for hay. In a general average 
it stands as the seventh town of Livingston County. 
The following table shovvs the quantity of its prod- 
ucts for 1873: 

Bushels of wheat 43.725 Pounds of pork 81,060 

" com 28,152 " cheese 245 

" othergiains 32,102 " butlci 35.525 

" potaUies 8,976 " dried fruit... 3,430 

Tons of hay 1,326 Barrels of cider 324 

Pounds of wool 24,704 

There was then 424 acres of orcharding, and the 
yield of apples for that and the previous year was 
reported at 14,394 bushels in 1872, and 9634 bush- 
els in 1873. 

* By the United States survey the area of the town is reporteil 
at 23,871.25 acres, the sections on the north ovenunning, .inil 
those on the west falling shnrt of the true area of a section. 
Neither the lakes nor the streams were "meandered," which ac- 
counts for the apparent discrepancy. 



The amount of stock kept was for that year: 
horses, 517; mules, 5 ; working oxen, 52; milch 
cows, 417; other neat cattle, 677; swine, 731; 
sheep, 5498. 

As will be seen from this, the towns-people are 
pursuing a diversified system of farming, — paying, 
perhaps, as great attention to dairying and sheep- 
husbandry as to any particular branch, and are 
bringing their town to rank well with the other 
towns of the county. That the soil is fertile, and 
yields a liberal return for the toil of the husband- 
man, and that the people are possessed of thrift 
and public spirit, is evidenced by the many pleas- 
ant dwellings and commodious barns that are scat- 
tered about the town. 

From its organization down to the present time 
the town has been uniformly Democratic in its 
political bias, though from 1845 to 1850 the Whig 
party made strenuous efforts to overcome their 
opponents, and came so near accomplishing their 
object that it put their opponents upon their mettle 
to retain their supremacy. The Democratic ma- 
jority at the general election has ranged from 30 
to 60 since that time. The political hosts on the 
Whig and Republican side have been marshaled 
under the leadership of Darius Lewis, Samuel 
Leonard, Calvin T. Htnnett, Joseph Chamberlin, 
Calvin W. Leonard, and others, while the leaders 
of the Democr.icy have been Hon. Charles D. 
Topping, Hon. John How, Sidney M. Hawley, Ira 
O. and Enoch M. Marble, Robert Chambers, John 
Sellers, E. H. Stiles, and others. Never but once 
have the Democrats failed to elect their candidate 
for supervisor (though often being defeated for 
some of the minor offices), and that memorable 
event occurred in 1847, when Darius Lewis was 
elected by the Whigs. Neither the Know-Noth- 
ings or the Grcenbackers have ever had an exist- 
ence as a party in the town. 

POST-OFFICES. 

The first post-office in Deerfield was established 
in 1837-38. It was intended to call the office by 
the name of the town, but the department having 
already established an office in Lenawee County 
under that name, issued a commission to Alfred 
Holmes as postmaster of" Deer Creek" post-office. 
It was then kept in his blacksinith-shop, a little 
south of the west quarter-post of section 17. 
In 1843 the office was transferred to John How, 
and moved to his house on section 6, where it re- 
mained for about seventeen years. In 1848, Mr. 
How died, and was succeeded by his son William, 
who retained it till his death, in 1864. His widow 
kept it a few months, and then it was transferred 
to Darius Lewis, who, for private reasons, kept it 



432 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



for a while on his front stoop. His successor was 
Alexander Bain, who kept it at his ashery, and was 
succeeded by the present postmaster, William W. 
Henderson, in 1870, since which time it has been 
kept in the store. 

Daniel Boutell first carried the mail over this 
route, which led from Howell to Shiawassee, em- 
bracing the offices of Deer Creek and Byron. 
Oak Grove, Cohoctah (at first called Tuscola), 
Argentine, and Madison were added when they 
were established, and the northern terminus of 
the route transferred to Linden, so that the pres- 
ent route embraces five offices, and is more than 
thirty miles long. The round trip is made from 
Linden to Howell and return on Thursday and 
Friday of each week. 

The Madison post-office was early established at 
Deerfield Centre, but the exact date is not known. 
It was probably during the early part of Harrison's 
administration, as the first postmaster, Darius 
Lewis, was an ardent and zealous Whig, and would 
hardly have been selected for the post by a Dem- 
ocratic administration. Why the name Madison 
was given it is not known, thougli it was without 
doubt in honor of the ex-President. Mr. Lewis 
kept the office several years at his residence on 
section 15, and then it was turned over to John 
Anderson, and removed a half-mile west of the 
Centre. It was then brought back to the Centre 
and kept a couple of years by Calvin W. Leonard, 
and afterwards by Lewis until his removal to Deer 
Creek, in 1863, when Luther V. Field was appointed 
to succeed him. Since Field, the office has been 
kept successively by Mishal Hull, Edwin Town- 
send, Leroy Dean, and the present postmaster, 
George Gibson. At first it was on a special route 
to Argentine, but was afterwards changed to the 
Howell and Linden route, to which it now belongs. 

INDUSTRIES. 

The first mechanical industry in the town was 
the manufacture of lumber, and was inaugurated 
by John How, who rigged and operated a " pit- 
saw" for that purpose in 1834. This primitive 
style of sawing did not long remain in vogue, for 
in the winter of 1835-36 he commenced work on 
a saw-mill. The first step was the building of a 
dam across the Shiawassee River, and the spot fi.xed 
upon was that where the stream crossed the south 
line of section 6. The line of the dam lay diag- 
onally across the section line, and it was about lOO 
feet long. It was built of logs held in place by 
small trees, whose butts rested upon tiie logs of 
the dam, and whose untrimmed tops extended up- 
stream, and were anchored by dirt and stone 
dumped upon them. It was necessary at times to 



do this work of filling in by cutting holes through 
the ice that formed and dumping the ballast through 
them. In the spring, when the sun began to warm 
up the earth and streams, the water began to work 
through the half-frozen, lumpy mass, and soon 
undermined the dam, which, as the freshet increased 
in volume, was nearly all swept away. It was re- 
built as soon as the high water subsided, and in 
the following summer the mill was built and com- 
menced operations. This mill was about 20 by 
42 feet in size, furnished with an old-fashioned 
" flutter-wheel" and a " sash" saw, and was run 
simply for custom sawing, though Mr. How after- 
wards bought some land on section 18, on which 
was some fine timber, and did a little lumbering. 
But even this lumber was used for building pur- 
poses by the settlers of this and adjoining towns. 
After Mr. How's death the mill property passed 
through several ownerships, and finally came into 
the possession of Isaac L. & D. N. Roberts, who, 
about 1852-53, built the first grist-mill in the town. 
Since that time the property has had several owners, 
and has been divided. The grist mill has been 
owned by Philander Sackner, David B. Bradley, 
Isaac L. Roberts, William Sturgis, Isaac L. Rob- 
erts, Darius Lewis, George Green, and is now 
owned by Holcomb & Green. It is a building 36 
by 44 feet in size, two stories high, with a base- 
ment, and fitted up with two run of stones and 
the usual accompanying machinery. It has three 
iron turbine water-wheels, furnishing an aggregate 
of about 40 horse-power. It has a capacity for 
grinding 150 bushels of wheat and 300 bushels of 
feed per day, and is doing a good custom business. 
The saw-mill has been owned, since the property 
was divided, by Philander Sackner, Joseph Rider, 
George G. Gibson, and Simeon Kittle, who is the 
present proprietor. Before the division it was 
rebuilt as it now stands. Its annual product was 
put down in 1874 at 100,000 feet. It now does 
but a limited custom business in times of high 
water. 

In 1838 a distillery was built by Joseph Walsh 
and George Green, on section 25. They began 
operating it in the fall of 1839, and for nearly 
thirty years it was kept running for about nine 
months in the year. Its daily consumption of 
grain was about eighteen bushels. After Mr. 
Walsh's death the business was continued by Mr. 
Green until 1867, when it was given up on account 
of the high tax imposed, and because, from its lo- 
cation away from the arteries of commerce, it was 
difficult to get supplies to it, and to ship its pro- 
duct. 

An ashery was operated at Deer Creek several 
years ago by Alexander Bain, and was subse- 



DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



433 



quently moved to his land on section 17, where 
it was run for a while and then abandoned. 

The first blacksmith in the town, so far as known, 
was Alfred Holmes, who had a shop on section 17 
as early as 1837. William Snow had a shop near 
the Centre as early as 1840. 

The first store was kept by William Edwards, 
who bought a few acres of ground on section 35, 
of William Payne, and opened a store on the corner 
opposite the old Cole's tavern in Oceola, about the 
year 1844. 

VILLAGES. 

In an agricultural community villages are usually 
of slow growth, and rarely attain to any consider- 
able size, unless, by means of manufactories and 
railroads, a foundation is laid, and an impetus given 
to the trades and branches of business that build 
up a place. And yet, to the citizens of the vicinity, 
the growth of these little hamlets possess a degree 
of interest that renders a history of them, however 
brief, desirable. 

DEER CREEK, 

which received its name from the post-office, lies 
in the northwest part of the town, mostly on the 
southeast quarter of section 6, but extending a 
little on to the northeast quarter of section 7. It 
is very pleasantly located on high, lightly-rolling 
ground, on the east bank of the south branch of 
the Shiawassee River, and contains a population 
of about 75 souls. The name most commonly 
applied to it by people of the vicinity is " How- 
burg," derived from the name of John How, the 
original owner of the land on which it is built. 

The first step towards the building up of the 
village was the erection of the mills already de- 
scribed and of houses to accommodate the owner 
and employees. While Isaac L. Roberts was 
operating the mills he opened the first store in 
the place in a building he had erected on the site 
of Mr. Henderson's present store. On that site 
stores have since been kept by John Davis and the 
present merchant, Mr. W. W. Henderson. Another 
store was opened soon after the close of the war 
by James Rooney, on the corner just north of 
Henderson's building. The building was after- 
wards used for a cabinet-shop, a saloon, and other 
purpo.ses, and Oct. I, 1878, was again opened as a 
store by Adelbert D. Chase, acting in the capacity 
of agent for Leslie Lewis, of Fenton. Just before 
the war, Jotham Hrcffbrd opened a blacksmith- 
shop at this point, but soon after was succeeded 
by Horace Soper. The first wagon-shop was 
started by a Mr. Bentley, some ten or twelve 
years ago, in a small building on the north side of 
the road near the grist-mill. In 1877, Isaac Hop- 
per built a new shop on nearly the same site, and 
55 



is doing a moderate business. At the present 
time the village consists of one grist-mill, one 
saw-mill, one wagon-shop, two blacksmith-shops, 
two stores, and fifteen dwellings. 

DEERFIELD CENTRE, 
as its name implies, is located at the centre of the 
town, and is but a little huddle of dwellings, with 
a store and blacksmith-shop. It commenced in 
1842, when Calvin W. Leonard made the first pur- 
chase of land on the school section, and built the 
first house in the village. It was located on the 
site of Mr. Leonard's present handsome residence. 
At that time the nearest houses were Bela Fen- 
ner's, a half-mile south, and Elhanan F. Cooky's 
and Elias B. Holcomb's, about the same distance 
east. A couple of years later Mr. Fenner sold 
two small lots on the north line of section 22 to 
Addison Sutherland and Mishal Hull. Each of 
them built a house on his lot, and Sutherland, 
who was a blacksmith, also put up a small shop 
on his lot, and went to work at his trade, Hull 
working in the shop with him. The next build- 
ing erected was the stone building on the south- 
west corner of section 15, which was intended for 
a school-house, but not used as such,* the district 
voting to not accept the building, and subsequently 
purchased another site of Mr. Leonard, and on 
that erected their present frame school-house, one 
of the best in the town, at a cost of about *58oo. 
Next, the town-house was built in the summer of 
1864, and soon after John R. Bunting, a returned 
soldier, who had lost one foot in the service of 
his country, erected the present store building, and 
opened a grocery. He soon after sold to Mishal 
Hull. Since then it has passed through several 
hands, and is now owned by a Mr. Giddings, of 
Gaines, Genesee Co., Mich. In 1874 the Methodist 
church was built. The present statistics of the 
village show that it contains one church, one 
school-house, one town-house, one store and post- 
office, one blacksmith-shop, about a dozen dwell- 
ings, and a population of about 50. 

HIGHWAYS. 

The first road in the town was the one opened 
by the How family, leading north from their settle- 
ment to the Shiawassee road, or trail as it then was. 
Of course this was not surveyed, but was cleared of 
rubbish and marked by " blazed trees" as a private 
undertaking. The first recorded surveys of roads 

* Some time about 1869 the stone building and one acre of 
ground w.-is purcha.sed by Mr. Leonard, wlio finished it off for a 
blacksmilh-shop and sold it to George Knickerbocker, who worked 
in it for some time. After several changes of owners it was finally 
bought by Mishal Hull and fitted up for a store-room in connec- 
tion with the store, — a use to which it h-is ever since been devoted. 



434- 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



were made by A. Adams, between the 1 5 th and 20th 
days of May, 1837, and were opened in the follow- 
ing order: first, a road in continuation of the one 
running east from Oak Grove, which crossed sec- 
tions 31 and 32 in a southeast direction, and passed 
into Oceola ; second, a road running on section 
line from the northeast corner of section 3 1 to the 
west line of Tyrone ; third, one across the town a 
mile north of the second road ; fourth, one con- 
necting these two, running from the northeast corner 
of section 32 to the northeast corner of section 29; 
fifth, one running west, three-quarters of a mile from 
the east quarter-post of section 18; sixth, one run- 
ning from the northeast corner of section 31 to the 
southeast corner of section 6. These roads were, of 
course, supplemented by others as fast as the needs 
of the pioneers made them necessary. In 1847 the 
non-resident highway tax was appropriated " to 
build a bridge across Ore Creek at Bennett's dam," 
which is now one of the most important bridges in 
the town, it being on the direct road to Linden and 
Fenton. The present fine bridge at that point was 
erected in the centennial year. The How bridge 
across the Shiawassee was built in 185 1. 

SCHOOLS. 

The division of the town into school districts was 
a work which extended through a considerable 
length of time, and since their first formation many 
changes in their boundary lines and numbers have 
been made from time to time, so that it would be 
a laborious task, as it would be a practically useless 
one, to try to trace them all from their organization 
to the present. We will therefore give but a brief 
resume of the most salient points in the history of 
each. 

District No. i was formed May 5, 1838, and 
then embraced sections 3, 10, and 15, and the west 
half of sections 2, 11, and 14. It now contains 
section 10, the greater part of sections 2, 3, and 1 1, 
and small parts of sections 14 and 15. Samuel 
Leonard was the prime mover in getting this dis- 
trict organized. A log school-house was built, in 
the summer of 1838, by John Anable and " Bee- 
Hunter" Johnson. Edwin P. Spencer taught the 
first school there, — which was also the first in the 
town, — in the winter of 1838-39. Some tw^enty- 
six years ago the school-house was replaced by the 
present brick building, which will seat 35 pupils, 
and is valued at $750. Ann Stephens and Alma 
Debar were early teachers in this district. 

District No. 2 was formed Oct. i, 1839, and con- 
sisted of sections 24, 25, 26, 35, and 36, and the 
east half of section 23. It now embraces sections 
24 and 25, three-quarters of sections 26 and 36, 
seven-eighths of section 23, and the east half of 



section 35. The first school-house was built on 
section 24, in 1839; it was burned down and re- 
placed by another, which gave place to the present 
frame building some twelve or fourteen years ago. 
This house will accommodate 90 scholars, and is 
valued at §700. 

District No. 3, as first formed, Oct. 3, 1838, em- 
braced sections 33 and 34 in this town, and sections 
3 and 4 in Oceola. It is now entirely in this town, 
and is known as No. 11. It contains section 34, 
seven-eighths of sections 27 and 33, three-quarters 
of section 28, the west half of section 35, three- 
eighths of section 32, and one-fourth of sections 26 
and 29. The first school-house in this district was 
a log building, which stood about eighty rods from 
the town line, on section 34. In 1850-51 the dis- 
trict got into turmoil over the question of selecting 
a site for a new school-house, the question was 
carried to the courts, and even before the Legisla- 
ture, and finally two buildings were erected, one 
on the northwest corner of section 34, and another 
near the town line. It resulted in a disruption of 
the district, and the establishing of the northern 
lot as the regular site. The building erected there 
was a small one, and cost about $100, exclusive of 
the voluntary labor performed on it by the citizens. 
The present frame house, built in 1866, will seat 
50 pupils, and cost about ^1000. 

District No. 4 was formed Oct. 24, 1838, and 
consisted of sections 1,12, and 13, and the east 
half of sections 2, 11, and 14. It now contains 
the whole of sections 12 and 13, and parts of all 
the others, but is considerably smaller than at first. 
The school-house is a frame building, capable of 
accommodating 50 pupils, and is valued at $500. 
It stands near the north quarter-post of section 13. 

District No. 5 was formed Jan. 5, 1849, and was 
made a fractional district by the addition of some 
territory in Tuscola (now Cohoctah) on the i8th 
of December, 1841. By subsequent changes it 
has been made the largest district in the town, now 
embracing sections 18, 19, 20, 30, and 31, and por- 
tions of sections 17, 21, 28, 29, and 32. The school- 
house is a frame building, capable of seating 125 
pupils, valued at ^600, and stands on the northeast 
corner of section 30. 

District No. 6 was formed Oct. i, 1839, and con- 
tained the whole of sections 22 and 27, and parts 
of sections 14, 15, 16, 21, and 23. The first meet- 
ing recorded was held May 6, 1844. This is the 
central district of the town, and now embraces the 
whole of section 16, the greater portion of sections 
15, 21, and 22, and parts of sections 9, 17, and 
14. The school-buildings in this district have 
been mentioned heretofore. The present one will 
accommodate 70 scholars, and is valued at 5500. 



DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



435 



District No. 7, now obsolete, was organized 
March 2, 1839, from sections 20, 21, 28, and 29. 

District No. 8 was formed Feb. 16, 1841. It 
now contains sections 5, 6, 7, and 8, and jxirts of 
sections 4 and 9. Tlie school-house is a rather 
dilapidated frame building, seated for 65 scholars, 
and reported to be worth ;$700. It is situated in 
section 5. 

District No. 9, now obsolete, was formed of sec- 
tion 32 in Dccrficld and adjoining territory in 
Oceola, Jan. 14, 1843. Another district was 
formed May 2, 1846, with this number (containing 
parts of sections 7, 8, 18, and 17), which has also 
become a thing of the past. 

District No. 1 2 is fractional with Argentine, and 
comprises in this town parts of sections 3, 4, and 
5. The school-house, valued at ;^250, is a frame 
building, fitted for 40 scholars, and located in sec- 
tion 4. 

The first full report of the districts to the school 
inspectors was made in 1843, and whatever com- 
parisons are made in the following statistics are 
made between the years 1843 and 1879. 

No record of the total expenditures for support 
of schools in 1843 is to be had, but in 1879 the 
amounts in the several districts were reported as 
follows: No. I, ^194.84; No. 2, $378.26; No. 4, 
gi86; No. 5, ,$308.44; No. 6, $278.05 ; No. 8, $239; 
No. 11, $177.50; No. 12, $218.58; total, $1980.67. 

The following list is composed of the early 
teachers of the town, and embraces all to whom 
certificates were granted by the school inspectors 
previous to the year 1850, so far as any record has 
been preserved. The first seven were commis- 
sioned in 1 844. The names are Horace M. Notting- 
ham, Matilda B. Nottingham, Matilda Humphrey, 
Mary Nelson, Rhoda F. Packard, Theresa Pike, 
Sarah Gibbs, Graham N. Barker, Jasper Bentley, 
Harvey R. Stevens, Cynthia and Caroline L. Royce, 
James Vanbenschotcn, John Curran, Mary and 
William Clark, Emeline Sprague, Abby F. Jones, 
Joel A. Chapman, Lucinda M. Hart, John Bennett, 
Emeline Youngs, James Andrews, Sophia Topping, 
Maria Chrispell, Theda Y. Hazard, Martha A. Leet, 
Herman I. Cranston, John How, Martha J. Van- 
keuren, Esther M. and Nancy J. Batcheller, Mary 
G. Sutherland, Esther Marvin, John F. Topping, 
Hudson B. Blackman, and Core)'. 

RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 

In the late fall of 1836, the first religious 
meeting in the town of Decrfield was held, at the 
house of Reuben Pease, on section 14, in the Top- 
ping neighborhood. Rev. Washington Jackson, 
the pioneer Methodist preacher of this vicinity, 
had given out the appointment, in connection with 



several others in this region, some time before. It 
was a Sunday appointment, and a severe wintry 
storm which set in and continued through the pre- 
ceding night, and was unabated on Sabbath morn- 
ing, promised to prevent the meeting. But the 
people were hardy pioneers, used to and fearless of 
storms, and load after load of people came from 
different directions through the snow-drifts, the 
ox-teams and drivers hoary with snow and frost. 
In spite of the inclement weather a large congre- 
gation got together; the meeting was one of un- 
usual interest, and long held a place in the remem- 
brance of those who attended it. 

No regular class was formed in this town until 
October, 1846, when the 

FIRST METHODIST EPI.SCOPAL CHURCH OF DEER- 
FIELD 

was organized at the Centre. It had but a few 
members, among them being Mrs. John Anderson, 
John D. Converse and wife, Reuben Young and 
wife, and William A. and Elizabeth Hull. Mr. 
Hull was the first class-leader. What its first cir- 
cuit relation was is not known. Upon the organ- 
ization of the Oak Grove circuit, in 1855, it was 
connected with that circuit, and so remained until 
1874, when it was transferred to the new Parshall- 
ville circuit It has had quite a varied experience, 
meeting with, perhaps, more than the usual amount 
of alternating periods of prosperity and adversity, 
but still maintains its position upon the battlements 
and floats the pure white banner of the Saviour to 
guide repentant sinners to the pathway leading to 
life eternal. Its present membership is about 25. 
No clas,s-leader has been appointed since the posi- 
tion was vacated some time ago, and the preacher 
in charge of the circuit consequently acts in that 
capacity. The pastors of the church since 1855 
have been as follows: 1855, William Birdsall ; 
1856, Lyman H. Dean; 1857, L. P. Murch ; 
1858-59, James H. Caster; i860, F. Brittan; 
1861-62, Samuel P. Lee; 1863-64, James R. Cor- 
don and J. G. Horton, two months; 1865-66, D. 
O. Balls; 1866-68, Joseph W. Holt and J. G. Hor- 
ton in the latter year; 1869-70, Alexander Gee; 
1871-74, James Balls; 1875, Orlando Sanborn; 
1876, William Birdsall; 1877-78, Edwin Daw; 
1879, Orlando Sanborn. Under the preaching of 
Rev. E. E. Caster, O. II. P. Green, and Edwin Daw 
there were revivals, that under Caster being the 
most notable and extensive. 

The meetings were held principally at the 
school-house at the Centre, until the building of 
the church in 1874. This edifice was built as a 
sort of union church, but has been controlled by 
the Methodists, and is such practically. It is 



436 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



legally known as the " First Church in Deerfield." 
The ground on which the church was erected, 
consisting of one-half acre on section 2i, was pur- 
chased of Calvin W. Leonard for $50, and the 
church was built by Robert Chambers, of Howell, 
and Charles Chambers, of Cohoctah, and cost 
altogether, including furnishing, about ^2400. 
The ceremony of dedication took place Oct. 27, 

1874, Rev. Mr. McEldowney, of Flint, preaching 
the discourse, and Revs. W. E. Bigelow, P. E., 
John Hamilton, and James Balls participating on 
the occasion. 

The formal incorporation occurred Feb. 16, 

1875, when, at a meeting of the Quarterly Confer- 
ence of Oak Grove Circuit, Flint District, Detroit 
Annual Conference, held at Deerfield Centre, 
Daniel O. Taft, Danford Parker, Josephus Lair, 
John Hetcheler, Mishal Hull, Wiltsey Glaspie, and 
William Leonard were elected as the first board of 
trustees. The first four were members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. The present board 
is composed of George Bunting, Nelson Lamb, 
Abram Major, Hiram Farnham, Calvin Spalding, 
John F. Topping, and James Tamlin. 

BAPTIST. 

A Baptist society was formed some time between 
1845 and 1850, at the school-house in District No. 
I, it being a branch of the church at Parshallville. 
Its membership was small, and contained, among 
others, Horace H. Nottingham and wife, Mrs. 
Samuel Leonard, Mrs. Perry, Mrs. Jemima Downer, 
Abiram Blackburn, wife, and mother, and Jethro 
Shout and wife. Preaching was kept up once a 
month, at the school-house, for a few years, and 
then the society was broken up, its individual 
members transferring their membership to other 
churches of the connection. At the present time, 
Baptist services are held every two weeks at the 
church in Deerfield Centre, by Rev. I. W. Lamb, 
pastor of the Parshallville Church. 

ROMAN CATHOLIC. 

There were a number of Irish emigrants amone 
the early settlers of Deerfield, all of whom were 
communicants of the Church of Rome, and as 
soon as they could see their way clear to do so, 
they set at work to erect a church. Preparatory 
to this undertaking a church was organized in 
June, 1846, by Rev. Patrick Kelly, a missionary 
sent out to organize churches among the Catholics 
of this State, which then numbered 13 families, 
most of them being young married people. James 
McKeone was the leader of the enterprise, and 
among the others who assisted in the work were 
Dennis and Timothy McCarthy, Bryan Corr, John 



McKeone, Edward Sweeney, Michael Bennett, Pat- 
rick and James Conklin, James Scullin, James 
Murphy, James McGuire, and John Ryan. 

Joseph Walsh, who was not a member of the 
church, gave two acres of ground on section 25 
for a church site, and on it the church was erected 
that season. The frame was put up and inclosed 
and an altar built so that services could be held in 
it, and then the work stopped, and was not re- 
sumed until in 1862, when it was finished. A few 
years ago it was thoroughly repaired. Its first cost 
was about ^400, but at the present time it is valued 
at ;^2000. In 1857 two acres of ground on the 
southeast corner of section 26 was purchased, and 
on that a parsonage was built, at a cost of about 
^1000. 

This church was first connected with six other 
appointments, Oceola being one, and is now a mis- 
sion of the Fenton Church. In connection with 
the churches of Fenton and Gaines, they are now 
building a church in the west part of the town of 
Cohoctah. The present membership includes 76 
families. The pastors have been Revs. Patrick 
Kelly, Francis X. Vanpalmer, Joseph Lambert, 
F. X. Pourette, Thomas Rafter, James Wheeler, 
and William Kilroy. 

Although not incorporated, — the priest, accord- 
ing to the rules of the church, holding the title, — 
the church is known as " St. Peter's and Paul's 
Roman Catholic Church of Deerfield." 

CEMETERIES. 

There are but three burying-grounds in Deer- 
field, and two of these have been regularly incor- 
porated. The first is called 

THE DEERFIELD CENTRE BURIAL-GROUND. 

As has been mentioned, the first death in town, 
so far as known, was that of Mrs. Achsah (Wood) 
Bennett, the second wife of Benjamin Bennett, who 
died in June, 1837. The second is believed to 
have been that of Mrs. Nancy Faussett, widow of 
James Faussett, and mother of Thomas and George 
Faussett : she was the first person buried in this 
ground. Her death occurred March 6, 1838. 
Other early deaths were those of Mr. Joseph 
Wise's father, date unknown ; Lydia E. Luce 
(daughter of P'reeborn and Eunice Luce), an in- 
fant, Aug. 2, 1838; and Mrs. Sarah Boutell, second 
wife of Lorenzo Boutell, Oct. 9, 1840. 

Mrs. Faussett's nephew, Thomas Sharp, was 
one day talking with her when she broached the 
subject of death, and said that she would soon be 
called away, and wanted to select a pleasant place 
of burial before she died. Mr. Sharp told her 
that, if she had no objection to being buried upon 



COIIOCTAH TOWNSHIP. 



437 



his farm, lie would give her an acre on any part 
of his land she should select, to bo used as a 
burying-ground for the neighborhood. She made 
her selection, taking a piece near the northeast 
corner of the southeast quarter of section 21; 
and there, within two years' time, she was buried 
on the very spot selected by herself, where a 
marble slab marks her resting-place. From time 
to time other interments have been made, until the 
original lot became so well filled as to necessitate 
an addition being made, which was accordingly 
done. The ground is well kept and contains a 
number of neat and tasty monuments and tomb- 
stones. 

The first transfer of the title was made Jan. 20, 
1855, when the ground was deeded to John Sellers, 
E. F. Cooley, and Darius Lewis, trustees of the 
Deerfield Centre Burying-Ground. The formal 
incorporation took place at a meeting held May 
16, 1863. The officers elected were: President, 
Elhanan F. Cooley; Secretary, Simeon Kittle; 
Treasurer, John Sellers; Se.xton, John Merrill. 

At that time, Ira Lamb, A. D. Royce, John F. 
Topping, William Leonard, E. B. Holcomb, Calvin 
W. Leonard, John Anderson, Luther V. Field, and 
Samuel Leonard, in addition to those already 
named, were members of the association. 

The present officers are : President, Elias B. 
Holcomb; Vice-President, Christopher Nicholson; 
Secretary, Almeron Holcomb; Treasurer, Mishal 
Hull; Se.xton, John Merrill. 



DEER CREEK BURYING-GROUND. 

This is located on the northeast quarter of sec- 
tion 7. It contains about 1. 1 acres. The ground 
was first opened in 1846, by John How, as a family 
and neighborhood burial-place, and was finally in- 
corporated at a meeting held in the Deer Creek 
school-house, Oct. 30, 1875. After adopting a 
name, officers were chosen as follows : President, 
John How ; Vice-President, William W. Hender- 
son; Secretary, Frederick Bredow; Treasurer, Da- 
vid B. Bradley ; Sexton, John G. Gibson. These 
officers hold their position at the pleasure of the 
association until removed for cause. No change 
has yet been made in the official board. 

CATHOLIC CEMETERY. 

Around the Catholic church, on section 25, is 
located the third burying-ground in Deerfield. It 
contains nearly two acres, and has numerous graves, 
over many of which have been erected beautiful 
and costly monuments. It looks somewhat neg- 
lected. With a little effort and watchful care, it 
could very easily be made the prettiest cemetery in 
the town. 

In closing, the writer desires to return grateful 
thanks to John How, James Cameron, Calvin W. 
Leonard, Joseph Chamberlin, and others, for cour- 
tesies extended, facilities afforded, and assistance 
rendered in this work. Deerfield and its citizens 
will long be pleasantly remembered. 



COHOCTAH TOWNSHIP. 



When the rigor of the winter of 1832-33 had 
been subdued by the ever higher mounting sun of 
spring, and the soft-falling rains and balmy south- 
ern breezes began to wake to renewed life the long 
dormant energies of Nature, an adventurous pio- 
neer, — one of those genuine videttes of an ad- 
vancing host, whose energetic, restless, impatient 
nature forced him to the front in anything he was 
led to undertake, — made his appearance in that 
part of the country now known as the township of 
Cohoctah. That man was an Indian trader, named 
Gilbert W. Prentiss, and he was the first settler in 
this township. In the entering of his land he was 
preceded three days by Lyman Boughton, who 
made his entry of the northeast quarter of the 
northwest quarter and northwest quarter of the 



northeast quarter of section 34, on the 6th day of 
April, while Prentiss made his on the 9th, and a 
second entry on the 15th. His first entry was 
40 acres, — the southwest quarter of the northeast 
quarter of section 22, and his second was of 80 
acres, it being the east half of the same quarter 
section. 

At that time the whole extent of the terri- 
tory now comprising the town of Cohoctah was 
an unbroken wilderness, a wild of low-lying 
marshes, dark, gloomy tamarack swamps, sunny 
plains, and beautiful openings, with a border- 
ing of heavier timber, reaching almost entirely 
around its outskirts. The foot of the wandering 
Indian hunter, the white hunter, trapper, and 
trader, the government surveyor, and, perhaps, a 



438 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



few land-lookers, had alone trod the mazes of its 
forest, and forded its water-courses. The wild 
game wandered at pleasure beneath the inviting 
shade of its spreading oaks, or fearlessly quenched 
their thirst from the sparkling waters of its mean- 
dering streams, not yet having learned to fear the 
presence of man, as the death-dealing rifles of the 
pioneers soon taught them to do when the settle- 
ment began. 

Township 4 north, of range 4 east, as this 
town was designated by the United States survey, 
comprises a territory nearly six miles wide from 
east to west, and a little over six and three-eighths 
miles long from north to south, containing an area 
of 24,538 acres. It is the west central town on the 
north line of the county, and centrally distant eight 
and three-quarters miles from the county-seat. 
The town of Burns, Shiawassee Co., adjoins it 
on the north, the town of Deerfield on the east, 
the town of Howell on the south, and the town of 
Conway on the west. Its surface is generally 
quite level, lightly rolling in some parts, and was 
originally badly cut up by numerous swamps and 
marshes, many of which have, by the clearing up 
of the country and the improvements made in the 
drainage system of the town, been reclaimed and 
made tillable and productive. Probably from one- 
seventh to one-twelfth of the township was origi- 
nally covered with these marshes and swamps. 
At present the largest marshes are in the south 
part of section 33, along the course of the outlet 
of Cook's Lake, and along Teller's Creek in sec- 
tion 21. 

The soil is varied, following very closely the 
lines that marked the boundaries of the different 
kinds of lands. In the central part, where were 
the plains, it is of a very light, sandy nature; to- 
wards the north line, where were mixed timbered 
lands and timbered openings, the soil is of a 
heavier nature, a sort of clayey loam ; in the east- 
ern part it is made up of mingled sand ridges, 
and marshes or swamps ; in the southeast corner, 
where the timber on the openings was very heavy, 
the soil is also heavier and tempered with some 
clay ; along the south line this continues with in- 
tervening swamps, till in the southwest part comes 
a more elevated surface, which was originally tim- 
bered opening, and where the soil is light, and yet 
strong and fertile ; and along the west line of the 
town, where were mixed marshes and openings, 
the soil is correspondingly varied. The soil is well 
adapted to the cultivation of general crops, and 
the real agricultural worth of the township has not 
been fully developed. 

The lakes of Cohoctah number but seven, and 
are none of them of any considerable size. The 



largest of them, on section 32, from the peculiar 
formation of its bottom, is named Sand-Bottom 
Lake. It is connected with Cook's Lake, which 
lies south from it, and which is of nearly the same 
size. It, however, unlike the former, has a muddy 
bottom, and a good deal of marsh about its shores.- 
The outlet of both joins the Shiawassee River, on 
section 34. Another lake of nearly the same size 
lies on section 19, and is called Devil's Lake. It 
is surrounded by wide marshes and has a muddy 
bottom. Its outlet is Sprague's Creek. Lime 
Lake is a small body of water lying on section 14. 
It derives its name from the fact that its shores 
and bottom is composed of a kind of marl that, 
by burning, can be converted into an indifferent 
sort of lime. It has a bolder shore than any of 
the other lakes. Its outlet connects it with Mud 
Lake, lying a few rods south on the same section. 
This lake has a muddy bottom, a marshy shore, and 
its waters have a peculiar turbid look, which gives 
the lake its name. Its outlet enters the Shiawas- 
see, near the southw'est corner of the section. 
Thatcher's Lake is a small body of water on sec- 
tion 4. It covers an area of about four acres, and 
was named after Michael Thatcher, who settled 
near it at an early day. Its outlet runs southward 
into another smaller lake, lying across the south 
line of the section, which is called Crawford's Lake. 
It then continues south till it joins Sprague's 
Creek. There is also one artificial pond at Che- 
mungville, on section 36, covering several acres, 
and affording a fine water-power. 

The principal stream is the south branch of the 
Shiawassee River, which enters the town from 
Howell, about fifty rods east of the southwest cor- 
ner of section 34, and runs northerly through 
wide-spreading marshes on sections 34, 27, and the 
south half of 28, where its banks rise abruptly to 
a considerable height above the stream, and so con- 
tinues along its course until it reaches the quarter 
line of section 21, and again finds a marshy bed, 
which continues throughout its onward course 
through the town into Deerfield. Its current in 
this town is quite sluggish, and its entire course 
quite tortuous and some nine miles in extent. Its 
principal tributary is the second stream in import- 
ance in the town. It is commonly called " Bogue" 
Creek, a corruption of the Indian name " Bo-bish-e- 
nung." As to the significance of the name we are 
not able to speak. It enters this town near the 
southeast corner, and runs a northerly course of 
about three miles till it joins the river, in the 
north part of section 4. At Chemungville it affords 
a fine water-power. Sprague's Creek, the third 
stream in importance, is made up of two branches, 
the principal one being the outlet of Devil's Lake; 



COHOCTAH TOWNSHIP. 



439 



the united streams flow in a variable southeast and 
east course through sections 9, 10, and 15, and 
empty into the Shiawassee in section 22. Teller's 
Creek, on section 21, the outlets of Cook's and Mud 
Lakes, and a tributary of the " Bogue," on section 25, 
constitute the remainder of the streams of Cohoctah. 

The history of the aboriginal owners and inhab- 
itants of the town is hid beneath the shrouding 
mj'stery of the past. At the time of settlement no 
Indians were permanently residing in the township, 
though many were frequently seen on their way to 
Detroit, or on hunting excursions. Time was, how- 
ever, when they had homes, and probably a village 
iiere, for traces of their former occupancy were 
found in abundance by the white settlers. Aside 
from the usual relics in the form of arrow and 
spear heads, stone hatchets and knives, there were 
other and more striking tokens of their presence 
in the shape of Indian orchards, gardens, cemeteries, 
and dancing-grounds. On section 22, in the south- 
east corner of the northwest quarter, was a piece 
of ground containing about a quarter of an acre, 
which had been leveled and trod down until the 
surface was hard and smooth as a floor. It was 
circular in form, about eight rods in diameter, and 
surrounded bj'a ring of earth which was elevated a 
little above the general surface, and appeared to have 
been formed from the earth removed in the process 
of leveling. It was a-subject of great curiosity to 
the early settlers, and they only learned its use 
when they made inquiries regarding it of the In- 
dians whom they met. Here the stalwart savages 
celebrated their " war-dances" before departing on 
some bloody errand of conquest or revenge ; or 
when returning successful with bloody trophies of 
their prowess they celebrated the occasion with 
the riotous " scalp-dance ;" or being unsuccessful, 
mourned with blackened faces and shrouded forms, 
and slowly trod the melancholy measures of the 
" death-dance." The Indian burj'ing-ground was 
situated on the north bank of the Shiawassee River, 
near the west line of section 27. It covered one 
half-acre of ground, and contained some fifty or 
sixty graves, all marked with two tamarack poles, 
placed one at the head and the other at the foot, 
their tops drawn together and crossed, being fast- 
ened together with strips of bark. The orchards 
and places bearing marks of cultivation were in 
different places, but all in that section of the town. 

There was but one trail of any prominence 
through this town. This was a branch of the 
Detroit and Grand River trail, that left the main 
trail somewhere in the neighborhood of Howell, 
and reached this town a quarter of a mile west of 
the southeast corner of section 34. From that 
point it followed very nearly the course of the 



present road due north to the centre of section 10 
where it turned towards the northwest, and at the 
east quarter-post of section 5 turned a little to the 
northward and ran on till it reached Shiawassee 
town. On section 5 the trail forked, the other 
branch leading westward across sections 5 and 6, 
running to Dewitt, and thence to the Grand River. 
Neither of these were main trails, but they were 
frequently used and their courses well defined. 

When the territory we have endeavored to de- 
scribe was thrown u[)on the market, the lands were 
bought up by two classes of purchasers. The first, 
though not the most numerous, were those who 
bought with the purpose in view of settling on 
their purchases and assisting in the development 
of the country; the second class were those men 
of means who thought that money invested in 
these lands would eventually pay a larger interest, 
and would certainly be safer, than if used in the 
speculations then so rife, and which were driving 
the financial American world into the current 
which, in 1837, swept it into the vortex of the 
panic of that year. The first class steadily pur- 
sued their purpose, while the others were wary 
purchasers until the thickening crowd of on-com- 
ing settlers seemed to assure the success of the 
undertaking, and then with a grand rush they 
swooped down upon the country and seized upon 
all the available and valuable land they could find. 
This is shown by the fact that three-fourths of the 
land in this town was taken up within the space of 
one twelvemonth, beginning with May, 1836, and 
that more than three-eighths was taken up in the 
two months of May and June, 1836. 

The first entry was made, as before stated, by 
Lyman Boughton, April 6, 1833, and the next two 
by Gilbert W. Prentiss, on the 9th and 15th of the 
same month. These were the only purchasers in 
that year. The purchasers of the following year, 
1834, were Benjamin Crawford, John and James 
Sanford, and Antony Clark. In 1 835 the following 
persons entered land : John and Mary Sanford, 
Ezra Sanford, William W. Shutes, William Riker, 
Ephraim Crawford, Ezra Frisbee, and Dyer Rath- 
bun. There were one hundred and twenty-one 
entries in 1836. The year 1837 brought twenty- 
two purchasers. The other entries were made as 
follows: one in 1838, four in 1839, one in 1841, 
one in 1850, two in 1853, one in 1854, five in 1855, 
one each in 1856, 1857, i860, 1S67, 1869, and 1870, 
and two without the date being given, making a 
grand total of one hundred and sixty-eight entries, 
averaging over 146 acres each. The size of these 
entries tells a tale of speculative greed, and explains 
the reason why only fift)--six of these purchasers 
ever became residents of the town. 



44Q 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



The following list comprises all the entries of 
land in the town of Cohoctah. First we give a 
list of the purchasers on more than one section, 
with their places of residence, description and area 
of their purchases, and the dates of entry. In 
both this and the following list the names of actual 
settlers are marked with an asterisk (*) : 

Ezra Sanford,* Oakland Co., Mich., July 4, 1S35, 160 acres on 

section 21 and 80 acres on section 27 ; Nov. 15, 1S36, 291. 85 

acres on section i and 40 acres on section 2. 

Flavins J. B. Crane, of this county, July 5, 1S36, 240 acres on 

section 2, 160 acres on section 3, and 80 acres on section 11. 

Alva Preston,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Dec. 13, 1836, 144.36 

acres on section 2 and 80 acres on section 11. 
Benjamin B. Kercheval, W.ayne Co., Mich., Nov. 18, 1S36, 80 
acres on section 1 1 and So acres on section i8; Dec. 6, 1836, 
80 acres on section I2; Dec. 15, 1836,40 acres on section 
2; Feb. 15, 1837,80 acres on section 30; and Feb. 17, 1837, 
80 acres on section 12. 
James Waldron, Yates Co., N. Y., May 20, 1836, 160 acres on 
section 3 and 160 acres on section 10 ; Sept. 20, 1836, 40 
acres on section 9. 
Elisha Cross, Wayne Co., Mich., June 4, 1836, 289.10 acres on 
section 3 and 2S8.44 acres on section 4; Nov. 18, 1836, 
104.70 acres on section 3 and 80 acres on section 5. 
George Bisbee, Ottawa Co., Mich., June 6, 1836, 80 acres on sec- 
tion 3 and 120 acres on section 10. 
Simeon Andrews, Wayne Co., Mich., June 17, 1837, 80 acres on 
section 5 ; Jan. 18, 1837, 80 acres on section 14 and 80 acres 
on section ^;^. 
John G. Kanouse, Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 10, 1836, 120 acres 

on section 8 and 120 acres on section 9. 
Thomas P. Briggs, Yates Co., N. Y., May 20, 1836, 160 acres on 

section 4 and 40 acres on section 9. 
Aretus G. Smith, Onondaga Co., N. Y., May 20, 1836, 80 acres 

on section 9 and 160 acres on section 10. 
Isaac Pratt,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 14, 1836, 320 acres on 

section 12 and 40 acres on section 13. 
William Cooper, New York, Aug. 2, 1836, 160 acres on section 

13 and i6o acres on section 14. 
Miles P. Lamson, Genesee Co., N. Y., Oct. 25, 1836, 320 acres 
on section 13, 160 acres on section 14, 160 acres on section 
15, and 40 acres on section 22. 
Matthew Gooding, Wayne Co., Mich., Dec. 17, 1836, 160 acres 

on section 17; and Jan. 16, 1837, 80 acres on section 15. 
Isaac S. Kidder, Steuben Co., N. Y., June 27, 1836, 160 acres on 
section 18, 80 acres on section 29, and 160 acres on section 
30. 
James Grant, Oakland Co., Mich., May 23, 1836, 80 acres on sec- 
tion 35; and June 21, 1836, 149.88 acres on section i8. 
Alvah Ewers, Wayne Co., Mich., May 30, 1836, 160 acres on sec- 
tion 19 and 240 acres on section 20. 
Gottlieb Nieman, New York City, Aug. 2, 1S36, 31S.96 acres on 

section 19 and 80 acres on section 20. 
Frederick Ring, New York City, Aug. 2, 1836, 15S.12 acres on 

section 19 and 160 acres on section 20. 
William Packard,* Wayne Co., Mich., May 10, 1836, 80 acres on 
section 24; May 12, 1836, :6o acres on section 24, So acres 
on section 25, and 80 acres on section 26; May 16, 1836, 80 
acres on section 24; and May 23, 1836, 40 acres on section 
23 and 80 acres on section 26. 
Daniel Boutell, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1S36, 40 acres on 
section 24 and 80 acres on section 25; March i, 1837,40 
acres on section 24 and 40 acres on section 25 ; April 26, 1837, 
80 acres on section 24 ; and Jan. 10, 1839, 40 acres on sec- 
tion 25. 
Chauncey D. Fisher,* Washtenaw Co., Midi., May 30, 1S36, So 



acres on section 25, So acres on section 35, and 40 acres on 
section 36. 

Joseph Hosley,* Wayne Co., Mich., June 6, 1836, 40 acres on sec- 
tion 36; June 9, 1836, 80 acres on section 36; Sept. 23, 1836, 
80 acres on section 25; and Dec. 29, 1836, 80 acres on sec- 
tion 25. 

Thomas Goldsmith,* Monroe Co., N. Y., May 13, 1836, 120 acres 
on section 26 and 80 acres on section 27. 

Levi and Ambrose Mosher, Monroe Co., N. Y., May 27, 1836, 
160 acres on section 26; June 10, 1836, 40 acres on section 
26 and 1 20 acres on section 36. 

John Sanford,* Oakland Co., Mich., July 8, 1834, So acres on .sec- 
tion 27 and 320 acres on section 34; May 27, 1835, 80 acres 
on section 27 and 80 acres on section 34. 

David W. Sheldon, Ontario Co., N. Y., May 12, 1836, 40 acres on 
section 28 and 120 acres on section 29. 

Horace Heath and Apollos Smith, United States, June 10, 1836, 
320 acres on section 35 and 80 acres on section 36. 

The remaining entries are, for sake of conveni- 
ence, classed by sections, as follows : 

SECTION I. 

Acres. 
James McGregor and John A. McGan, Boston, Mass., June 

4> 1S36 214.38 

Philander Bird, Wayne Co., Mich., June 18, 1836 So 

Thomas Bussey, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 28, 1S36.... 80 

Amos Hutf, of this county, Nov. 15, 1836 80 

Orrin Cole, Oakland Co., Mich., Dec. 5, 1836 80 

Wm. H. Johnson, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Dec. 24, 1836.. 80 

SECTION 2. 

Elias Litchfield, Hartford Co., Conn., Dec. 13, 1836 144-36 

Isaac Dunn, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. 19, 1S37 So 

George W. Allen,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 10, 1837. 209.64 

SECTION .3. 
Nelson Coston,* Oakland Co., Mich., Nov. 18, 1836 104-71 

SECTION 4. 

John F. Maxson, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 25, 1836 240 

John Kemp, Levi Bayley,* and Charles George, Genesee 

Co., N. Y., June 27, 1836 209.03 

SECTION 5. 

Dyer R.-ithbun,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 29, 1S35.... 208.85 

Seth Dunbar, Onondaga Co., N. Y., June 8, 1836 289.70 

Michael Thatcher,* of this county, July 27, 1837 160 

David Sanford,* of this county, Jan. 8, 183S 40 

Michael Downey,* of this county, Nov. 29, 1854 40 

SECTION 6. 

John Edmonds, Genesee Co., N. Y., June 14, 1836 101.18 

Nehemiah M. Allen, of this county, June 14, 1836 80 

Jedediah D. Commins, Portage Co., Ohio, June 15, 1836. 198.17 

Levi Mosher, Monroe Co., N. Y., June 15, 1836 101.18 

Mortimer B. Martin, Wayne Co, Mich., Aug. 2, 1S36 I53-20 

Adolphus Coburn, Albany Co., N. Y., Aug. 6, 1836 160 

George P. Tyson, Oakland Co , Mich., Feb. 11, 1837 75.S4 

SECTION 7. 

James B. Cooley, Monroe Co., N. Y., July 5, 1836 160 

Levi Cooley, Monroe Co., N. Y., July 5, 1836 153-56 

Henry and Van Rensselaer Hawkins, Genesee Co., N. Y.. 312.60 

SECTION 8. 

Israel V. Harris, Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 26, 1836 240 

William White, Wayne Co., Mich., Jan. 20 and 26, 1837.. 240 
Daniel ScuUey,* of this county, Sept. 12, 1837 40 

SECTION 9. 

Elam Moe, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 14, 1836 80 

Joseph H. Steele, Wayne Co., Mich., July 5, 1836 80 

David Guile,* Oakland Co., Mich., Oct. 26, 1836, and Julv 

6, 1839 ;. 200 



COHOCTAH TOWNSHIP. 



441 



SECTION 10. 

Acres. 
Abram K.inonse,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 25, 1836.. 40 

Josiali Bales, Yates Co., N. Y., Sept. 20, 1836 120 

George W. All)ec, of this county. May 13, 1837 40 

SECTION II. 

Hosea Root, of this county, June 28, 1S36 80 

Thoni.is M. Howell, Canandaigua, Ontario Co., N. Y., 

Julys, 1836 160 

Sarah .Sioildard,* W.ayne Co., Mich., Au^. i, 1838 40 

Nathaniel W. Brayton,* of this county, .Sept. 7, 1855 120 

SECTION 12. 
Leavans S. Hutchins, Madison Co., N. Y., Jan. 16, 1837.. 160 

SECTION 13. 
Harris HicUok, Madison Co., N. Y., March 3, 1837 120 

SECTION 14. 

Harrison Cox, Livingston Co., N. Y., June 10, 1836 160 

Patrick Gallaghan,* of this county, April 8, 1837 80 

SECTION 15. 

Josiah and Stephen D. Beers, Tompkins Co., N. Y., May 

27,1836 .... 400 

SECTION 16. 

Elias Sprague,* May 3, 1S50, and March 11, 1853 80 

R. Grant,* Sept. 12, 1853 40 

J. Ramer,* May 21, 1855, and April 12, i860 120 

George I'almcr,* May 29, 1855 120 

S. Carpenter,* July 7, 1855 , 4° 

Peter and William Deane,* March 28, 1856 40 

E. C. Sprague,* M.ay 13. 1857 40 

Edwin and Delos Alger,* Oct. I, 1869 40 

Henry Thomas,* Jan. 5, 1870 40 

SECTION 17. 

Isaac Green, Wayne Co., Mich., July 5, 1836 160 

Gains Dayton, Wayne Co., Mich., Nov. I, 1836 320 

SECTION 18. 

Conrad Hayner,* Oakland Co., Mich., Dec. 29, 1836 160 

George C. H.tyner,* of this county 80 

SECTION 20. 

Joseph Hines,* Lenawee Co., Mich., June 15, 1836, .and 

May 16, 1837 160 

SECTION 21. 

Mary Sanford,* Oakland Co., Mich., May 27, 1835, and 

June 18, 1836 80 

Cornelius Neafie, Orange Co., N. Y., June 20, 1836 560 

SECTION 22. 

Gilbert W. Prentiss,* Shiaw.issee Co., Mich., April 9, 

1833. and April 15,1833 I20 

Nathaniel Prouty, Wayne Co., Mich,, March 23, 1836 120 

Ira Walker,* of this county, June 18, 1836 4° 

Horace R. Hudson, New York City, Sept. 24, 1836 80 

SECTION 23. 

William Rikcr,* Sicuben Ci>., N. Y., Oct. 6, 1835 240 

Ephraim Crawford,* Steuben Co , N. Y., Oct. 6, 1835 80 

David Thompson, Wayne Co., Mich., Feb. 3, 1836 120 

Leah Packaid, W.ayne Co., Mich., May 10, 1836 80 

William Stroud,* of this county, Sept. 23, 1836, and Nov. 

I, 1836 80 

SECTION 24. 

Ephraim Whitney, Oakland Co., Mich., June 15, 1836 40 

Calvin W. Hart,* of this county, June 14, 1837 80 

Lorenzo IJoulell, of this county, June I4, 1837 40 

56 



SECTION 25. 

Acres. 

Samuel C. Klump, Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 26, 1836 80 

William Hosley,* of this county, IJec. 29, 1836 40 

John Jones,* of this county, Oct. 26, 1839 40 

SECTION 26. 
Joseph Neely,* .Monroe Co., N. Y., May 27, 1836 160 • 

SECTION 27. 
Benjamin Crawford,* Macomb Co., Mich., June 13, 1834. 320 

SECTION 28. 

Antony Clark,* Oakland Co., Mich., Aug. 4, 1834, and 

Jan. I, 1836 120 

Isaac I. Sheldon, Ontario Co., N. Y., May 12, 1836 240 

Isaiah Vandelxjgart, Tompkins Co., N. Y., June 18, 1836. 80 

Abr.aham Riker,* Livingston Co., N. Y., Nov. 14, 1836... 80 

Tobi.is C. Howland,* Livingston Co., N. Y., July 9, 1841 40 

SECTION 29. 

Hugh Gilshenan, W.ashtenaw Co., Mich., June 14, 1S36... 160 
John Vandebogart, Tompkins Co., N. Y., June 18, 1836... 40 

Nelson I'etlibone, Genesee Co., N. Y., July i, 1836 80 

Roger (Jlinan, W.ashtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 14, 1836 160 

SECTION 30. 

Lott Pratt,* Genesee Co., N Y., May 10, 1836 159-64 

.Sylvanus West, New York State, May 10, 1836 80 

Chas. L. Harrison, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Sept. 23, 1836 79 82 
James Hooper, Washtenaw Co., Mich., March 2, 1837 79.72 

SECTION 31. 

Justus Boyd,* Livingston Co., N. Y., May 5, 1836 160 

Warnei Lake, Livingston Co., Mich.. May 5, 1836 158.20 

John Coughran, Genesee Co., N. Y., M,ay 10, 1836 319-20 

SECTION 32. 

Nathan Chidesler, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 4, 1836 240 

William Slater, Livingston Co., N. Y., M.ay 5, 1836 80 

Simon Westfall, Cayuga Co., N. Y., M.ay 11, 1836 80 

William Horton, New York City, June 15, 1836 240 

SECTION 33. 

Purdy Williams, New York City, June 15, 1836 160 

Charles Pope, New York Ciiy, June 15, 1836 160 

John IJunlap, O.ikland Co., Slich., July II, 1836 40 

Rees Lewis, Washtenaw Co., Mich., March 21, 1839 80 

William 1'. Cone, of this county. May 30, 1855 80 

William McPherson, of this county, M.irch 2, 1867 40 

SECTION 34. 

Lyman Boughlon, O.akland Co., Mich., April 6, 1833 80 

laines Sanford, Oakland Co., Mich., July 8, 1834 80 

Edward .\lcMaken, W.iyne Co., .Mich., Sept. 21, 1836 80 

SECTION 35. 

Willi.am W. Shules, O.ikland Co., Mich., July 8, 1835 40 

Ezra Frisbee,* Montgomery Co., N. Y., Oct. 19, 1835 40 

Adam Fisher, Cayuga Co., N. Y., May 30, 1836 80 

SECTION 36. 

William Northrup,* Wayne Co., Mich., June 6, 1836 40 

John W. Farrand, Tompkins Co., N. Y., April 25, 1837... 240 

SETTLEMENT. 

The first settler in Cohoctah was Gilbert W. 
Prentiss. Some time in the season following the 
entry of his land he erected a small shanty near 
the northwest corner of his first purchase, about 
eighty rods north and a little east of the middle of 
section 22, and there began the business of an In- 



442 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



dian trader, doing a little trapping and hunting to 
occupy his spare time, for, of course, customers 
were scarce, and the demands of the business did 
not take up all the time of even one person. But 
little is known of this man, his character, or career. 
We know he flourished here for a brief period, 
possibly a year or more, and then vanished Re- 
garding the reason of his departure, which was 
very suddenly taken, and was not, in a true sense, 
entirely voluntary, we are informed that, in his 
trading operations, the Indians invariably demanded 
what was due them should be paid in " shu-ni-ah," 
or silver money, the only kind they were acquainted 
with and would receive. There seemed to be no 
lack of "Shu-ni-ah" in the Prentiss treasury, and 
all demands were promptly met with a ready sup- 
ply of the shining metal coins. But, alas for the 
honesty of the trader and the confidence of the 
Indians, it soon transpired that these coins would 
not pass current at other stores and trading-posts, 
in short, the Indians discovered that they were 
counterfeits. Then the savage blood began to boil, 
and the savage spirit to demand revenge. A plan 
was concocted for a descent upon the trader's 
cabin and a despoliation of its contents, and prob- 
ably the person of the dishonest trader might not 
have passed unscathed through the ordeal, had not 
he got wind of .the proposed visitation and hastily 
fled from the threatened danger. The Indians 
came, but their game had gone, and they were dis- 
appointed in their expected scheme of revenge and 
reprisal. The cabin was, however, conmiitted to 
the flames, and so perished the last token of the 
residence of the first settler in the town. The land 
was afterwards owned by Nathaniel Prouty, who 
also owned adjoining lands on the west, making 
his whole possessions on that section 240 acres. 
He lived in Detroit, and once came here with his 
family and goods, intending to settle on his land. 
But one night's experience of the new county was 
enough for them, and, with the rising of the morn- 
ing sun, they returned to their home in Detroit. 
Recently the place passed into the hands of Wil- 
liam B. Eager, who died there Sept. 19, 1879, and 
it is now in the possession of his family. 

The second settler, and the first permanent resi- 
dent, was John Sanford, who came from Wayne, 
Steuben Co., N. Y., in 1832, and remained two 
years in Salem, Washtenaw Co., before coming to 
Cohoctah, in the summer of 1834. He com- 
menced what was known as the Sanford settle- 
ment, on section 27, and which was for some time 
the centre of population of the town. Before 
leaving Salem he engaged a man named Ira 
Walker to come with him to assist in clearing 
and breaking up his farm, so that the party that 



started from .Salem consisted of John Sanford and 
wife, their son James, their daughter Mrs. Antony 
Clark and her husband, and Ira Walker and his 
wife, and two children. While on their journey 
Mrs. Sanford fell from the load of goods, and was 
so severely injured that when they arrived at Wil- 
liam Bennett's, in Hamburg, she remained there 
with their daughter, who was Mr. Bennett's .wife. 
The rest of the company continued their journey 
and ariived safely at their destination. The}' im- 
mediately set to work on a house, and soon had 
one ready for their accommodation. It was a fair- 
sized log house, and stood on the west side of the 
Indian trail, close to the south line of section 27. 
It was the first real dwelling erected in the town, 
and for a time furnished a home for this first colony 
of settlers, eight in number. Soon after their arrival 
Mr. Clark built a house on his land, on section 28, 
and with his wife went there to live. In the fall 
or winter following Mrs. Sanlbrd recovered suffi- 
ciently to enable her to join the family in their 
new home. In 1835, Mr. Walker built a house 
about three-eighths of a mile west of the centre 
of section 27, just west of the small creek that 
runs southward across the quarter line of the sec- 
tion, and, after living there about a year, left for 
some other part of the country. John Sanford 
lived the life of a pioneer farmer until he saw the 
development of this part of Michigan well begun, 
and then, having reached a good old age, was 
gathered to his fathers, in November, 1845. He 
was an energetic and successful farmer, and brought 
his land to a good state of cultivation in the ten 
years of his life here. He accumulated a fine 
property, and added to his original purchase till 
he owned 1000 acres of land, besides what he 
distributed among his children. His wife survived 
him many years, and remained a widow to the time 
of her death. She lived to the age of ninety-two 
years, and died in April, 1877, at the house of her 
daughter, Mrs. William Bennett, in Hamburg. 
James Sanford remained here several years, and 
then went to California, where he was living when 
last heard from. Antony Clark died in this town 
in 185 I, and his wife removed to Hamburg, where 
she is now living with her sister, Mrs. William 
Bennett. 

The Sanford family was originally from the State 
of Pennsylvania. The progenitor of that branch 
of the family which settled here was Ephraim San- 
ford, father of John and Ezra, who was a patriot 
during the Revolutionary war, while his two 
brothers were Tories of the most bitter type. 
After the close of the war he removed to the 
State of Vermont, and afterwards to Steuben Co., 
N. Y. He was a Baptist preacher, having a wide 



COHOCTAH TOWNSHIP. 



443 



reputation for liis eloquence and piety. The Netv 
York State Gazetteer says of him, tliat " he was a 
silver-tongued preacher, who used to pass the 
sacrament in pewter tankards ;" and adds the 
misanthropic remark, that " nowadays tiie order 
is often reversed, and that many churches have 
silver tankards and pccvter preachers." His wife 
was a cousin of tlie famous Maj. Moses Van 
Campen, whose name and fame arc so intimately 
connected with the history of Southwestern New 
York, where he was several times a captive of the 
Indians and forced to run the gauntlet. 

Kzra Sanford did not leave the State of New 
York until three years after his biother John, but 
came directly to this town, after spending a few 
weeks visiting with friends in Salem, Washtenaw 
Co., arriving here July 9, 1835. With him came 
his wife, five sons, and two daughters, one of them 
accompanied by her husband, Ziba Stone. For' 
several nights after their arrival they slept in their 
wagons, and then moved into a house they had 
erected on the east side of the trail, about twenty 
rods north of the centre of section 27. There 
they all lived together through that summer and 
part of the winter of 1835-36, when they separated. 
Stone and his wife going to a new dwelling they 
had erected on their place, on the southeast corner 
of the southwest quarter of section 22. Ezra San- 
ford was a respected and honored citizen, and a 
deacon in the Baptist Church. He was also a 
preacher of no mean ability, and on some occa- 
sions preached at the church in the town of 
Burns, and often at his own house. ■ He died in 
this town, Jan. 2, 1844, and his wife survived him 
about eleven years. Before his death, Mr. Sanford 
gave each of his sons a quarter-section of land in 
this State. John H., another son of Kzra, came 
to this town in 1836 and remained one year. After 
spending one winter in New York, he settled in 
Deerfield in the spring of 1838, and lived there 
about ten years, and after several removals is now 
living in Wright, Ottawa Co., engaged in farming, 
surveying, and preaching, being a minister of the 
Universal ist Church. 

The rest of Ezra's children we mention, as fol- 
lows: Ezra, Jr., has been a prominent and honored 
citizen of this town down to the present time, and 
is now living on section i, engaged in the practice 
of medicine. David remained here several years, 
but finally moved away, and is now living in 
Flushing, Genesee Co., Mich., practicing law, and 
also having an interest in a mercantile business. 
Ephraim H. studied law at loni.i, and from there 
went to Ann Arbor, where for four years he pub- 
lished a journal known as The Gem of Science. 
He went from there to Ohio, and at last settled in 



Wabaunsee Co., Kan., where he is now living, 
practicing law, and acting as land- and claim-agent. 
He has risen to considerable eminence in his new 
home, and besides several other offices, has once 
held the honorable position of judge of the Cir- 
cuit Court. James remauied on the iiomeste^d 
until after the death of his parents, and then re- 
moved to California, where he is now living. 
Samuel, who was a young man of much promi.se, 
went to Kansas, when the strife between Freedom 
and Slavery was at its height in that State, and 
was brutally murdered by one of the border ruf- 
fians, being shot down in cold blood, without any 
provocfition or opportunity for defense. His death 
occurred in the summer of 1859. Esther was the 
wife of Ziba Stone, and is still a resident of the 
town. Mr. Stone died in 1852, and she afterwards 
married Daniel Barlow, who died some fifteen 
years ago. Possessed of good health, and in the 
full possession of all her (iiculties, she promises to 
remain yet many years among the scenes where 
so many years of her life have been spent. Emily 
married William Stroud, in this town, and still 
continues to reside here, where her husband died 
in 1853 or 1854. Elizabeth, then married to Luther 
Houghton, came to this town in 1836, and after 
living with her father's folks two or three years, 
they moved to their land on section i. Mr. 
Houghton died about twenty-eight 3'ears ago, and 
his widow after a time was married again, her 
second husband being John Lane, who died in this 
town in 1878. She is still living in town, but is 
an invalid suffering from a broken back, caused by 
her slipping and falling across a door-step, about 
two years ago. 

The Crawford family, of whom Samuel Crawford 
was the head, came to Michigan in September, 
1836, and settled on what is known as the Preston 
farm, on section 23, in this town. They came from 
the town of Wayne, Steuben Co., N. Y., via Buffalo 
and Detroit, and from the latter place followed the 
Shiawassee trail,' by way of Pontiac and White 
Lake, till they crossed the Shiawassee River at 
Nagg's bridge, and followed an Indian trail into 
this town. All of his children made settlements 
in this town, and after his wife's death he lived 
with them until his own death, some ten years 
ago. All but one of them liave moved to other 
parts. That one is Edmund D., who married Mrs. 
Alsmeda Kelly, a daughter of Dudley Woodworth, 
and is now living on a fine farm on section 9, where 
he has resided for the past twenty-four years. 

Another settler in 1836 was David Guile, who 
settled on the south central part of section 9. He 
came from Novi, Oakland Co., with a family of a 
wife, two married sons — David and Joseph — with 



444 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



■wives, and a grandson, William G. Phares. Mr. 
Guile's family were all great hunters, and .spent 
much time in tlie forest in pursuit of game. His 
wife died about thirteen years later, and he then 
returned to Novi, selling his property here to Elias 
Spiague, and died there several years after. His 
grandson, William G. Phares, remained a resident 
of Cohoctah a long time, and was a very stirring, 
active man, respected by his neighbors, and was 
frequently elected to the office of constable. Per- 
haps his most peculiar characteristic was a readi- 
ness to trade, it being said of him that he never 
refused an opportunity to exchange. His wife once 
proved to him by actual count that they had'moved 
as many times as they had been married years, 
which was upwards of thirty. He is now living 
in the town of Genoa, in this county. 

William Northrup, formerly of Sullivan, Madi- 
son Co., N. Y.,came from there in the fall of 1836, 
and settled in Cohoctah on section 36, near the 
Deerfield line. In 1837 his wife died. He con- 
tinued to reside there till 1865, when he moved to 
Aurora, 111., where he died about six years ago. 
Some of his family are now living here. 

Justus Boyd came to this town in 1837, and 
had not the hand of death cut short his career, 
would have been one of its most important cit- 
izens. He was a native of the town of New- 
burgh, Orange Co., N. Y., and when a young man 
came West to Conesus, Livingston Co., N. Y. He 
married Miss Alniira Nutt, of Cayuga County, and 
in 1822 moved on to a new farm in the town of 
Mount Morris, where he lived fifteen years, when 
he came to this State and settled in Cohoctah. In 
the spring of 1836 he came to Michigan in com- 
pany with Joseph C. Craft, Daniel P. Lake, and 
William Slater, in search of land. Each of them 
made a purchase, but only Mr. Boyd came here to 
live. He returned to New York, and, in the early 
summer of 1837, began his journey hither with 
his wife and nine children, — six sons and three 
daughters, — the eldest, Lewis B., a boy of eighteen. 
In company with them came his brother-in-law, 
Lee Nutt, with his wife and three children, and a 
Mr. McFail, with his wife and four children. They 
reached Mr. Boyd's land, on section 31, on June 
1 2th, having been one month on the road. Before 
returning East for his family, Mr. Boyd had en- 
gaged a Mr. Porter, of Howell, to build him a 
house on section 31, and this was ready for their 
occupancy when they arrived. Mr. Nutt lived 
■yvith Mr. Boyd for a time, and engaged to clear a 
piece of ground and sow it to wheat, taking the 
crop in part payment for his labor. He then built 
a shanty on the south side of the road, in Howell, 
and moved into it with his family. 



At the election in the spring of 1838, Mr. Boyd 
was elected to the offices of overseer of the poor 
and assessor, and just a year from the time of his 
arrival here started for his former home to settle 
up his business affairs there. At Detroit he took 
passage for Buffalo on the ill-fated steamer "Wash- 
ington," which, when about t\venty-two miles from 
its destination, caught fire and was destroyed. Mr. 
Boyd exerted himself to the utmost in efforts to 
extinguish the fire and to save the passengers, and 
when nothing more could be done leaped overboard 
and swam ashore. The sudden chill caused by 
leaping into the cold water while. heated and per- 
spiring from his efforts, coupled with the e.xhaustion 
incident to such violent and prolonged exertions, 
proved too great a strain upon his vital powers, 
and he died a few minutes after reaching the shore 
at Silver Creek. He was a farmer, but was also a 
capable and competent business man of fair edu- 
cational attainments. 

His widow resides in Howell, with her daughter, 
Miss Angeline Boyd. She is now eighty years 
old. Of Mr. Boyd's children two have died, — 
William and Hannah ; Lewis B. married Charity, 
a daughter of Jared L. Cook, and is now living on 
section 31, in this town; John N. married Lucinda 
Holloway, and lives on the same section ; Hiram 
married Matilda Creshaw, of Handy, and lives on 
the same section ; Henry P. married Elizabeth 
Briggs, and lives on the homestead ; Norman mar- 
ried Rhoda Scofield, and lives on section 32 ; 
Elizabeth married Lyman H. Dean, a minister of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is now a 
resident of Salem, Washtenaw Co. 

Alva Preston was for many years one of the 
substantial citizens of Cohoctah. He was a native 
of Windham Co., Conn., and soon after his mar- 
riage came to Michigan, settling in Ann Arbor in 
1829. In December, 1836, he purchased two lots 
of land of the government, — on sections 2 and 11, 
and also 40 acres on section 23, of William Riker. 
In the following spring he came with his wife and 
two children, and occupied a house he had built 
on the north bank of the river, near the quarter 
line. During that summer, he, in company with 
Edward F. Gay, of Howell, built the first saw-mill 
in the town, having it ready to commence opera- 
tions that fall. The mill was a moderate sized one, 
having a " sash-saw" and " flutter-wheel," and did 
a considerable amount of custom sawing for a 
number of years. It stood near Mr. Preston's 
house, while the dam was a long ways up the 
stream, near the south line of section 14. After 
operating the mill about six years he sold it to 
William S. Ellis, who kept it running some four- 
teen or fifteen years, or until his death, when 



COHOCTAH TOWNSHIP. 



445 



through neglect it was permitted to go to ruin. 
In character, Mr. Preston was a firm, resohite, in- 
du.striou.s, anti conscientious man, having an ex- 
tensive influence and an unblemished reputation. 
His political faith was pinned to the doctrines of 
the Whig party, and to his efforts may be ascribed 
in a great measure the success of that party in this 
town. He was often called to serve his townsmen 
in an official capacity, being the first supervisor, 
and one of the first justices of the peace, and hold- 
ing at different times the offices of school inspec- 
tor, overseer of the poor, assessor for five years, 
and treasurer for four years. Formerly he was 
connected with the Presbyterian denomination, but 
after coming here joined the Methodists, and re- 
mained a consistent and prominent member of that 
body to the time of his death. May i6, 1862, in 
his sixtieth year. His first wife died Sept. 30, 1846, 
and he subsequently married Rachel Houghtaling, 
who survived him a number of years, and died in 
Howell. One of his sons, Alphonso, died at the 
age of three years, and six other children died in 
infancy. John L. enlisted in the Union army dur- 
ing the Rebellion, and died in the hospital at De- 
troit, of congestion of the brain, Jan. 16, 1862, at 
the age of twenty-six years. James A., the only 
living member of the family, remained a resident 
of Cohoctah for many years, and served in the 
offices of school inspector and treasurer. He 
married Sarah J. Clarity, of Owosso, and is now 
living in Howell. Alva Preston was very fond of 
children, and took a number of them at different 
times to bring up. At one time, it is said, that in- 
cluding his own children, he had youthful repre- 
sentatives of five different families gathered at his 
fireside. The name of this friend of the fatherless 
will long be a treasured memory in the hearts of 
those whose lives his loving care has aided to 
brighten and bless. 

Michael Thatcher came from Caneadea, Allegany 
Co., N. Y., and settled on the southeast quarter of 
section 5 in this town. He was a native of the 
State of New Jersey, and while living in Western 
New York had married Hannah, a daughter of 
Kzra Sanford. With his wife and three children, 
— two daughters, aged respectively thirteen and 
three years, and a son of eight, — he came through 
Canada to Detroit, and followed the Grand River 
road to Brighton and Howell, and the Indian trail 
from there through Sanford's Corners to his land, 
where they arrived July 15th, having been twenty- 
eight days on the road. Upon their arrival they 
built a small log shanty near the northeast corner 
of the southeast quarter of the section (stopping 
in the mean time at Ziba Stone's), where they lived 
till February, 1838, when they moved into a new 



log house they had built a few rods east of it, 
which furnished them a home for many years, and 
is still standing, the only log house in the town 
built by any of the earliest pioneers. Michael 
Thatcher remained a resident of the town to the 
day of his death, P"eb. 9, 1854. His wife lived on 
the place till Nov. 29, 1878, when she died at the 
ripe age of seventy-nine years. Both daughters 
are dead, and the son, Michael Thatcher,* who is 
the present supervisor of the town, lives on the 
homestead with his wife, formerly Miss Abigail P. 
Sears, to whom he was married in 1875. 

Among the settlers in the summer of 1837 was 
Thomas Goldsmith, with his father, Elisha, and his 
sisters, Sally and Elizabeth. They were from the 
town of Rush, Monroe Co., N. Y., and, coming to 
Michigan, settled on rented land in Redford, Wayne 
Co., near Detroit, where they lived till the time of 
their coming here. Elisha died in this town in 
185 I, Sally married Robert Sovvders, and Elizabeth 
married Joseph Brown. Both of these ladies are 
now dead. Thomas is still living on the home- 
stead, on section 26. He has been a prominent 
citizen of the town and a frequent office-holder, 
having been elected twenty- two times. His of- 
ficial career includes one year's service as assessor, 
two as highway commissioner, six as town clerk, 
twent)'-one as justice of the peace, and eight as 
supervisor. He is also the only voter now living 
who was present and participated in the first town- 
meeting in 1838. 

Jared L. Cook was a native of Oneida Co., N. Y.^ 
and moved, when a young man, to the town of 
Clarendon, Orleans Co., N. Y., where he settled 
upon and cleared up a new farm. In 1836 he came 
to Michigan and settled in Calhoun County. A 
year later he sold his farm to his brother Elijah, 
and moved on to a new farm on section 32, in this 
town, bringing with him a family of four sons and 
three daughters. Here he passed through the 
usual trials met by the pioneers, and became an 
influential member of the society formed of the 
townspeople. He held the office of supervisor four 
years, and served repeatedly as treasurer, assessor, 
and as highway commissioner. In New York 
he had served with honor as colonel of a militia 
regiment. He was a man of more than ordinary 
ability, a firm, outspoken Christian, and died Jan. 
29, 1849, at the age of fortj-nine years, lamented 
and mourned by all. His wife, Mrs. Orrilla Cook, 
is now living with her youngest son, on the 
homestead, at the age of seventy-six years. Their 
family embraced the following children : Horace 

• For his co opeintioii and willing aid in llic work of collecting 
the malcriiil fur this sketch he nients and receives our hearty 
thanks. 



446 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



L. is now a hardware merchant in Byron, Shiawas- 
see Co. He was a prominent citizen during his 
residence here, and held several town offices, 
among them that of supervisor for three terms. 
Bradford was a gallant soldier in the Union army, 
and gave his life for his country. He was mus- 
tered into the service as second lieutenant of Com- 
pany A, loth Michigan Volunteer Infantry ; he was 
promoted to a first lieutenantcy, and afterwards to 
the captaincy of Company E; he was wounded in 
the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864, 
died from the effects of his wound on the 29th, 
and was buried on the field of battle. His remains 
were afterwards taken up and re-interred in a na- 
tional cemetery. Jared L., Jr., now lives in Fow- 
lerville, where he is engaged in the hardware trade. 
He, too, served in the war for the suppression of 
the Rebellion, enlisting Sept. 5, 1862, and serving 
to the close of the war, in Company D, 6th Mich- 
igan Cavalry. Joseph L., the youngest son, is 
living on the old homestead, and is one of the 
substantial men and successful farmers of the town. 
Charity, the oldest daughter, maiiicd Lewis B. 
Boyd, and lives in Cohoctah. Ruth died in Illinois, 
in October, 1 872, but was brought home and buried 
in the family burial-place in Conway. Sophia died 
in Clarendon, Calhoun Co., in the year 1855. 

The first settler in the vicinity of Chemungville 
was Adam Fisher, who came from Montezuma, 
Cayuga Co., N. Y., in the fall of 1837, and settled 
on the north half of the northeast quarter of sec- 
tion 35, which he had purchased from the govern- 
ment in the spring of 1836. His family consisted 
of a wife and four children, one of whom — his son 
Edward — is still living in the town. He died on 
his place in September, 1853, and his wife died 
there in the winter of 1860-61. 

William Riker settled in 1S37 on the northwest 
quarter of section 23, of which he owned all ex- 
cept the northeast 40 acres, which he had sold to 
Alva Preston. After living here ten or fifteen 
j'ears he moved to Ionia County, where he died 
several years ago. His brother, Abraham Riker, 
settled in the fall of 1838 on the east half of the 
northwest quarter of section 28, and died there 
eight or nine years afterwards, leaving a family of 
a wife and five children, who, soon after his death, 
removed to Ionia County, and subsequently to 
Muskegon. 

Isaac Van der Cook arrived in Cohoctah, March 
18, 1838, and settled on the present Fiisbee farm. 
He came from Clarkson, Monroe Co., N. Y., in 
April, 1832, and moved to La Salle, Monroe Co., 
Mich., from which place he moved to Kensington, 
Oakland Co., in 1834. While living in Kensing- 
ton he married Mrs. Fisher, widow of Chauncey 



D. Fisher, who took up the Frisbee farm from the 
government, in 1836, and at the time of coming 
here had a family of four children, three of them 
being step-children. The farm was entirely new, 
and they built a log house that spring, into which 
they moved. They met with many trials and 
hardships, and were forced to undergo many pri- 
vations. Especially was this true of the hard 
winter of 1842, when many cattle were lost from 
exposure and insufficient feed, and when all would 
have died but for the browse afforded by cutting 
down small trees and letting them eat the tender 
twigs. Mr. Cook went that winter to the town of 
Lyons, from whence he came here, a distance of 
twenty-five miles, after a load of straw. He pro- 
cured a small load, and on his way home met a 
man who offered him seven dollars for it, which 
he refused. There were plent)'' of deer in the 
woods that winter, and store-hogs were kept 
through the cold weather by being fed deer car- 
casses from which the people had cut the hams 
and other choice pieces foi- their own use. Mr. 
Van der Cook and his estimable wife are still resi- 
dents of the town, living in the village of Che- 
mungville, where he has consitlerable property. 
They have reared a large family of children, some 
of whom are pronn'nent citizens of this town. Of 
these children, Cornelia married Edward Fisher, 
and lives in Cohoctah ; Sarah A. married Alanson 
Blood, and now resides in De Witt, Clinton Co. ; 
Esther M. married Henry Fay, and lives in the 
same place ; William H. married Frances Martin, 
and resides on section 14, in this town ; Lyman 
H. married Harriet Neely, and lives on section 
35 ; Chauncey L. married Lucy J. Sessions, and 
lives in Howell ; and Alfred F. married Margaret 

E. Frisbee, and resides in the town of Deerfield; 
Conrad Hayner, a descendant of one of the 

early Dutch families of the valley of the Hudson, 
came to the town of Parma, Monroe Co., N. Y., in 
the early days of its settlement. There he lived 
several years, until, in 1840, he moved to and be- 
came a resident of Michigan. Previous to his re- 
moval here he came, in company with some others, 
and assisted in the work of running a threshingf- 
machine, in which they all owned equal interests, 
and which was one of the first, if not the very first, 
machines operated in this State. He purchased 
his land on section 18 in 1836. It was a strip of 
eighty rods wide, extending across the section just 
west of the centre. He came to Cohoctah in the 
spring of 1842. From Sanford's Corners he was 
guided to his land solely by aid of a pocket com- 
pass and the surveyors' marks. He found it to be 
an excellent lot of land, free from swamps and 
marshes, and there established a home, in which 



COHOCTAH TOWNSHIP. 



447 



lie lived out the remainder of his days and reared 
a family of ten children. He was a man of fair 
educational qualifications and good business ability. 
Though politically oppcsed to the majority of hi.s 
townsmen, he nevertheless was elected to several 
offices, and served as highway commissioner for 
eight years. He was always strenuous on the 
point of opening roads only on regular section or 
quarter section lines, instead of allowing them to 
run haphazard, as was the practice at first adopted. 
For many years he was a notary public, and did an 
immense amount of conveyancing. He died in 
December, 1870, and his wife in the spring of 1 87 1. 
Four of his children, Cyrus G, Mrs. Merinda 
Kelly, Mrs. Asmerelda Sawyer, and Mrs. Euretta 
Hendryx, are still living in Cohoctah, the former 
being the present town clerk and a merchant at the 
Centre. 

Klias Sprague, formerly of East Douglass, Mass., 
came to Michigan in 1832, and settled in West 
Bloomfield, Oakland Co. Me came to Brighton, 
and from there came to Cohoctah in 1849, when 
he settled on the David Guile farm, on section 9, 
which had been more recently owned by Joshua 
D. Sheffield. He has since continued to reside 
there, working principally at farming, but at one 
time owned an interest in the steam saw-mill at 
Cohoctah. During his early life he was a famous 
hunter, and his cabin was the general rendezvous 
for people who came from a distance to partici[)ate 
in the exciting s[)ort of deer-hunting. The num- 
ber of deer he has killed is enormous, it being over 
600 when he stopped keeping any account, and he 
used to hunt them for many years after that. 

Jacob Kanouse was one of the early settlers in 
the town of Burns, Shiawassee Co., and became a 
resident of this town in 1844. He has been a 
leader among the Republicans of the town, and 
has frequently been called to offices of trust and 
responsibility. He has served seven \ears as 
supervisor, and was once elected as probate judge 
of the county. In another part of this woik a de- 
tailed sketch of his personal history will be found. 

Joseph Hosley first settled in Deerfield in 1837 
and moved to this town some years later, living 
here a number of years previous to his death, which 
occurred May 22, 1855, at the age of seventy-eight 
years. 

Tliere were other pioneers whose names are 
worthy of special mention, but whose families have 
become extinct through death or removal, and 
whose histor)' there was no means of readily ob- 
taining. 

REMIXISCENCKS. 

The first white child born in this town was a 
daughter of Ira and Eliza Walker, who was born 



in September, 1836. She was chri.stened Anna, 
and removed with her parents to Milford, Oakland 
Co. Of her subsequent history nothing is now 
known. 

The second white child, and the first white male 
child, born in Cohoctah was John H., son of Wil- 
liam and Emily Stroud. He was born in 1837, 
grew to manhood in the town of his birth, married 
Louisa Ward, and died in this town in the fall of 
1867, leaving a family of a wife and two children. 
He was an excellent citizen, a man of peculiar 
energy, and well cpialified for the office of constable, 
to which he was elected many times. 

The first and only marriage license recorded is 
the following, no date being given : 

" Marriafje License has been applied foi' on ihe sixleenlh day of 
April, l)y James Litilifiekl, of the luwn of Lima, Coiinly of Wash- 
tenaw, to lie joined in marriage to Miss Alniira Pitt, of the town 
of Tuscola, in the County of Livingston, Slate of Michigan, — 
therefore License was granted by me. 

"Mason Piiiu.ps, Tinvn Clerk." 

The first wedding celebrated in this town was at 
the house of Ezra Sanford. The parties most 
deeph' interested in the ceremonies incident to the 
occasion were William Stroud and Emily Sanford. 
The ceremony was performed by Amos Adams, 
Esq., a justice of the ])eacc in the town of Howell, 
on the 27th day of July, 1836. Of all those pre- 
sent as spectators, but one, Mrs. Esther Barlow, is 
now living in Cohoctah. It was a rare circum- 
stance in the infant settlement, and great pains 
were taken to honor the occasion with the best the 
country afforded. The groom furnished a bounti- 
ful supply of wine, and aside from the more sub- 
stantial articles of food, the table was supplied with 
an excellent appetizer in the shape of sauce made 
from the wild gooseberries found in the clearings. 
Some seventeen years later Mr. Stroud died, but 
his faithful companion still survives. 

The first death in town is believed to have been 
that of Mrs. William Northrup, in 1837. She was 
buried in what was called the Boutell burying- 
ground, on section 24. 

The pioneers had many things to contend against 
in their work of building up the prosperous com- 
munity that has resulted from their perseverance 
and enterprise. The distance traveled in going to 
market to sell surplus produce or purchase needed 
sup|)lies, was by no means the least of their disad- 
vantages. Detroit, Pontiac, and Ann Arbor were 
the nearest points where trading and milling could 
be done, and the journeys, especially in times when 
the roads were bad, involved great expense of time 
and labor. Wild animals abounded, and not al- 
ways of the most peaceable description. As illus- 
trating this, we mention a couple of incidents that 



448 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



transpired in the early days of the settlement. 
Abram Kanouse lived on what is called the Sand 
Hill, on the southwest quarter of the southeast 
quarter of section lo. One night, after the family 
had retired, the noise of a fierce fight, in which 
their dog was evidently taking part, fell upon their 
ears. Mrs. Kanouse hastened out and found the 
dog and a large wolf engaged in a fierce conflict. 
Near the scene of the fight work had been begun 
on a well, and a hole, some five or si.x feet deep, had 
been excavated. Into this Mrs. Kanouse succeeded 
in forcing the wolf, and there kept him until help 
arrived and he was killed. At another time Mr. 
Thatcher's family was startled at hearing a loud 
squealing in the woods, a little distance from the 
house, where the old sow, on whom they depended 
for their future supply of porkers, was feeding. 
Mr. Thatcher hastened towards the scene, and, see- 
ing that it was a bear that had attacked his pig, 
shouted for the others to bring the a.xe. Arrived 
at the scene, he found the bear standing with his 
forepaws on the prostrate, squealing animal, and 
vigorously masticating a piece of fat and tender- 
loin that he had bitten from its back. As the rest 
of the family arrived his bearship became alarmed, 
and, taking a parting bite from his prostrate victim, 
turned and plunged into the forest. The most 
wonderful part of the whole performance was that 
the torn and bitten porker, though unable to walk 
to her pen, was placed in a sheltered position be- 
hind a large log, and was there cared for until she 
recovered from the effects of her adventure. And, 
though not thereafter particularly elegant in form, 
she lived to bring into the world a numerous 
progeny, and performed all her maternal functions 
as successfully as though she had not met with 
so narrow an escape and furnished a bear with a 
breakfast. 

The first bridge that spanned the waters of the 
Shiawassee in this town was built in the spring of 
1836, near the old fording-place on the line between 
sections 15 and 22. Dyer Rathbun, who was moving 
to settle in the town of Burns, Shiawassee Co., 
arrived at Ezra Sanford's, and found the river swol- 
len so greatly by the freshet as to be impassable. 
So he and his sons, assisted by Mr. Sanford and 
his hired man, set to work during the four days of 
their enforced stay and built the bridge, which 
enabled them to cross the stream and pursue their 
onward journey. It was a rude structure built of 
poles and logs, and after serving the pioneers as a 
place of crossing for two or three )'ears, was aban- 
doned in favor of a new, permanent bridge, nearly 
on the site of the present one. 

The first resident physician was Dr. Joel S. Stil- 
son. He first settled in Deerfield. About 1845 he 



settled at Chemungville, and continued to reside 
there until his death, which occurred nearly twenty 
years ago. Another physician settled there in 
1852-54, by the name of Paschal. He did not 
remain long, and for some irregularity in his views 
regarding the rights of personal property obtained 
the name of " the wool doctor." 

The first public-house was kept at John San- 
ford's. The house was, however, known as James 
Sanford's house, and the first town-meeting was 
held there in 1838. At Ezra Sanford's, too, enter- 
tainment for man and beast was furnished, but no 
liquor, as was the case at John Sanford's. The 
second town-meeting was held at the house of 
Ziba Stone, for two reasons : it was nearer the 
centre of population, and there no liquor would 
be furnished, and the settlers, who were principally 
temperate men, preferred to have the election con- 
ducted without the demoralizing influence of drink- 
ing attending it. At a later period there were two 
taverns in town, known as Davenport's and Jack- 
son's taverns. At these liquor was freely dispensed, 
and they became pestilential in the eyes of the 
moral people of the community, who at last rose 
in their might and crushed them out. At Daven- 
port's the travelers used frequently to stop, water 
their teams, warm themselves, and then go on 
without purchasing anything. At last this grew 
intolerable to the landlord, and calling the local 
artist to his aid, a sign was prepared and placed 
in position that was intended to notify the travel- 
ing public that warming for nothing was a thing 
of the past, and that " free as water" meant a reason- 
able compensation for the trouble and e.xpense of 
maintaining facilities for furnishing water for the 
public use. It is true that the sign was not the 
masterpiece of a modern Raphael, and did not re- 
flect the greatest credit upon the literary ability of 
its author, but it was expressive, and served the 
purpose for which it was intended, and attracted 
the notice, if it did not command the admiration, 
of all who passed that way. As near as the types 
will permit of its reproduction, it reads as follows: 

"wORMINg aND wAttERiNG HeaR sixPeNce." 

The work of stopping the sale of liquor and 
thus cleaning out these places was largely per- 
formed by Judge Jacob Kanouse. Upon his elec- 
tion to the office of supervisor in 1848, he caused 
proceedings to be commenced against them, and 
procured indictments at the first grand jury meet- 
ing that year. He then suspended the prosecution 
provided they would stop selling, a promise the 
tavern-keepers were very glad to make, and which, 
so far as outsiders could learn, was carefully ful- 
filled. 



COHOCTAH TOWNSHIP. 



449 



CIVIL AND POLITICAL. 
Upon the organization of this county, this town 
was made a part of the town of Howell, and so 
continued until tlie spring of 1838, when the fol- 
lowing act passed the Legislature, and was ap- 
proved by the Governor, March 6th, viz. : 

" Sec. 9. — All that part of llie county of Livingston desigmilcd 
in the United Stales survey as township number four north, of 
range number four east, be and the same is hereby set off and or- 
ganized into a separate township, by the name of Tuscola ; and (he 
first township-meeting shall be held at the house of lames San- 
ford, in said township." 

According to this provision the fir.st meeting 
was held at James Sanford's (which was John San- 
ford's residence), which fact is shown by the fol- 
lowing record of the proceedings of that meeting: 

" At the first township-meeting of the electors of the township 
of Tuscola, in the county of Livingston, .Slate of Michigan, held 
at Ihe house of J.ames Sanford's, on the 2d d.iy of April, in the 
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and (hirly-cight, 
Calvin W. Hart was chosen moderator and Hiram Rix clerk of 
said ineeling. 

" Names of Township Office! s. — Alva Preston, Supervisor ; 
Mason Phelps, Town Clerk; Alva Preston, Calvin W. Mart, Lott 
Pralt, Justices of the Peace ; Justice* Boyd, James Sanford, 
Hiram kix. Assessors; Calvin W. Hart, Thomas Goldsmith, 
Robert Sowders, Commissioners of Highways; Calvin W. Hart, 
Hiram Rix, Alva Preston, Inspectors of Common Schools; James 
Sanford, Collector; James .Sanford, William Riker, Abrani Ka- 
nouse, Constables; Justice* Boyd, Elisha Goldsmith, Overseers of 
the Poor. 

TOWNSHIP LAWS. 

" Voted, that the Path Masters serve as fence-viewers, Pound- 
Keepers, and appraisers of Damage. 

" Voted, that every Path Master's yard shall be called a Pound 
for the ensuing year. 

" Voted, that a fence four feet and a half high shall be a lawful 
fence. 

" Voted, that the next annual Town-Mecling be held at the 
house of Ziba Stone's. 

"This I assert to be a true copy of the original. 

" Recorded this fourth Day of April, a.d. 1838. 

" Mason Phelps, Toiun Clerk." 

The place of holding town-meetings has always 
been of a migratory nature in this town, embrac- 
ing the following range: in 1838 it was held at 
James Sanford's, on section 34; in 1839, at Ziba 
Stone's, on section 23; in 1840, at David H. Pear- 
son's; in 1841-42, at Robert Ireland's; in 1843, 
at Anthony Clark's, on section 28; in 1844, at 
school-house in District No. 4; in 1845, at Nathaniel 
Smith's; in 1846, at Nathan A. Townsend's; in 1847, 
at Nathaniel Smith's; in 1848, at Nathaniel Daven- 
port's; in 1849, at Mr. Fletcher's, on Ziba Stone's 
place; in 1850, at Dudley VVoodworth's ; in 185 i, 
at Benjamin Crawford's; in 1862, at school-house 
near Mr. Crawford's ; in 1853, at Chemungville ; in 
1854-55, at Nathan Grant's ; and so it continues to 
shift about to the present day. 



* Justus. 



The following list contains the names of all the 
officers of the town from its organization in 1838 
till the present )'ear of 1879: 

CIVIL LIST OF COHOCTAH. 

1838. — Supervisor, Alva Preston; Town Clerk, Mason Pheli)s; 
Collector, James Sanford; Justices of the Peace, Lott 
Pratt (four years), Alva Preston (three years), Calvin \V. 
Hart (two years), Ezra Sanford (one year) ;t Assessors, 
Justus Boyd, James S.inford, Hiram Rix; School Inspec- 
tors, Calvin W. Hart, Hir.im Rix, Alva Preston. J 

1839. — Supervisor, Calvin W. Hart ; Town Clerk, Robert .Sowders ; 
Collector, Ezra .Sanford ; Treasurer, Jared L. Cook ; Jus- 
tice of Ihe Peace, Sylvester .Stoddard ; Assessors, Jared 
L. Cook, Isaac Pratt, Nicholas F. Dunkle; School In- 
spectors, Jared L. Cook, Calvin W. Hart, Lott Pralt. 

1840. — Supervisor, Noah Ramsdell; Town Clerk, Sylvester .Stod- 
dard; Collector, William Jenks; Treasurer, Jared L. 
Cook; Justices of the Peace, Orrin Stoddard (full term), 
Benjamin Crawford (vacancy) ; Assessoi^, Alva Preston, 
Isa.ac Pratl, Jared L.Cook; School Inspectors, Hiram 
Rix, John Jones, Orrin Sloddard. 

1841. — Supervisor, Noah Ramsdell; Town Clerk, William H. 
Ram.sdell; Collector, Orville H.Jones; Treasurer, Jared 
L. Cook ;g Justice of the Peace, John Jones ; Asse>sors, 
Alva Preston, Jared L. Cook, Isaac Pratt; School In- 
spectors, Orrin Stoddard, John Jones, Hiram Rix. 
-Supervisor, Jared L. Cook ; Town Clerk, David Sanford ; 
Treasurer, Benjamin Crawford; Justices of the Peace, 
Chester Townsend (full term), Isaac Pratt (vacancy) ; 
Assessors, Thomas Goldsmith, Warren Hitchins; School 
Inspectors, Thomas E. Jeffries, Warren Hitchins, An- 
drew T. Green. 

1843. — Supervisor, William Chase ;|| Town Clerk, Thomas Gold- 
smith ; Treasurer, Sylvester Stoddard ; Justices of the 
Peace, Benjamin Crawford (full term), Isaac Pratt (va- 
cancy) ; Assessors, Alva Preston, Ezra Sanford, Jr.; 
School Inspectors, Homer L. Townsend (one year), 
Warren Hitchins (two years) ; Fence-Viewers, Sylvester 
.Stoddard, Noah Ramsdell, Chester Townsend. 

1844. — Supervisor, Jared L. Cook; Town Clerk, Thomas Gold- 
smith ; Treasurer, Sylvester Stoddard ; Justice of the 
Peace, Nathaniel Smith ; .\ssessors, .\lva Preston, Hiram 
L. Stoddard; School Inspector, William Knapp.^ 

1845. — Supervisor, Jared L. Cook ; Town Clerk, Thomas Gold- 
smith; Treasurer, James Sanford; Justice of the Peace, 
William L. Jones ; Assessors, Alva Jones, Chester Town- 
send ; School Inspector, Warren Hitchins. 
-Supervisor, Jared L. Cook ; Town Clerk, Thomas Gold- 
smith ; Treasurer, Nathan A. Townsend ; Justice of the 
Peace, Chester Townsend; Assessors, Alva Preston, 
Hiram L. .Stoddard ; School Inspector, Horace L. Cook. 
-Supervisor, Chester Townsend ; Town Clerk, Thomas 
Goldsmith ; Treasurer, Nathan A. Townsend ; Justice 



1842.— S 



1846.- 



1847.- 



f Pleld over, being a justice of Huwell towmsbip at the time the 
towns were divided. 

\ In the summer of this year, Justus Boyd was lost on a steamer 
burned on Lake Erie, and M.ason Phelps moved from the town. 
The vacancies thus created in the town offices were filled on the 
5th of August, by the ap|x)intmcnt of Abram K.anouse to the office 
of assessor, and Robert Sowders to that of town clerk. 

I The treasurer's office became vacant for some reason, and the 
Town Board, on November 1st, appointed Sylvester Stoddard to 
fill the vacancy. 

II Died in office, and on August 23d Noah Ramsdell was ap- 
pointed to fill the v.acancy. 

^ Removed from town, and on Feb. 15, 1845, Horace L. Cook 
was a|>poinled to fill the vacancy. 



57 



4SO 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



of the Peace, Benjamin Crawford ; Assessors, Joseph B. 
Jackson, Jr., Jared L. Cook; School Inspector, Warren 
Hitchins. 
1S48. — Supervisor, Jacob Kanouse ; Town Clerk, Hiram L.Stod- 
dard; Treasurer, John N. Boyd; Justices of the Peace, 
Thomas Goldsmith (full term), Jacob Kanouse (long 
vacancy), Aaron Brunson (short vacancy) ; Assessors, 
John Jones, William P. Laing ; School Inspector, Horace 
L. Cook. 
1849. — Supervisor, Jacob Kanouse; Town Clerk, Hiram L. Stod- 
dard ; Treasurer, John N. Boyd ; Justice of the Peace, 
Jacob Kanouse ; School Inspector, Lewis B. Boyd. 

1850. — Supervisor, Jacob Kanouse; Town Clerk, Hiram L. Stod- 
dard ; Treasurer, John N. Boyd ; Justice of the Peace, 
Warren Chase ; School Inspector, Horace L. Cook. 

1851. — Supervisor, Thomas Goldsmith; Town Clerk, Hiram L. 
Stoddard ; Treasurer, David L. Winton ; Justices of the 
Peace, Guy N. Roljerts (full term), Lott Pratt (vacancy) ; 
School Inspector, Jared L. Cook. 

1852. — Supervisor, Thomas Goldsmith;* Town Clerk, William 
E. Winton ; Treasurer, David L. Winton ; Justices of 
the Peace, Thomas Goldsmith (full term), John N. 
Boyd (vacancy) ; School Inspector, Joel A. Chapman. 

1853. — Supervisor, Jacob Kanouse; Town Clerk, Joel A. Chap- 
man ; Treasurer, Holland C. Hosley; Justices of the 
Peace, Luther Pratt (full term), Benjamin Crawford (one 
year), Conrad Hayner, (two years); School Inspector, 
Lewis B. Boyd. I 

1854. — Supervisor, Horace L. Cook; Town Clerk, William E. 
Winton; Treasurer, Holland C. Hosley; Justice of the 
Peace, Dudley Woodworth ; School Inspector, Joel A. 
Chapman. 

1855. — .Supervisor, Thomas Goldsmith; Town Clerk, William E. 
Winton; Treasurer, Holland C. Hosley; Justices of the 
Peace, John D. Blank (full term), Dudley Woodworth 
(vacancy) ; School Inspector, James A. Preston. J 

1856. — Supervisor, Hiram L. Stoddard;^ Town Clerk, Thomas 
Goldsmith ; Treasurer, Alva Preston ; Justices of the 
Peace, Joshua D. Sheffield (full term), Thomas Gold- 
smith (vacancy) ; School Inspector, Joel A. Chapman. 

1857. — Supervisor, Jacob Kanouse; Town Clerk, William E. 
Winton; Treasurer, Alva Preston; Justices of the Peace, 
Luther Pratt (full term), Isaac V. D. Cook and Charles 
Drum (vacancies) ; School Inspector, Bradford Cook. 

1858. — Supervisor, Horace L. Cook; Town Clerk, William Pal- 
mer; Treasurer, Alva Preston; Justices of the Peace, 
Seaman O. Soule (full term), Jacob Kanouse (vacancy); 
School Inspector, Joel A. Chapman. 

1859. — Supervisor, Horace L. Cook; Town Clerk, William E. 
Winton ; Treasurer, Alva Preston ; Justice of the Peace, 
Charles Drum; School Inspector, Bradford Cook. 

i860. — Supervisor, Van Rensselaer Durfee; Town Clerk, Michael 
Thatcher ; Treasurer, Orrin F. Sessions ; Justice of the 
Peace, Robert J. McMillan ; School Inspector, Joel A. 
Chapman. 

1861. — Supervisor, Van Rensselaer Durfee; Town Clerk, Michael 

* Being disabled by sickness, Jacob Kanouse was appointed, 
April 24th, to act as supervisor until his recovery. The treasurer, 
Daniel L. Winton, was also prevented by sickness from attending 
to the duties of his office, and Jan. 18, 1853, Joseph Brown was 
appointed in his stead. February 9th he resigned, and Mr. Win- 
ton was appointed. 

I Resigned, and April 9th Horace L. Cook was appointed to fill 
the vacancy. 

J Lewis B. Boyd was appointed school inspector, April i6th, in 
place of J. A. Preston, who did not qualify. 

J The supervisor being disabled by sickness, Jacob Kanouse was 
appointed to that office, October 3d. April i8th, William E. Win- 
ton was appointed to the office of school inspector. 



Thatcher ; Treasurer, Orrin F. Sessions ; Justice of the 
Peace, Luther Pratt ; School Inspector, Joseph L. Cook. 

1862. — Supervisor, Thomas Goldsmith ; Town Clerk, Ezra Fris- 
bee; Treasurer, Joel A. Chapman; Justice of the Peace, 
Seaman O. Soule; School Inspector, Amos Pratt. || 

1863. — Supervisor, Thomas Goldsmith ; Town Clerk, Alonzo T. 
Frisbee ; Treasurer, Joel A. Chapman ; Justice of the 
Peace, Michael Thatcher ; School Inspector, Joseph L. 
Cook. 

1864. — Supervisor, Thomas Goldsmith; Town Clerk, George E. 
Houghtaling; Treasurer, Joel A. Chapman; Ju.stice of 
the Peace, Thomas Goldsmith ; School Inspector, Wm. 

C. Randall. 

1865. — Supervisor, Thomas Goldsmith; Town Clerk, George E. 
Houghtaling; Treasurer, James A. Preston; Justice of 
the Peace, Luther Pratt; School Inspector, Schuyler E. 
Randall. 

1866. — Supervisor, Thomas Goldsmith; Town Clerk, Julius D. 
Smith ;^ Treasurer, James A. Preston ; Justices of the 
Peace, Seaman 0. Soule (full term), George Cameron 
(to fill vacancy of Luther Pratt, who resigned March 
30th) ; School Inspector, Luther C. Kanouse. 

1867. — Supervisor, Alonzo T. Frisbee; Town Clerk, Augustus 
W. Britten; Treasurer, Lyman V. D. Cook; Justice of 
the Peace, Michael Thatcher; School Inspector, James 
A. Preston. 

1868. — Supervisor, Alonzo T. Frisbee; Town Clerk, Augustus 
W. Britten ; Treasurer, Lyman V. D. Cook ; Justice of 
the Peace, William McMillan ; School Inspector, Albert 

D. Thompson.** 

1869. — Supervisor, Alonzo T. Frisbee; Town Clerk, Martin L. 
Davis ; Treasurer, Lyman V. D. Cook ; Justices of the 
Peace, Charles A. Potter (full term), Oliver Sprague 
(vacancy) ; School Inspector, James A. Preston. 

1870. — Supervisor, Luther C. Kanouse; Town Clerk, Martin L. 
Davis; Treasurer, Frank Purdy; Justices of the Peace, 
Richard Wrigglesworth (full tenii), Isaiah Goodenough 
(vacancy) ; School Inspector, Oscar T. Keller. 

1871. — Supervisor, Luther C. Kanouse; Town Clerk, Abel S. 
Austin; Treasurer, Amos M. Eager ;ff Justices of the 
Peace, William O. Hendricks (full term), George O. 
Austin (vacancy) ; Drain Commissioner, Michael 
Thatcher (appointed May 20th) ; School Inspector, 
Winfield Kanouse. 

1872. — Supervisor, Alonzo T. Frisbee; Town Clerk, Abel S. 
Austin; Treasurer, George E. Houghtaling; Justice of 
the Peace, William McMillan; Drain Commissioner, 
Michael Thatcher; School Inspector, Oscar T. Keller. 

1873. — Supervisor, Roger Sherman; Town Clerk, William Mc- 
Millan; Treasurer, Alfred F. V. D. Cook; Justices of 
the Peace, Warren Chase (full term), Hartwell Lewis 
(vacancy) ; Drain Commissioner, Lewis Grant ; School 
Inspector, Winfield Kanouse. 

1874. — Supervisor, Roger Sherman; Town Clerk, William Mc- 
Millan; Treasurer, Alfred F. V. D. Cook; Justice of 
the Peace, Richard Wrigglesworth; Drain Commis- 
sioner, Lewis Grant; School Inspector, Joseph L. Cook. 

1875. — SupeiTisor, Roger Sherman ; Town Clerk, William Mc- 
Millan; Treasurer, Frank M. Pardee; Justice of the 

II Enlisted in the Union army, leaving a vacancy, which was 
filled, October 2d, by the appointment of Joel A. Chapman. 

H Mr. .Smith resigned on account of his moving from he town, 
and December 24th Horace L. Cook was appointed. Mr. Ran- 
dall died, leaving a vacancy in the office of school inspector, and 
December 15th Thomas Shelton was appointed. 

** Mr. Thompson removed from town and, April nth, Charles 
A. Potter was appointed in his stead. 

ff Resigned, and George E. Houghtaling was appointed Nov. 
6th to fill the vacancy. 



COHOCTAH TOWNSHIP. 



451 



Peace, Thomas Goldsmith ; Drain Commissioner, James 
McKane; School Superintendent, Joseph L. Cook; 
School Inspector, Winfield Kanouse. 

1876. — Supervisor, Joseph Browning; Town Clerk, Martin L. 
Davis; Treasurer, Luther C. Kanouse; Justices of the 
Peace, Michael Thatcher (full term), Cyrus G. Hayner 
(vacancy) ; Drain Commissioner, George E. lloughtal- 
ing ;* School Superintendent, Joseph L. Cook ; School 
Inspector, Killmore M. Kanouse. 

1877. — Supervisor, Joseph Browning; Town Clerk, Martin L. 
Davis ; Treasurer, Truman Sprague ; Justices of the 
Peace, William V. D. Cook (full term), Ames Pratt 
(vacancy); Drain Commissioner, Michael Thatcher; 
School Superintendent, Fillmore M. Kanouse ; School 
Inspector, John Q. Faulk. 

1878. — Supervisor, Amos M. Eager; Town Clerk, Cyrus G. 
Hayner; Treasurer, Alva P. Ellis; Justice of the 
Peace, Richard Wriggles worth ; Drain Commissioner 
(for two years), Michael Thatcher; School Superin- 
tendent (for two years), Fillmore M. Kanouse; School 
Inspector, John Q. Faulk. 

1879. — Supervisor, Michael Thatcher; Town Clerk, Cyrus G. 
Hayner; Treasurer, Alva P. Ellis; Justice of the 
Peace, Amos Pratt ; Drain Commissioner, Lyman V. 
D. Cook;f School Inspector, William H. Erwin. 

An effort was made in the spring of 1868 to 
have a town-house built. At the town- meeting a 
committee, consisting of Jacob Kanouse, Lewis B. 
Boyd, Arthur F. Field, Wm. Haskell, and Amos 
M. Eager, was appointed and empowered to locate 
a site, and post up notices containing specifications 
for the building, and to institute other necessary 
proceedings. They were to report at the next 
annual meeting. Their report stated that they 
had selected a site on land owned by J. N. Teller, 
near Mrs. Davenport's. At this stage of the pro- 
ceedings, for some reason, the project was aban- 
doned, and was not revived until April 10, 1876, 
when a petition signed by 21 freeholders was pre- 
sented, praying for a special town-meeting, to vote 
a tax of ^600, for the purpose of building a town- 
house. The meeting was called and held at Daniel 
Neeiy's, on Saturday, April 29, 1876. The prop- 
osition to raise the ta.x was voted down, 39 voting 
for the tax and 96 against it. 

The first jury list was prepared by the assessors 
and town clerk, May 21, 1839, and contained three 
names, — Anthony Clark, Eliel Stoddard, and Ezra 
Sanford, Jr. 

In 1837, while yet a part of the town of Howell, 
an assessment roll was prepared, which was the 
first one of which any trace now exists. The as- 
sessors by whom it was prepared were David H. 
Austin and Peter Brewer. The following portion 
of it contains the names of the resident ta.K-payers, 
the non-residents being omitted as of no particular 
interest in this connection : 



* Resigned on the 3d of May, and Ezra Frisbec w.-is appointed 
to fill the vacancy. He resigned May 22, and, June 20, Michael 
Thatcher was appointed in his stead. 

f In place of Michael Thatcher, who resigned April 7th. 



Names. Sections. Acres. Valuation. 

Baldwin 22 80 ^240 

Anthony Clark 28 120 360 

Benjamin Crawford 27 320 960 

Ephraim Crawford 23 80 240 

TJionias Goldsmith 26, 27 200 600 

.Miraham Kiker 28 80 240 

William Riker 23 240 720 

John Sanford 3,^21,27,34 IO46 3138 

Ezra Sanford 2,22,27 S?' '7'3 

Ziha Stone 22 80 240 

William Stroud 23 80 240 

Ira Walker 22 40 120 

Totals 2937 S8811 

Real estate valuation $65,405.00 

Personal property 500.00 

Total $65,905.00 

Tax on resident roll $32.88 

Tax on non-resident roll 206.60 

Total S239.48 

The first complete roll of this town was that of 
1840, the names and taxes of the resident tax- 
payers being as follows : 

Names. Sections. Acres. Valuation. 

Lorenzo Boutell 24 25 S37'50 

Lewis B. Boyd 31 80 177 

Almira Boyd 3'. 6§ 407 890 

Bond Bigelow 12 40 80 

D.ivid Brown 12 40 60 

Joseph Brown 

John H. D. Blank 10 40 160 

Horace L. Cook 

Samuel Cr.iwford 23 40 120 

Isaac V. D. Cook 25, 35, 36 200 376 

Benjamin Crawford 27 240 560 

Warren Chase 30, 31 180 415 

Jared L. Cook 32.5? 37° 744 

Anthony Clark 2 50 124 

Peter Cramer 5 40 12S 

Ephraim Crawford i 80 138 

Eli Carpenter 35 2 10 

James Chambers 20 120 305 

Jacob B. Debar 3 25 92 

Nathaniel Davenport 10, 15 240 420 

Charles Davenport 

Daniel Develin 28 120 250 

Jesse Davis 23 80 190 

Willi.im S. Ellis 14 160 300 

Michael Fisher 35, 2J 149 279 

.Vdam Fisher 35 77 208 

David Guile, Jr 10 40 72 

David Guile 9 i6o 320 

N.athan Grant 5, 7 240 481 

Thomas (joldsmith 23,26,27,28 290 705 

Francis George 35 160 200 

Patrick Gall.ighan 14 80 80 

Warren Hilchins 32 160 266 

Calvin W. Hart|| 24 160 315 

Holland Hosleyll 25,31,^ 36 420 919 

I'hom.as Hynes 20 40 69 

Luther Houghton I 160 347 

John V. & Asa Harmon i, 12 120 31S 

Samuel Hunt 4 80 156 

Conrad Hayner 18 160 341 

Ira Hotchkiss 7 80 I44 

Alva Jones 3, 10 180 394 

William L.Jones 3 40 120 

Joseph B. Jackson, Jr 7 72 183 

Sallyjenks 5 40 163 

John JonesJ 24, 25 230 282 

John Kimball 3 80 132 

J.acob Kanouse 5 288 576 

Winchester Merriam 11 80 120 

Joseph Ncely 26 159 363 

I In Howell. j Town 3 north, range 4 east. 

II Increased by school tax. ^ Town 4 north, range 5 east. 



452 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Names. Section. 

Lott Pratt 30 

William Packard 23 

Preston & Gay 23 

Alva Preston 11, 23, 24 

John Powell 9 

Joshua Poyer 3, 4 

Hiram B. Rathburn 5 

Noah Ramsdell 23,24,25, 26 

Abraham Riker 28 

Nathaniel Smith 3,9. 'O 

Ezra Sanford I, 2 

David Sanford 5 

William S;roud 2 

Enon Shippey i, 12 

Daniel Sculley S 

Ephraim Starr 3, 9, 10 

E. & H. L. Stoddard 2, 3 

Benjamin F. Scofield 23 

Ziba Stone 21, 22 

James Sanford 

John Sanford 

Sarah Sanford 22, 27 

Elias Stillson* 36 

Nathan A. & J. C. Townsend...3f , 27, 34 

Michael Thatcher 4. 5 

Chester Tovvnsend 31, 32 

John C. Townsend 

Peter Vanderhoof 12 

Joseph Whitaker 7 



\cres. 


Valuation. 


'59 


$408 


120 


270 


40 


600 


190 


5" 


40 


66 


■75 


217.50 


128 


349 


■;8^ 


1112.50 


80 


156 


320 


635 


224 


411 


40 


60 


40 


60 


160 


362 


200 


345 


280 


342 


120 


250 


80 


195 


200 


305 


320 


678 


40 


no 


925.S7 


1718.29 


190 


309 


ibS 


410 


120 


140 


80 


180 



Total. 



10,345.87 $23,429.79 



This tax was levied for the following purposes : 



For township expenses 

For school taxes 

For highway purposes 

For rejected taxes 

For State and county taxes.. 
For collector's fees 



S185.40 

66.44 

123-23 

9.20 

3'3-53 

1372 

S711.52 

S337-02 
374-5° 

$711.52 

Valuation of real estate $39,679.00 

" personal estate 2,125.00 



Total. 



Amount of resident tax and fees 

Amount of non-resident tax and fees.. 



Total tax. 



Total valuation $41,800.00 

Total valuation 1879 $724,520.00 

From the foregoing statements we learn that in 
the eight years intervening between the first two 
assessments mentioned the proportion of resident 
to non-resident tax increased thirty-four per cent., 
while at present the non-resident tax is a compara- 
tively small amount. The valuation has increased 
in the forty-two years that have elapsed since the 
first assessment more than one tliousand per cent. 

The first year's audit of accounts was as follows, 
part being audited March 19, 1839, and the rest 
March 26th : 

Mason Phelps, Town Clerk Sl-38 



Robert Sowders. 

" " Highway Commissioner.. 

Hiram Bennett 

Justus Boyd 

Amos Adams, Surveyor 

Jared L. Cook 

Lott Pratt 

Hiram Rix 

Ezra Sanford 

James Sanford 

J. W. Smith, Town Clerk of Howell 



9-32 
32-13 
4.20 
3.00 
6.00 
4.24 

5-07 
8.24 
4.50 
4.00 
3.00 



* Increased by school tax. f Town 3 north, range 4 east. 



John Farnsworth, Surveyor $4.32 

Abram Kanouse, Jr., for ballot-boxes and 

services 6. 28 

Isaac Pratt 1.40 

Tames Rathbun 1.56 

B. F. Scofield 1.48 

Thos. Goldsmith, Highway Commissioner 1S.25 

Calvin W. Hart, " " 9.00 

Alva Preston, Supervisor 12. lo 

Eliel Stoddard 1.34 

Josi<ah Ward 1. 10 

David Guile 1.32 

Elisha Goldsmith, for necessaries furnished 
for the support of Patrick Donoho and 

family, town paupers 10.67 

Elisha Goldsniith, Overseer of Poor 5.00 

John Sanford, Overseer of Poor 5.60 

Nicholas F. Dunkle 4.00 

Compensation ()f the Board 6.00 

Total amount $174.40 

The reason for the giving of the name " Tus- 
cola" to the town is unknown. It was probably 
chosen by some admirer of the aborigines, in 
lionor of the Indian tribe of that name. On ac- 
count of there being a Tuscola County in the 
State, it was thought best to have the name 
changed, and a petition was presented to the 
Legislature in the winter of 1856-57 for that 
purpose. An act was passed, and approved Jan. 
29, 1857, which gave the town the name of " Bris- 
tol." This it retained only a short time, for, Feb. 
5, 1867, the Governor signed a bill conferring on 
it its present name, " Cohoctah," which, it is sup- 
posed, was the name of a former Indian chief. 
The reason for this change is " one of those 
things, you know, that no fellow can find out." 

The town-meeting of 1841 evinced its good 
sense, literary taste, and appreciation of the useful- 
ness of the press by voting that " the town should 
defray the expense of a State paper, to be kept at 
the office of the town clerk." 

The following explains itself: 

" The Township Board of the Township of Tuscola met agreeable 
lo previous appointment at the office of the Township Clerk for the 
purpose of providing to obtain Weights, Measures, Scales, and 
beams for the Township of Tuscola, and to appoint a sealer. The 
board agreed to procure dry measure of copper. Liquid Measures 
of Tin, and common scales, weights, and beam — and a Drill and 
seal similar to those used by counties and Towns of this State. And 
we hereby appoint John Jones Sealer of said town. The Board 
agree to raise Fifty Dollars to obtain the above-named Articles and 
Contingent expenses. 

"Tuscola, May 7, 1841. 

" Alv.v Preston, De//. T. C. 

" Benj. Crawford, 
" Oren Stodard, 
" Noah R.\msdell, 

" Town Board.''^ 

On the question of temperance the town has 
usually been quite evenly divided, though it is now 
believed that the majority — and a larger maj'ority 
than ever before — are opposed to the traffic. The 
only recorded votes on the question are three in 



COHOCTAH TOWNSHIP. 



453 



number: in April, 1845, 36 voted for license, and 
33 against it; in I<S49 the vote stood 44 for license 
to 32 against it; and June 24, 1853, the vote for 
the prohibitory law was 36, while the vote against 
it was 39. 

The following statistics have been gleaned from 
the census returns of the several years referred to, 
the latest being from the State census of 1874. 

The population in 1850 was but 544, in i860 it 
was 856, and in 1870 it had risen to a total of 1 176, 
of whom 1042 were natives, and 134 were of foreign 
birth. In 1874 there was a falling off, the total 
number reported being only 1 144, These were 
divided as follows: males under five years, 69; 
from five to ten years, 73 ; from ten to twenty-one 
years, 147 ; from twenty-one to forty-five years, 201 ; 
from forty-five to seventy-five years, 97 ; from sev- 
enty-five to ninety years, 2; total, 589. Females 
under five years, 73 ; from five to ten years, 75 ; 
from ten to eighteen years, 90; from eighteen to 
forty years, 203 ; from forty to seventy-five years, 
III; from seventy-five upwards, 3 ; total, 555. 

These were classified according to condition in 
life, as follows: males under twenty-one years, 
single, 147; married, none; over twenty-one years, 
single, 53; married, 239; widowers and divorced, 
8. Females under eighteen years, single, 90; mar- 
ried, none ; over eighteen years, single, 45 ; mar- 
ried, 236; widows and divorced, 36. Total, single, 
625 ; married, 475 ; widowed and divorced, 44. 

The taxable lands in 1 874 were reported at 23,727 
acres, of which 10,946 acres had been improved, 
two acres were devoted to church and parsonage 
sites, and oneand one-half acres to burying-grounds, 
and the whole was divided up into 224 farms, aver- 
aging a little less than 103 acres each. It is be- 
lieved that the next census will show a considerable 
increase in the population, and also in the percent- 
age of improved lands, as well as in the quantitj' of 
crops of all kinds produced. 

In 1873 there was harvested in Cohoctah 2527 
acres of wheat, the average yield on which was 
147'jj bushels per acre. This made the town rank 
as the fifth town of the county in its average for 
wheat. Of corn, that year saw harvested 812 
acres, averaging 29^^^ bushels to the acre, which 
gave Cohoctah seventh place for the average yield 
of corn. On a general averaging the town falls 
into the fourth place as compared with the other 
towns of the county. In the quantity of its pro- 
ducts, in 1873, it ranked as follows: fourth for all 
grains except wheat and corn; sixth for hay, pork, 
and cheese; seventh for potatoes; eighth for wheat; 
ninth for butter; twelfth for wool; and fifteenth 
for corn. The quantities of its products are as 
follows: wheat, 35,414 bushels; corn, 24,010 



bushels ; other grains, 29,466 bushels ; potatoes, 
8394 bushels; hay, 2302 tons; wool, 21,911 pounds; 
pork, 66,810 pounds ; cheese, 200 pounds ; butter, 
44,940 pounds; dried fruits, 9565 pounds; cider, 
282 barrels. From 455 acres of orcharding the 
product was 10,800 bushels of apples. The year 
before (1872) the yield was 20,025 bushels. 

The number of head of the different kinds of 
stock kept in 1874 was as follows: horses, 489; 
working oxen, 80; milch cows, 499; other neat 
cattle, 628; swine, 649; sheep, 4399. 

In political matters the town was at the time of 
its organization, and for several years thereafter, 
strongly Whig. Then there was a few years of 
Democratic rule, until the birth of the grand old 
party of freedom and equality, — the Republican 
party, — which at once won the support of the best 
men of both the old organizations, and placed it 
in a position to control the town; a position which 
it has honored and from which it has never been 
deposed. At the present time the Republican 
majority is about 50 on a fair vote. In i860 it 
gave to the martyred Lincoln a majority of 102 
votes, the largest majority ever given to any candi- 
date in this town. 

During the war of the Rebellion, Cohoctah took 
an active interest in the success of the efforts of 
the loyal North to crush the wicked conspiracy 
against the nation's life and integrity. She gave 
of her wealth to feed and clothe our armies and 
to carry on the affairs of government. She sent 
many of her brave and noble sons to uphold the 
starry banner of freedom, and encouraged them 
to deeds of valor by her unfaltering devotion to 
the cause and faith in its final triumph. 

Two special town-meetings were held Feb. 13, 
and Sept. 3, 1864, at which by nearly unanimous 
votes it was decided to raise money by tax and 
loan to pay each volunteer or drafted man who 
should be credited towards filling the town's quota 
under the several calls for troops the sum of ^lOO 
bounty, in addition to all other bounties to which 
they might become entitled. 

In the matter of building railroads, or rather in 
assisting in their construction, Cohoctah has been 
thrice called upon to give expression to her senti- 
ments. The first time was when in the fall of 1865 
it was proposed to build a railroad from Detroit to 
Howell. A meeting was held Dec. 21, 1865, and 
a proposition submitted to pledge the credit of the 
town to the amount of 3 per cent, of its assessed 
valuation to aid in the construction of the road, in 
accordance with the provisions of act No. 49, of 
the Sessions laws of 1865. The vote stood 6 in 
favor of the loan and 82 opposed to it. The same 
proposition was again submitted to vote on the 



454 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



2 1 St of April, 1866, when 59 voted for the propo- 
sition and 93 in opposition to it. Feb. 12, 1868, 
a petition signed by 16 tax-paying citizens was 
presented, praying for a special town-meeting to 
consider the question of raising $16,000 by bonds 
or tax, to aid the " Chicago and Michigan Grand 
Trunk Railway" in building a road from Ridgeway 
to the Indiana line via Lansing and St. Joseph. 
The vote on the project stood 21 for the aid to 125 
against it. This settled the fate of that scheme. 
Dec. 8, 1S69, another petition was presented, signed 
by 31 freeholders, praying for a special meeting, to 
vote aid by loan or donation to assist the Toledo, 
Ann Arbor and Northern Railroad Company to 
build their road, provided the road should run direct 
from Byron to Howell, north and south through this 
town. The vote stood 166 in favor to 19 against 
loaning the railroad company ^16,200. In com- 
pliance with this action bonds were issued to the 
proposed amount. 

The bonds were placed in the hands of the State 
Treasurer, who was to turn them over to the com- 
pany when they presented a certificate from the 
Governor that the road was completed. The inter- 
est-coupons then due were to be detached by him 
and returned to the town. The panic of 1873 ^^^ 
not directly chargeable with the failure of this en- 
terprise, but the growing stricture in the money 
market that preceded it no doubt had its effect in 
choking off the proposed road. At least, the date 
named found the road unbuilt, and at the town- 
meeting, April 7, 1873, Joseph L. Cook was "au- 
thorized and requested" to demand of the State 
Treasurer the bonds issued, and instructed to turn 
them over to the town clerk to be canceled and 
filed in his office. So terminated this town's con- 
nection with the railroad enterprises of the day, but 
who can tell how long it will be before the reviv- 
ing business of the country will again bring these 
projects into life, and send the iron tramways, 
with their snorting engines and rumbling cars, 
across its now quiet and peaceful bosom ? 

HIGHWAYS. 

Regarding the earliest roads, the records are not 
as explicit as might be, but from them we learn, 
what the early settlers state to have been the case, 
that the first regular highway in Cohoctah was the 
road running north through the Sanford settle- 
ment. We learn that this road was first surveyed 
by Amos Adams, county surveyor, on the 9th of 
July, 1836, and extended from Howell to the south 
quarter-post of section 27 in this town, — that is, to 
John Sanford's residence. In September, 1837, it 
was extended northward as far as the south quar- 
ter-post of section 10, and from that point to the 



north line of the town on the 12th of June, 1839. 
The second road was called the Howell and Fisher 
road, and ran from Howell to the northwest corner 
of section 36 in this town, — ^where Chauncey D. 
Fisher's farm lay. It was surveyed by the same 
party Dec. 10, 1836, and Sept. 11, 1837, was contin- 
ued north a quarter of a mile, till it reached the ter- 
minus of a road surveyed east from the Sanford set- 
tlement some time that summer. A road running 
north two miles from the southwest corner of the 
town was surveyed Sept. 11, 1837, by A. S. Adams, 
acting for the county surveyor. Henry P. Adams 
surveyed, April 27, 1838, the " Calvin Hart road," 
running westward across sections 24, 23, and 22 
till it joined the Sanford road at the south quarter- 
post of the last-named section. It connected the 
Sanford and Boutell settlements, and passed by 
the site of the Boutell burying-ground. During 
the years 1838-39 there were seventeen other roads 
surveyed through different parts of the town by A. 

5. Adams, acting for the regular county survej^or. 
A bridge was built across the Shiawassee near 

Preston and Gay's saw-mill in 1841, ^100 being 
voted at the annual town-meeting to partially de- 
fray the expense. 

The first division of the town into road districts 
was made by the highway commissioner, April 1 1, 
1838, and was as follows: District No. I consisted 
of sections 21, 22, 27, 34, and the west half of sec- 
tion 35, with Mason Phelps as overseer; District 
No. 2 was made up of sections 7, 17, 18, 20, 28, 
29, and 33, Abraham Riker, overseer; District 
No. 3, sections 19, 30, 31, and 32, Lott Pratt, over- 
seer; District No. 4, sections 2, 11, 14, 23, 26, and 
the east half of section 35, Nicholas F. Dunkle, 
overseer; District No. 5, sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 
10, and 15, Michael Thatcher, overseer; District 
No. 6, sections i, 12, 13, 24, 25, and 36, Calvin W. 
Hart, overseer. 

In 1840 a more uniform division was made. The 
sections in the districts and the overseers of each 
were as follows: No. i, sections i, 2, II, 12, 13, 
and 14, Isaac Pratt; No. 2, sections 3, 4, 9, 
10, 15, and 16, Oren Stoddard; No. 3, sections 5, 

6, 7, 8, 17, and 18, Paul Coffin; No. 4, sections 19, 
20, 29, 30, 31, and 32, Chester Townsend ; No. S, 
sections 21, 22, 27, 28, 33, and 34, Benjamin Craw- 
ford ; No. 6, sections 23 and 24, and the north half 
of sections 25 and 26, Alva Preston ; No. 7, sec- 
tions 35 and 36, and the south half of sections 
25 and 26, Adam Fisher. 

The present division is into 38 districts, and the 
list of overseers is as follows : 

No. I, Harry Houghton; No. 2, Peter Rohrabacher; No. 3, 
Hubert Blodgett; No. 4, A. H. Jones; No. 5, H. Grant; No. 6, 
Asa Pelteys ; No. 7, George Houghtaling ; No. S, James R. Fisher ; 



COHOCTAH TOWNSHIP. 



45 S 



No. 9, William C. Hosley; No. lo, John J. Barlow; No. u, 
Samuel Slider; No. 12, Parmenio Adams; No. 13, George Soulc; 
No. 14, Isaac Teller; No. 15, William Dunkle ; No. 16, Henry 
Stoner; No. 17, Joseph Lamoreaux ; No. 18, Edward AntlifT; No. 
ig, John Wiggins; No. 20, John D. Bl.nnk ; No. 21, Edward 
Fisher; No. 22, James Gilland ; No. 23, John Dunstan ; No. 24, 
Alexander T. Frisbee ; No. 25, Charles Dean ; No. 26, Adam 
Shaler; No. 27, Lewis B. Boyd; No. 28, Henry Hiigham ; No. 
29, Charles E. Dunstan; No. 30, Moses Jones; No. 31, Israel 
Ellsworth; No. 32, Thomas Goldsmith; No. 33, Jesse Moiey; 
No. 34, Waterbuiy Ostrander; No. 35, Fred Steinacher; No. 36, 
Samuel G. Houghtaling; No. 37, F. L. Rohrabacher; No. 38, 
William Patterson. 

VILLAGES AND POST-OFFICES. 

In the spring of 1849 two brothers, Guy N. and 
Abner Roberts, came from Chemung Co., N. Y., 
and bought a tract of 40 acres of land in tlie north 
part of section 36, in this town, with the intention 
of founding thereon a village. The first thing to 
which they turned their attention was the building 
of a grist-mill, to utilize the water-power furnished 
by the Bo-bish-e-nung Creek, whicli at tiiis point 
had a fall of over thirteen feet, affording one of the 
finest powers, on a stream of its size, within the 
limits of the State. While getting out the timbers 
for the mill, a house was built on the north side of 
the present highway for the use of Guy N. Roberts, 
and another one on the opposite side of the waj^ 
for the occupancy of Abncr's family. The former 
building, which was the first in the place, is now a 
part of the residence of Isaac V. D. Cook, while 
the other is now the residence of Martin L. Davis. 
From this small beginning has sprung the pleasant 
little village of 

CHEMUNGVILLE. 

The mill-frame was raised in July, and the dam 
was finished at about the same time. In Septem- 
ber the mill was completed and ready to commence 
operations. During that summer the Roberts' 
built a small store, and offered a general stock of 
goods for sale therein. In a cou[)Ie of years the 
village began to show signs of growth, and Messrs. 
Roberts decided to plat a village, and offer lots for 
sale, to attract mechanics and artisans to build up 
the place. The plat was surveyed by the county 
surveyor, Amos Adams, July 13, 1852, and re- 
corded on the 14th, in the county register's office, 
in liber 18, pages 30, 31. It contained about 8 
acres, and the lots were surveyed on cither side of 
a street running first northeast and then east from 
the creek. It was platted by Guy N. and Susan 
and Abner and Priscilla Roberts, and called Ciie- 
mungville, after the county they came from in New 
York. An addition was platted by Isaac V. D. 
and Abigail Cook, Nov. 2, 1871, and surveyed by 
E. N. Fairchild, county surveyor. It was on a 
street running north, at right angles with the main 



street, contained about 2*^ acres, and was recorded 
Dec. 14, 1871. The mill and store property was 
sold by the Roberts', some time about 1854-55, to 
Burton Durfee, who soon after sold to David Ma- 
son. After owning it two or three years he sold 
to John Weimeister. During his ownership he 
found the store too small for his use, and about 
1865 built a larger one near it, which is now the 
store of Martin L. Davis. Soon after he built an- 
other building on the east side of the old store, 
which he rented for a billiard-room, and which is 
now occupied as a dwelling by William Klccklcr. 
The third dwelling was the present Methodist par- 
sonage, and was erected by Robert Souders. 

The first blacksmith-shop was a building put up 
for an ashery by the Roberts', and sold by them to 
a Mr. Zela, who worked there with Simon Dolph. 
In 1867, Messrs. J. & T. Pearce bought the mill 
property of John Weimeister, a saw-mill, built by 
William and Holland C. Hosley, having meantime 
been added, and began a successful business career 
as millers, lumbermen, and merchants. 

In 1869, Isaac V. D. Cook built a store on the 
corner near his residence, and his sons, William 
and Lorenzo, opened a grocery there. It was sub- 
sequently occupied by William Kleckler, and then, 
as a harness-shop, by Winthrop Cook, in 1875. 
Since August, 1879, it has been occupied by My- 
ron Doolittle, as a wagon-, repairing-, and cabinet- 
shop. 

In 1 87 1, David Bissell put up a small building, 
and started a shoe-shop. It was afterwards sold 
to a Mr. Angell, and is now occupied as a store- 
room by Pearce Brothers. Messrs. Pearce built 
their present fine store in 1876. The school-house 
was built in 1861, and the church in 1872. The 
grist-mill is now in excellent condition and pre- 
sents a fine appearance. It is called " Bogue Mill," 
and stands on the east side of the stream. Its size 
is 35 by 45 feet, two and a half stories above the 
level of the street, and one story and the wheel-pits 
below that. It is furnished with two runs of stones 
and the usual accompanying machiner}^ ; has a 
capacity for grinding 10 bushels of wheat and 20 
bushels of corn per hour. It is run simply for 
custom work at present. The necessary power is 
furnished by two iron turbine wheels, each 42 
inches in diameter. The saw-mill building is 20 
by 50 feet in size, and furnished with one muley 
saw, with a cutting capacity of about 3500 feet of 
hard-wood lumber per day. Its product is used 
mostly for home consumption. The village is 
pleasantly situated on lightly rolling ground, and 
contains, at the present time, two stores, a grist- 
mill and saw-mill, two blacksmith-shops, one 
cabinet- and wagon-shop, one shoe-shop, a school- 



4S6 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



house, a Methodist Church, and about twenty -five 
dvveUings, six of them west of the stream, and 
consequently not in the platted part of the village. 
The population is about 125. 

The post-office at Chemungville is called Oak 
Grove, a name it has always borne. It was first 
established some thirty years ago, at the house of 
the first postmaster, a Mr. Fry, who resided near 
the northwest corner of the town of Oceola. He 
was succeeded, in 1833, by Arthur A. Field, who 
lived in the southeast part of section 36, in this 
town. His successor was Joel S. Stillson. From 
his possession, it was transferred to Holland C. 
Hosley, at the village where it has since remained, 
passing successively through the hands of Robert 
McMillan, Isaac V. D. Cook, John Weimeister, 
Martin L. Davis, and back to Isaac V. D. Cook, 
the present incumbent, who was last commissioned 
in 1874. It is now kept at J. & T. Pearce's store. 

The only other village in the town is the little 
hamlet in the western centre of section 9, called 

COHOCTAH, 

though the more common name applied to it is 
the less euphonious one of " Sprungtown." This 
last name is not, as some might suppose, a sar- 
castic fling at its origin, but was merely conferred 
upon it in honor of one of its most prominent 
citizens, Mr. Isaac Sprung. The first building 
erected here was a small log shanty which was 
put up by William G. Pharcs, for a dwelling, 
about thirty years ago. Its location was upon the 
corner of the southeast quarter of the northwest 
quarter of section 9, near the site of the present 
blacksmith-shop of Michael Meier. It was occu- 
pied by different parties, until it became too di- 
lapidated for a dwelling, and was then allowed to 
go, quietly and undisturbed, to decay. The next 
house was not commenced until war times. It 
was begun by James Gilland, and was finished by 
William G. Phares, in 1861-62. It is still stand- 
ing opposite the post-office, and is used as a dwell- 
ing. Another small dwelling was soon after put 
up by Daniel Hoyt, Mr. Phares' son-in-law. 

These were the only buildings in the village pre- 
vious to the real birth of the place, which may with 
justice be said to have occurred when, in 1868, 
the steam saw-mill was built by Messrs. Elias 
Sprague, William G. Phares, and Isaac Sprung. 
During that same year several dwellings were 
built, and a building was erected by Thomas 
White, in which he opened the first store in the 
place. In this building David Niles afterwards 
kept a wagon-shop. He sold to J. E. Phillips, who 
a second time started it as a store, sold to D. B. 
Harrington, bought it back a couple of years after- 



wards, and has since kept it himself The second 
store was built by Jason McFail, who at the time 
owned an interest in the saw-mill, in 1874, and was 
occupied by him for a dwelling. In the spring of 
1877, having been purchased by Cyrus G. Hayner, 
it was opened by him as a grocery-store. The 
first blacksmith-shop was a small one built about 
1869-70 by David Niles, who occupied it for 
several years, when he built a larger shop a little 
farther north, the present shop of J. H. Bowden. 
Another larger shop was built near the site of 
William G. Phares' first home, in 1878, by Michael 
Meier. The mill is a steam mill, and was built for 
custom work. For a couple of years it was run 
pretty strong, and did a very good business. Then 
Mr. Sprung left the firm, and since that time it has 
done but a limited amount of business. It has 
been owned by a number of different parties, and 
is now the property of Harrison Trowbridge, who 
operates it about four months in the year. The 
village once enjoyed a brief season of bright pros- 
pects, when the railroad through the town was 
being talked of, but since that project was (for the 
time, at least) abandoned has remained in staUi quo. 
It now contains a saw-mill, two stores, two black- 
smith-shops, and a dozen dwellings, and boasts a 
population of about fifty souls. One half-mile 
south is the church of the United Brethren, while 
the school-house of the district is three-eigliths of 
a mile still farther south. 

The post-office, now located in Cohoctah, bears 
the name of the town. It was first called Tuscola, 
and was established some thirty years ago, at the 
house of Hiram L. Stoddard, who was the first 
postmaster. It was turned over at the time of his 
death (1857-58) to his brother PZliel. Then came 
other postmasters in the following order : Alva 
Jones, Marcus Burkhart, Robert Wrigglesworth ; 
all of whom kept the office at their residences, in 
the northeast part of the town. At this time (1874) 
the office was moved to the village, and Jason 
McFail was appointed as postmaster. He was 
succeeded in 1876 by D. B. Harrington, and he by 
the present incumbent, Cyrus G. Hayner, in the 
spring of 1877. The name was changed from Tus- 
cola to Cohoctah in the winter of 1857. Both this 
office and the one at Chemungville — the only 
offices in the town — are on the Howell and Lin- 
den route, and receive two mails per week, on 
Tuesdays and Fridays. 

SCHOOLS. 

The formation of school districts in this town 
was a work of time. No general division of the 
town was attempted, but as the interests of the 
people demanded, new districts were formed from 



COHOCTAH TOWNSHIP. 



457 



time to time, or the lines of the old districts were 
altered to suit the requirements of the case. 

District No. i was organized April i8, 1838, and 
contained six sections, — 21, 22, 27, 28, 33, and 34, 
and three half-sections, west half of 23, 26, and 
35. It now contains sections 22, 27, and 34, and 
parts of sections 21, 23, 26, 28, and 33. The 
school-house is a frame building, valued at $400, 
will accommodate 40 pupils, and stands a few 
rods south of Sanford's Corners, on the southwest 
quarter of section 27. The first school-house in 
this district was one built by the citizens on the 
northwest corner at Sanford's Corners. In it the 
first school in the town was kept by Laura Gard- 
ner, of Salem, Washtenaw Co., in the summer of 

1837. 

District No. 2 is fractional with the towns of Con- 
way, Handy, and Howell. In this town it com- 
prises section 32, and parts of sections 29, 31, and 
33. The school-house stands on the southwest 
corner of section 32. It is a frame house that can 
accommodate 40 scholars, and is valued at ^200. 
It was built in 1855, on a site donated for the pur- 
pose by Norman Boyd, under the form of a dura- 
ble lease. The first school in this part of the town 
was kept in the summer of 1 838, in the small shanty 
occupied by Ledyard S. Adams, while he was 
building his log house. The name of the teacher 
is not remembered. The first winter school was 
taught by Hiram Rix, in a log house on section 
31, near the present residence of L. B. Boj'd. The 
next winter Homer Townsend taught, and before 
the term was finished the house burned down. 
The citizens then got together and organized a 
district, at a meeting held Jan. 23, 1840, at the re- 
sidence of Elijah Gaston, in the town of Handy, 
and built a school-house (of logs) about eighty 
rods east of the southwest corner of the town, 
where the term was finished and school was kept 
up until the present house was built. 

District No. 3 was formed Jan. 1 1, 1840, and was 
made up of sections 14, 23, and 35 ; the west half 
of sections 13 and 24; the west quarter of sections 
25 and 36; and the east half, southwest quarter, 
and southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of 
section 26. Alva Preston was" appointed to notify 
the inhabitants that the first meeting would be held 
at Noah Ramsdell's, on the iSth of January, 1840, 
at six o'clock p.m. At the present time the district 
embraces sections 13 and 14, nearly all of section 
23, and parts of sections 24, 25, and 26. The 
school-house stands near the north quarter-post of 
section 23, and is a frame building of neat and 
tasty appearance, fitted to seat 50 pupils, and 
valued at ^700. 

District No. 4 is fractional with Burns, and con- 
58 



tains section 5 and parts of sections 4 and 6 in 
this town. It was first organized at a meeting 
of the school inspectors of the two towns, held on 
Jan. 24, 1840, at the house of Thomas P. Green, 
in Burns. Frederick I. Provost, Gustavus Brown, 
Lott Pratt, and Jared L. Cook were present. The 
bounds of the district were fixed as including sec- 
tions 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 in this town, and sections 31, 
32, and 33 in Burns. At first the school-house 
was located on the west line of the northwest quar- 
ter of section 4, where the building, known as " the 
old red school-house" is still standing. It was 
built in 1840. It has been superseded by a very 
nice and well-designed frame building, valued at 
^1300. It was built in 1 872, and will comfortably 
seat 60 scholars. 

District No. 5 is fractional with Deerfield and 
reports in that town. It embraces a little more 
than the east half of sections 24 and 25. 

District No. 6 was formed from fractional Dis- 
trict No. 5 and part of District No. 3. It now 
contains sections 35 and 36, the southeast quarter 
of 26, and the southwest quarter of 25. The 
school-house is located at Chemungville, near the 
north centre of the section, and is a frame building, 
valued at ^400, and fitted for 48 pupils. 

District No. 7 comprises sections i and 12, and 
the east half of sections 2 and 11. The school- 
house is a plain frame building, capable of seating 
50 pupils, is valued at ^^400, and stands on the 
southeast corner of section 2. 

District No. 8 contains sections 3 and 10, the 
east three quarters of 15, the west half of 2 and 1 1, 
and parts of sections 4 and 9. The school-house, 
built in 1852, stands near the south quarter-post 
of section 3. It is a rather dilapidated frame 
building reported at ^40 valuation, and will accom- 
modate 40 scholars. 

District No. 9 was first formed April 16, 1846, 
and contained sections 7, 17, 18, and the south 
half of section 8 in this town, and some adjoining 
territory in Conway. The first meeting was 
appointed at the house of Joseph B. Jackson, Jr., 
April 23, 1S48, at two o'clock P.M. It is still a frac- 
tional district, and comprises section 18 and parts 
of sections 7, 8, 17, and 19. The school-house is 
a frame building valued at $20, capable of seating 
50 pupils, and located at the centre of section 18. 

District No. 10, containing parts of sections 19, 
29, 30, and 31 in this town, is fractional with Con- 
way, and reports in that town. 

District No. 1 1 is the central district, and is 
made up from section 16 and parts of sections 8, 
9, 15, 17, and 21. The school-house, on the north- 
west quarter of section 16, is a frame building ac- 
commodating 65 pupils, and is valued at ^300. 



458 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



District No. 12 is fractional with Conway, and 
embraces in this town the south part of section 6 
and the north half of sections 7 and 8. The school- 
house stands eighty rods west and twenty south 
from the northeast corner of section 7. It is a log 
house fitted for 40 pupils, and valued at ^lOO, — a 
price at which, no doubt, the district would be very 
glad to sell it. 

District No. 13, the last one in Cohoctah.is formed 
from section 20, and parts of sections 17, 19, 21, 
28, 29, and 30. The present school-house, which 
was the first one in the district, was built in the 
spring of 1874, and is located eighty rods east of 
the centre of section 20. It is a frame building, 
accommodating 40 pupils, and is valued at ^400. 

Among the early teachers in the town previous 
to the year 1850, we find Horace L. Cook, H. C. 
Stoddard, David Bush, Elizabeth Goldsmith, Eliz- 
abeth Ramsdell, Hannah Boyd, Ruth A. Cook, 
Franklin Kelly, Oscar O. Stoddard, Sarah J. Head, 
Eliza A. Stoughton, Reuben Huggins, Graham 
Barker, Margaret A. Chapman, Lucinda Tom- 
linson, Angeline Phelps, and Jared L. Cook. 

The first report of the school inspectors was 
made Oct. 12, 1839. It was very meagre in de- 
tails. There were then two districts, but only one 
— No. 2 — reported. In that district there were 24 
scholars, of whom 17 attended school. School 
was kept four months, and the following sums 
were expended : Teachers' wages, $go ; school ex- 
penses, ;^I2; for library, ^lo; for book-case, ;^3 ; 
and for collector's fees, ;^5.75 ; making a total of 
;g 1 20.75. The books then in use were Kirkham's 
Grammar, Olney's Geograph)', DaboU's Arith- 
metic, and Webster's Elementary Spelling-Book. 

We institute the following comparisons between 
the reports for 1850 and for 1879: the number 
of persons of school age in 1850 were 175; in 
1879 were 438. The number in attendance at 
school in 1850 were 138; in 1879 were 412. The 
amounts expended in support of school in 1850 
was ;g286.26; in 1879 was ^1960.76. 

In 1879, 5 male teachers taught an aggregate of 
eighteen months at an average compensation of 
^24.11 per month; and 20 female teachers taught 
sixty-four months for ^13.121^ per month. 

CEMETERIES. 

The burial-grounds of Cohoctah are two in 
number. The first one opened was the one on 
section 24, known as the Boutell burying-ground, 
where Mrs. William Northrup was buried, in 1837. 
It is located near the centre of the section on the 
north side of the road, a little east of the point 
where it crosses Bobishenung Creek, and contains 
about one acre of ground. 



The second one, the " Sanford Burial-Ground," 
which contains one acre of ground, is located on 
section 27, about fifty rods east of the centre of the 
section. At an early day John Sanford gave a 
half-acre of ground to the town for a public bury- 
ing-ground, deeding it to the board of health. 
About the year 1845 it became necessary to en- 
large the ground, and he gave another half-acre, 
but deeded it to an association formed for the pur- 
pose of holding the title and caring for the grounds. 
In 1859 this organization became practically de- 
funct, and remained so until 1873, when a reorgan- 
ization was effected, under the name of the " Sanford 
Burial-Ground Association," which has since con- 
trolled the part of the ground that does not belong 
to the town. The officers elected were Joseph B. 
Brown, President ; Thomas Goldsmith, Sexton ; 
Michael Thatcher, Secretary ; Alexander Peckins, 
Treasurer. Substituting the name of Marcenus 
Peckins as treasurer in place of the former incum- 
bent, the same board of officers are now serving. 

RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 

The first religious service held in this town was 
at the house of Ezra Sanford, in September, 1835, 
about two months after his arrival there. Rev. 
Mr. Monett, a transient Methodist preacher, hap- 
pened along, and was prevailed upon to hold a 
meeting. Word was sent to all the neighbors, and 
a congregation of about seventeen persons was got 
together to listen to the preaching of the gospel. 
A year later, in the summer of 1836, regular circuit 
preaching was established at the same place. The 
first class organized was known as the Boutell 
class, and from it has grown 

THE OAK GROVE METHODIST EPISCOPAL 
CHURCH 

at Chemungville. It was organized probably as 
early as 1837, with Alva Preston as class-leader. 
The principal members were the Boutell, Preston, 
Ramsdell, and Ellis families. The meetings were 
alternated between the Ramsdell and Boutell 
school-houses, and were maintained until the ap- 
pointment was transferred to Chemungville, prob- 
ably at the time the Oak Grove circuit was organized, 
in September, 1855. From that time on the his- 
tory of the church has been intimately connected 
with the history of the circuit of which it has been 
the headquarters, and it is therefore proper to treat 
more particularly of the circuit's history. 

Oak Grove circuit was formed at a meeting of 
Conference, held in the city of Flint, in September, 
1855, and became a part of Flint'District. When 
the Conference was divided it fell into Owosso Dis- 
trict, of the Detroit Conference, a relation which it 



COHOCTAH TOWNSHIP. 



459 



still retains. In 1857 the circuit reported 130 
members, 16 of them being probationers, and seven 
Sunday-.'jchools with 118 scholars. In 1862 there 
were five appointments on the circuit, viz.. Oak 
Grove, Green's, Boyd's, Deerfield Centre, and Top- 
ping's. In 1863, Topping's was discontinued, and 
Hetcheler's was added. In 1864, Rev. J. G. Mor- 
ton, of Oceola, supplied the pulpit for two months, 
while the pastor was absent in Washington and in 
the Shenandoah Valley, working with the United 
States Christian Commission. Aug. 5, 1865, Re- 
cording Steward John D. Convis died in hospital, 
at Duvall's Bluff, Va., of disease contracted in the 
military sei'vice of his country. In 1868 the cir- 
cuit was enlarged by the addition of appointments 
at Argentine, Deer Creek, and Graham's, and an 
assistant. ReV. J. G. Horton, of Hartland, was em- 
ployed. Graham's was soon discontinued, and 
Linden was added, while Green's was transferred 
to Perry circuit. Then other changes were made, 
and the appointments continued were as follows : 
Oak Grove (every Sabbatli), Hetcheler's, Deerfield 
Centre, Argentine, and Deer Creek. In 1869, 
Hetcheler's was discontinued. Parker's, in Oceola, 
added, and Argentine was attached to Linden. 
The membership of the circuit was then reported 
as follows : Oak Grove, 24 ; Parker's, 3 1 ; Deer- 
field Centre, 17; and Argentine, 16. In 1870, 
Green's was re-attached to this circuit. 

The preachers on this circuit have been Revs. 
William Birdsall, 1855 ; Lyman H. Dean, 1856; L. 
P. Murch. 1857; James H. Caster, 1S58-59; F. 
Brittan, i860; Samuel P. Lee, 1861-62; James R. 
Cordon, 1863-64; D.O. Balls, 1865-66; Joseph W. 
Holt, 1867-68; Alexander Gee, 1869-70; James 
Balls, 1871-73; Alfred Allen, 1874; William 
Cook, 1875-76; William Birdsall, 1877-78; James 
E. Withey, 1879. 

The present parsonage was procured in 1868, at 
a cost of ^1200. The old parsonage was sold at 
the same time. 

In the winter of 1871-72 the need of a church at 
this point began to be seriously felt, and a sub- 
scription was circulated, material collected, and the 
necessary preliminary steps gone through with, 
and on the 17th of May work was actively begun. 
July 13th and 14th the building was inclosed, and 
the regular quarterly meeting was held there on 
those days. It was finished during the fall, at a 
cost of ^2000. Its size is 32 by 50 feet. It was 
dedicated Jan. 22, 1873, Rev. W. E. Bigelow preach- 
ing in the morning, and Rev. Orlando Sanborn in 
the evening. On this occasion the sum of 51000 
was raised to clear the church from debt. 

The first trustees recorded, appointed March 15, 
1859, were Lorenzo Boutell, Benjamin B. Durfee, 



Nicholas Braden, John D. Convis, Lavoris Gray, 
William R. Knapp, and Joseph L. Cook. The 
present trustees are Joseph A. Russell, George E. 
Houghtaling, David Moody, D.O. Taft, and George 
O. Austin. The present membership is 23, and 18 
probationers. Joseph A. Russell is the present 
class-leader ; and the stewards are David Moody 
and George E. Houghtaling. 

THE GREEX CLASS 

is located in the north part of the town, and have 
always held their meetings at the school-house, in 
District No. 4. It was organized thirty years ago, 
with about a dozen members, among whom were 
Mr. and Mrs. William Jenks, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas 
Braden, Mrs. O. Wolcott, and Miss Anna Green. 
William Jenks was the first class-leader, and Nich- 
olas Braden the first steward. In 1856 the mem- 
bership had become very much reduced, there 
then being but six female and two male members, 
but under the preaching of Rev. Lyman H. Dean, 
in the winter of 1856-57, a glorious revival was 
experienced, large numbers were converted, and 
about 30 new members joined the class. Since that 
time it has been generally prosperous, keeping its 
membership at from 30 to 50, the latter being 
about the present number. 

About 1864-65 an effort was made to build a 
church. A site was selected on the north side of 
the county line road, on lands of Thomas P. Green, 
but misfortune befell Mr. Green, in that his dwel- 
ling was destroyed by fire, preventing him from 
assisting, as he had intended, and others becoming 
dissatisfied, the project fell through, and has never 
been revived. 

This class was first on the Byron circuit, then 
on the Oak Grove circuit, then for one year on 
Perry circuit, and then was again re-attached to 
Oak Grove circuit. With the exception of the 
year 1867, when J. H. Caster was the minister, the 
pastors have been the same as those at the Che- 
mungville Church. 

The present officers are Giles Borden, Class- 
Leader; Judson Warner, Hiram Rathbun, Giles 
Borden, Stewards. 

THE PROTESTANT METHODISTS 

formed a class at the Hayner school-house (District 
No. 9) in the winter of 1856-57, Rev. Mr. Nichols 
officiating. He, assisted by Rev. Isaac Morton, of 
Tyrone, had held a series of meetings for three or 
four weeks previous, at which a large number of 
converts had been made, and from these and a few 
older professors the class, numbering about 30, 
was formed. David Miller was chosen class-leader, 
and Cyrus G. Hayner, steward. For about three 



460 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



years the class maintained an existence, holding 
fortnightly meetings, and then from removals and 
other causes it became so reduced in numbers that 
it was given up. The preachers during that time 
were Revs. Nichols and Hulbert, and another 
whose name is forgotten. About ten years ago 
another small class was organized at the same 
place, by Rev. Ashford Diamond, and preaching 
was again established and maintained for about 
three years, the ministers, after Mr. Ashford, being 
Revs. Parshall, Gillam, and Warren, with the close 
of whose pastorate the life of the appointment 
also came to an end. Among the most prominent 
of the early members of this denomination were 
the following persons : William G. Phares and wife, 
David Miller, Cyrus G. Hayner, Elsie Hayner, 
Waterbury Hendryx, Waterbury Hendry x, Jr., 
Amanda Smith, Lucinda Stovvell, Matilda Miller, 
and Miss Sturgis. 

FIRST CHURCH OF THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA- 
TION OF COHOCTAH. 

There being a number of German families in the 
west central part of the town, many of whom had 
but a limited knowledge of the English tongue, 
and all of whom felt a desire to listen to the 
preaching of the gospel in the loved language of 
the fatherland, an effort was made to establish a 
German church. The Lutherans were the first in 
the field, in the person of Rev. Mr. Schmid, of Ann 
Arbor, who came and preached and went back, 
leaving matters in such a shape that if invited to 
do so, he would arrange to supply them with 
stated preaching. Before returning to Ann Arbor 
he organized a church, as will be seen by a perusal 
of the following copy of a document filed in the 
office of the clerk of this county : 

" On the 14th d.iy of May, a.d. 185S, after the publication re- 
quired by law, a publick meeting was held in the Town of Co- 
hoctah, County of Livingston, State of Michigan, Rev. Schmid 
being elected President, and Mr. John Drosten, Secretary. 

" In said meeting an Evangelist Lutheran Congregation was or- 
ganized mider the name of ' Saint Bethlehem Congregation,' and 
it was resolved to adopt the mode and rules of worship of the 
Lutheran Church. 

" The following members were chosen Trustees of said congre- 
gation, to wit, — Johs Seller, Hy. Zahn, John Drosten. 

" John Drosten, Secretary. 

"CoHOCTAH, May 14, 1858." 

With this organization the matter was dropped, 
and Mr. Schmid, not receiving encouragement, did 
not return. Then Rev. Joseph Raehm, of Cleve- 
land, came as a missionary in the interest of the 
Evangelical Association, and held a series of meet- 
ings, mostly at the residence of John Shedel. As 
a result of his efforts, in the fall of that year this 
church was formed at the house of Mr. Shedel, with 



15 members. Their names were John and Catha- 
rine Shedel, John and Barbara Bohm, Henry and 
Anna Unbahonin, George and Mary Schepfer, 
Charles and Henrietta Greener, Henry and Hannah 
Zahn, John and Mary A. Drosten, and Margaret 
Stelzer. John Bohm was the first class-leader, and 
Henry Unbahonin was the first steward. 

From the time of organization until the church 
was built, in 1864, meetings were held every two 
weeks at Mr. Shedel's. The church, a plain, one- 
story frame building, 20 by 30 feet dimensions, 
was commenced early in the spring and was fin- 
ished in the early fall, having cost about ^600. 
The site, containing one acre, was donated by 
George Schepfer, who retained the use of one-half 
of it until it should be needed for a parsonage site. 
It is located on the northeast corner of the north- 
west quarter of the northeast quarter of section 29. 
The church was dedicated in September, 1864, by 
Rev. John Miller, presiding elder of Owosso dis- 
trict. 

The first minister of the denomination who 
preached here was Rev. Freidrich Seller, who left 
an appointment for regular preaching, which was 
kept up until Conference met in the spring of 1859, 
when Rev. Joseph Raehm was put on the circuit. 
The pastors since that time have been Revs. John 
Houck, John Mack, John Fox, Christopher Dull, 

Stephen Hayner, Joseph Raehm, John Fox, 

Schwitzer, John Fry, Joseph Pidner, Hess. 

The latter is the present pastor. 

This was the first church of the denomination 
in Livingston County. It has belonged to the 
following circuits: Flint, Owosso, Pierpont, and 
Howell. The present circuit embraces six ap- 
pointments, — two in Lansing and one each in 
Genoa, Howell, Cohoctah, and Byron. 

The church has met with the usual ups and 
downs incident to the lives of all, but has main- 
tained its membership at from 14 to 30. The 
present number is about 20. It was incorporated 
in 1864 with John Shedel, Louis Ketchum, and 
George Schepfer as Trustees. They also acted as 
a building committee. The present officers are 
Samuel Sliter, Class-leader; John Shedel, Stew- 
ard; Henry Zahn, Michael Meier, Wolf Stelzer, 
Trustees. 

The Sabbath-school in connection with this 
church was organized under Mr. Raehm's second 
preaching in i860 with John Shedel as Superin- 
tendent. It is now running as a union school, 
with an average attendance of from 50 to 55 mem- 
bers, and the following officers: Superintendent, 
W. H. Brigham ; Assistant Superintendent, Louis 
Ketchum; Secretary, John Faulk; Treasurer, 
George Witherell. 





/ 




EZRA FRISBEE 




MRS EZRA FRISBEE. 



ALOUZO T. FRISBEE. 





E.A.FRJSBEE. 



MRS. MARGARET E. VAN DERCOOK. 



COHOCTAH TOWNSHIP. 



461 



"FIRST CHURCH OF THE UNITED BRETHREN IN 
CHRIST OF COHOCTAH," 

commonly known as "the Sprague class," was the 
result of a revival meeting held by Rev. Benjamin 
Morgan, of Brighton, at the Sprague school-house 
(District No. 11) in the winter of 1863-64. Most 
of the first members were new converts brought 
out at these meetings. The organization was 
effected at the school-house by Rev. Mr. Morgan, 
and about 25 persons joined. Their names, as 
found on the class-book, were Dudley and Eliza- 
beth Woodworth, William G., Harriet A., Milo, 
and Lucina Pharcs, Alonzo Kc)'scr. Thomas White, 
Edwin Ackley, Benjamin and Margaret Sliter, 
Samuel and Melissa Houghtaling, Mrs. Merinda 
Chambers, Clarissa Allbright, Phcebe and Mary A. 
Palmer, Israel Ellsworth, Eliasand Emily Sprague, 
Cyrus G. and Cynthia Hayner, Oliver, Nancy, 
and Truman Sprague. Elias Sprague was chosen 
as the first class-leader, and Oliver Sprague as the 
first steward. 

Preparatory to the building of a church, the so- 
ciety was incorporated, Nov. 16, 1872, under the 
general statutes, and the article of incorporation 
filed in the county clerk's office. 

The first trustees were G. G. Cook, Alonzo 
Gleason, Elias Sprague, Eli Tindall, and B. H. 
Mowers. 

A site of one-half acre on the southeast corner 
of the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter 
of section 9, was donated by Elias Sprague, and 
in the spring of 1873 work was begun on the 
church. It was not completed until the fall of 

1875, and is a frame building, size 30 by 40 feet, 
with a seating capacity of 200, and cost about 
$1200. The dedicatory service was held Jan. 12, 

1876, Rev. B. Hamp, presiding elder, officiating, 
assisted by the pastor. Rev. William Duryea. 

The parsonage was built in the fall of 1879, on 
the west side of the church lot, at a cost of about 
$2$$. A separate board of trustees was appointed, 
Nov. 24, 1877, to have charge of the parsonage, 
who were Alonzo Gleason, Marcus Burkhart, and 
Martin Bennett. Substituting the names of M. H. 
Brigham for Marcus Burkhart, and Cyrus G. 
Hayner for B. H. Mowers, the two boards of trus- 
tees remain at the present writing the same as 
when first appointed. 

The church belongs to the Conway circuit, which 
has two appointments in this town, the other one 
being at the Gleason school-house, on section 7. 
The names of the pastors, as nearly as can be as- 
certained in the absence of any record, are Revs. 
Benjamin Morgan, Stephen Ferguson, Davis, 



Ross, William Duryea, W. N. Bridcnstein, 

William P. Cool. B. H. Mowers, A. Shaffer, H. S. 



Elliott, William Duryea, R. W. Keeny, D. J. Hol- 
brook, and Mr. Lower, the present pastor. 

The present membership is 47, the class-leader 
is Cyrus G. Haynes, and the steward is James 
Gilland. 

A Sabbath-school was organized in connection 
with this church in the summer of 1864, with 
Cyrus G. Haj^ncr as superintendent. With the 
exception of three years, when he was living else- 
where, Mr. Hayner has been the superintendent 
of the school, and is the present incumbent of the 
office. The present membership is about 60, and 
the average attendance over 50. The other of- 
ficers are as follows: Assistant Superintendent, 
Alonzo Gleason ; Secretary, Ellery Gleason ; Treas- 
urer, Miss Clara Gilland ; Collectors, Cora Meier 
and Charlie Johnson. 

COHOCTAH SABBATH-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION. . 

This association was formed Aug. 11, 1878, for 
the purpose of begetting and fostering a spirit of 
union, harmony, and good-fellowship between the 
workers in the schools of tlie different denomina- 
tions, and also to increase the interest felt in the 
prosecution of the Sunday-school work. 

But two schools have yet become actively con- 
nected with the association, though others are ex- 
pected to join as they become conversant with the 
purpose and workings of the society. Meetings 
were held every four weeks during the first year, 
but now are held only once in eight weeks. 

The first officers were Giles Borden, President ; 
Cyrus G. Hayner, Vice-President; William Ran- 
dall, Secretary; Martin Bennett, Treasurer; Henry 
Jackson, M. H. Brigham, Alonzo Gleason, Direc- 
tors. Substituting the name of Luther Pratt for 
that of Henry Jackson as a member of the Board 
of Directors, the present officers are the same as 
the first. 

To all the kind friends who have assisted the 
writer in his efforts to get a correct history of the 
town, and who did so much to render pleasant his 
brief sojourn amongst them, he returns his most 
heartfelt thanks ; and only hopes this imperfect 
sketch will meet with as warm a welcome and as 
considerate treatment as was extended to him. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 



EZRA FRISBEE 
was born in the town of Canaan, Columbia Co., 
N. Y., Aug. 14, 1812. His father, Roswell Frisbee, 
died when Ezra was but five years old, leaving a 
wife and six children, and in destitute circum- 



462 



HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



stances. Ezra went to live with his uncle, Dr. 
Edward Dorr, of Chatham village, with whom he 
remained one year. Mr. Frisbee then went to live 
with another uncle, Ezra Frisbee, with whom he 
resided until he was of age. During the winter 
months he attended the district school of his 
neighborhood, studying nights by the light of the 
fireplace fire. In this way he obtained enough 
education to fit him for the successful business life 
he has since led. Arrived at his majority, his 
uncle gave him one hundred and eighty dol- 
lars, which was his start in life. This money 
he at once placed at interest, and then went to 
work to earn more; worked on a farm, in mills, 
and also taught school, each year adding to his 
small capital. In 1836 he came to Howell town- 
ship, Livingston Co., and bought of the govern- 
ment one hundred and sixty acres of land, on sec- 
tion 2 in Howell, and section 35 in Cohoctah. 
May 23, 1839, he was married to Miss Lucinda 
Thompson, who was born Nov. 5, 18 15. She was 
the daughter of Moses and Margaret (Morris) 
Thompson. Mr. Thompson, one of the pioneers, 
had located a large tract of land in Livingston and 
Oakland Counties, and was then one of the most 
prominent and wealthy men in the county. The 
village of Howell now stands on part of Mr. 
Thompson's original purchase. His death, soon 
after his settlement, deprived the county of one of 
its most valuable citizens. After his marriage, Mr. 
Frisbee located on a quarter-section of land one 
and one-half miles west of Howell village, which 
was given to his wife by her father. On this farm 
he built the first frame house erected in the town- 
ship outside the village. And, what was then of 
rare occurrence, his house was painted, which 
made Mr. Frisbee an aristocrat, and the wonder of 
the passers-by. This farm he cleared, improved, 
and added to, until he at one time owned three 



hundred and fifty acres, part of which he now 
owns. He lived on his farm or in the village of 
Howell twenty-two years, and has seen the village 
grow up from its infancy. 

Mr. Frisbee was a juryman in the first suit 
tried by the present Judge Turner, who was then 
a young lawyer in a new country, with limited 
means, and but few clients. And Mr. Frisbee 
gives a graphic description of the judge as he then 
appeared in his suit, made of the cloth then known 
as " hard times," and set off by a chip hat, all 
crown and hat-band. The young lawyer has be- 
come a judge, and is widely known, respected and 
honored, while the juror has become one of the 
most successful and wealthy farmers of his town, 
loved and respected for his many good qualities, 
and his rugged honesty of purpose. In i860, Mr. 
Frisbee moved into Cohoctah, and bought the farm 
he now occupies. He now owns over five hundred 
acres of fine land, mostly under cultivation. In 
politics he lias always been a Republican, and has 
filled different town offices, although he has never 
sought or cared for office. 

His oldest son, Alonzo T., graduated at the 
Union school in Howell, also at Bryant & Strat- 
ton's Commercial College in Detroit. He has 
been town clerk and supervisor, filling the latter 
office for six years. He has also been the candi- 
date of the Republican party for the office of 
register of deeds, but, his party being in the mi- 
nority, was not elected. He now owns a fine farm 
of eight hundred acres in Isabella County, part of 
which is under cultivation. He was also super- 
visor of his township in Isabella Count)'. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Ezra Frisbee there have been 
born three children, — Alonzo T., born Oct. 12, 
1840; Margaret E., born March 24, 1842; and 
Edward, born July 6, 1849, — all of them born in 
Howell township. 



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